Advice On New Job Offer

[DisneybearRN]

I am a relatively new nurse who has done six months in a long term acute facility after working as a CNA in a hospital for a year. I had to leave the LTAC facility due to family illness and have been looking for a job since. I have my bachelor's in Psychology, an associates in Nursing, and will be getting my BSN later this year on my way to a degree in Nursing Education. The job market here is brutal for a new RN. There are no jobs. I recently interviewed with top medical software company for a position as a clinical training specialist. Basically the job requires traveling around the U.S. and being the contact and trainer to the IT and Nursing department when implementing new software. The job is really appealing to me as I am a total computer geek, have a great desire to teach and really would love the ultimate position in a hospital as a nurse imformaticist. I am having zero luck finding a job as an RN in an acute setting where I live and relocating is not an option at this time. The new position is really appealing to me with great benefits. My problem is that I am afraid that if I start work there without having had a lot of clinical experience as an RN, I would never be able to leave the software company to work as an informaticist in a hospital, because my resume does not have a lot of clinical hours. I think it would be even harder for me to get a clinical position after a few years with the software company if i wanted to gain hours. I am 48 so planning is crucial if I want to become a Nurse Informaticist in a hospital. Even thought the job is right up my alley, I would hate to ruin my chances for future growth. Granted, it is the only job that I might be able to get right now, but I will hang out for clinical nursing if I can determine that this would be a dead end for me. I suppose it is also possible that I would never want to leave the vendor as it might be the best spot to stay. I just want to be able to grow in the field. Any thoughts would be appreciated, especially those that hire in the field. Thank You.

[Traveler4life]

Sounds like a fabulous opportunity! What if you took the job and just pulled PRN or agency shifts where ever you are from time to time? Also, I'm not positive but I would think that the masters in informatics will over shadow your nursing degree and/or experience. Do you have to be a nurse to get that higher degree.

Good luck in whatever you decide!!

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

Agrees with Traveler4life,

This is a wonderful opportunity if your career goals lean towards informatics.

You have some clinical experience and you have nursing knowledge so look for a way to work 1 shift per month or something....but take the role with the vendor and learn, learn, learn.

Good Luck

I am a relatively new nurse who has done six months in a long term acute facility after working as a CNA in a hospital for a year. I had to leave the LTAC facility due to family illness and have been looking for a job since. I have my bachelor's in Psychology, an associates in Nursing, and will be getting my BSN later this year on my way to a degree in Nursing Education. The job market here is brutal for a new RN. There are no jobs. I recently interviewed with top medical software company for a position as a clinical training specialist. Basically the job requires traveling around the U.S. and being the contact and trainer to the IT and Nursing department when implementing new software. The job is really appealing to me as I am a total computer geek, have a great desire to teach and really would love the ultimate position in a hospital as a nurse imformaticist. I am having zero luck finding a job as an RN in an acute setting where I live and relocating is not an option at this time. The new position is really appealing to me with great benefits. My problem is that I am afraid that if I start work there without having had a lot of clinical experience as an RN, I would never be able to leave the software company to work as an informaticist in a hospital, because my resume does not have a lot of clinical hours. I think it would be even harder for me to get a clinical position after a few years with the software company if i wanted to gain hours. I am 48 so planning is crucial if I want to become a Nurse Informaticist in a hospital. Even thought the job is right up my alley, I would hate to ruin my chances for future growth. Granted, it is the only job that I might be able to get right now, but I will hang out for clinical nursing if I can determine that this would be a dead end for me. I suppose it is also possible that I would never want to leave the vendor as it might be the best spot to stay. I just want to be able to grow in the field. Any thoughts would be appreciated, especially those that hire in the field. Thank You.