Adventure or safety?!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2008

unless there would be a problem getting hired later, i'd go where you are going to see things you won't see locally. if you need to get placed in the town where you live to secure your future job, then that is the reality of the situation.

one thing i learned over the years is that i felt i learned so much more by working in hospitals that were different from where i had trained. i trained in a community hospital but eventually went to work in several large teaching hospitals. i never regretted the vast experiences i had. i saw and experienced things i never would have see in the boondocks. i am a strong believer that people who stay for 20 years in one place stagnate.

jjjoy, LPN · Dec 13, 2008

I agree with Daytonite that a variety of experience can only be a good thing overall. However, six weeks in a completely new environment at the end of your accelerated BSN program may or may not make much of a difference in your ability and confidence as you start out as a new grad.

One suggestion is to get any info you can about the potential externships. If one facility or unit in particular has a great reputation for providing a positive externship experience and it's an area that interests you, try to get into that one!

Another factor to consider is your own learning style and adaptability. For myself, when I'm new at something, I do better with more consistency and continuity. So I'd probably hope to extern at the local facility I wanted to work at so that I wouldn't be having to start ALL over again in a completely new environment after graduation. I also know that after a few years I'd welcome the challenge of a new environment and would seek out new experiences. But that's me. I can definitely see that there are many benefits to be had by choosing to do the externship in the larger city.

I'm curious where you've done your clinicals so far? Locally, in that larger city you speak of? If all of your clinicals have been in the big town and you haven't yet experienced what smaller local facilities are like yet, that might factor in to your decision. Or if most of your experience has been in small, community facilities, then it could be a great opportunity to see what it's like in a large medical center.

Also, see if you can get the low-down on local hiring trends. Some places only hire new grads at certain times of the year. Some places have lots of competition for their new grad spots. Some places accept very few new grads at all. Some places are happy to get anyone with a license and a warm body (but there's often a reason for such desperation).

Best wishes as you plan out your last clinical rotation! It's great that you have choices! Not all programs have externships or allow much choice if they do.

One way or another, after that last six weeks, you'll be a nurse!

cokeforbreakfast · Dec 15, 2008

Thanks for all the advice. By the time I get to my final 6 weeks, I will have worked in both larger city and smaller rural facilities. Here are some things I am considering...

If I choose small town...

Pro:

I can live at home during the week

My life can get back to normal sooner (daughter would be happy)

I might be more likely to get a job there after graduation

Con:

No new grad program...just get put on the floor

Rumors that it can be a difficult place to work for new nurses...might not get as much guidance as in other places

If I choose larger town:

Pro:

See more, more diverse experience

Possibly learn more/additional guidance because they have more experience with new nurses

Con:

Probably not going to work there

Might learn things I'll never use, things that may not be applicable to small town experience.

As far as deciding where to go, we can just tell the advisors what we want and they will do their best to set us up. They can open doors we can't open, which makes me think I'm crazy not to take advantage of an internship I might not otherwise get.

However, I think the advisor would like me to go for the small town internship at the place where I may end up working. I told her I am still thinking about it.

Thanks,

Cokeforbreakfast