A New Grad Job Hunting...Ugh

[provostkelly]

Hello All!

I am new to this site, but would like to first point out that i love it! Finally an organized nursing website, dedicated strictly to nursing, ha ha ha.

OK, here is my question.

I recently graduated nursing school and i'm a practical nurse graduate. I am currently job searching for something that doesn't involve a nursing home. Is this even possible? I graduated as Valedictorian, and have been an LNA for about seven years. My mom is a nurse and we were dragged to every nursing position she had when we were kids. Basically, i grew up with nursing all around me. I feel so excited to finally be able to be a nurse myself, and plan on going for my RN in the fall. Just have to do it this way first to survive financially. Honestly, i have nothing against nursing homes, and i know they're a great place to start, but i really would like to have a position somewhere else. I am just wondering if this is at all possible??

Thank you for your help and advice, i really need it!

Kelly

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Welcome to these forums!

It certainly was possible to start at a hospital, clinic, or other non-nursing home setting as a new grad a few years ago when the economy in the U.S. was more robust. However, the economy is crappy and it has spilled over into the amount of nursing jobs available for new grads. To be perfectly blunt, many companies do not want to spend the time and money to train/orient a new nurse. Instead, they regard experience as cost-effective and would rather a nurse with several years of experience.

In this employment market, I would take the first job that was offered to me because you might wait around forever if you hold out for the job of your dreams.