Published
Holding out for just L&D or peds might be a bit of a stretch. There are relatively few jobs in those specialties and they're pretty competitive. How's your resume? Any prior health care experience?
My plan after I graduated from my RN program was to take the first hospital job I could get. I continued to work as an RN for my private duty agency, which I'd already worked for as an LPN for a few years. So even though I had an actual RN job making decent money, I was going to take what I could get. Fortunately I was turned down for the positions I probably would've ended up hating (e.g. medical floor), though I would've taken 'em if offered.
seriously? unless you are independently wealthy or married to someone who can support you, take the first job you get. you might not get another offer for a loooooong time.
besides, it might surprise you to learn that you like it. so many people go to nursing school thinking "peds or ob" (i was one, onceuponnatime) ...and thank goodness most of them end up doing something else. there are just not that many babies being born or children needing hospitalization but there are sure as shootin' lots of other folks in need of nursing care.
Well, the longer you wait to get a job, the less marketable you become (b/c you become stale). So, a few months probably wouldn't be a bad thing, and you don't have to take the first undesirable thing that comes along, but be prepared that if you turn that job down, you may not have any offers for a long time. And, peds and L and D have the lowest turn-over of any specialty, so you could be sitting, and waiting for that one for a while (especially with no experience; those jobs typically go to RN's with experience).
However, if you live in an area that has a children's hospital or large children's hospital, that is not the case. They usually hire new grads. If you have a women's hospital near you, as well, that may be the case. But, if you don't live in a major city that has these things, then...you could be waiting a while.
Have new grads gotten hired into these areas in the past? That'll be your best predictor. But, just keep applying, applying...Be sure to follow up! And, have a polished resume, one that stands out from the crowd! Good luck to you!
Worst case, you could work in an area you don't really like for 2 years and then do an internal transfer into the area of your choice. Tele would be very good experience
Honestly, the longer you hold out for your "dream job", the more you lose your new grad status. Right now the economy is tough, and getting into your specialty of choice is difficult. I say, apply everywhere and anywhere, and once you gain experience, then you can apply and move into the unit of choice, and get the "dream" job.
Abbles
4 Posts
Hi all!
I recently graduated from nursing school and I have actively started applying for jobs in the last two weeks. I have applied for every unit in every hospital in my home state of Colorado, which isn't too new grad friendly. However, I really want to work in Pediatrics or L&D. I told myself that if I could get a job on those units in another state I would move - so I have applied for those units out of state. If you were me, would you take the first job offer you got, even if it was on a unit you aren't too excited about (for me, tele or ortho) or would you wait until you got a job working with the population you love?
Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!