Almost finished and starting to interview (yikes!!) Need advice!

[Calzonan RN]

Wow, it's almost a reality, at least it's starting to feel more real, that I'll be graduating in less than two months. It's been such a long road!!! I've already applied at a couple of hospitals and I've got my first interview on Friday!!! I'm starting to get nervous about making the right decisions for my career. There are several hospitals near my house that are really nice. I'm externing at one of them already and I love the people that work there. I'm not sure if they'll be hiring new grads though, they've just moved to a brand new hospital and things are still getting worked out.

Those that have been in the field for a while, would you start off as a new grad at a nice low acuity hospital, or a teaching hospital with high acuity patients? I really want to stay in L&D and I have an interview at ST. Joes on Friday. I love the high acuity there and feel I'll learn a LOT!! I really feel if I worked there for a while I'd be a better nurse overall, just from the experience. But the long drive makes me hesitate. I know how hard it is after a 12 hour night shift, and an hours drive home is sort of scary after all night. Do you get used to driving home in the mornings after a 12 hour shift? I definitely want to work nights, it works out better for my family right now, and I'm not really a morning person anyway

Thanks for any help/advice!! I'm just trying to get some perspective and I'm excited about all of this and needed to bounce some ideas around!!

Keli

Block 4 two tests left!!

Pinning 12/14!!!

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

First of off ..... congratulations, you're getting so close and can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I remember what a great/exciting feeling that is

I would definitely go for the high acuity/teaching hospital! The only way I would recommend going to a lower acuity setting is if you ONLY stay there for a very short time (6 months - 1 year), as it would be hard to go from lower acuity to higher acuity if you stay in the lower acuity setting for too long. I hope that makes sense. It'd be easier to go from higher acuity to lower acuity. And if you like the high acuity, then go for it ..... you'll learn a ton and a teaching hospital would be the best place to learn, as they have great orientaiton programs and there's always a lot of great learning experiences/things to see.

St. Joes is a great place to work, great support, great orientation, great people.

After working a 12 hour shift I have no trouble driving home. It shows that you live in Gilbert, I'm not sure how far east you are though. But I live in Tempe, work in Phx and it only takes me about 20-25 minutes to get to work, each way. I know to Gilbert it'd be a little farther, but unless you're way out east it shouldn't take quite an hour, does it? A 20-40 minute commute wouldn't be bad for me, but an hour would be pushing it, although I know A LOT of people at work that do it. And with it being night shift, there is hardly any traffic and it's only 3 days a week, so it's not too bad.

I'm excited for you!! I'll send good thoughts your way for the interview on Friday, I know you'll do just fine. Please keep us updated and let us know how everything goes. Good luck to you, I wish you all the best!

[Belinda-wales, RN]

Hi Keli-

I think you need to work where it works best for you and your family - I personally think that for l&D it is better to pick the middle of the road sort of hosptal where you will get the time to learn your job thoughly-some where you will be able to get to earn the trust of the doctors as this all helps to your learning- I would also be lookingat therte of staff turn as you will learn loads and feel safe in with in a well established work force. You also need to decide ifyou want to work with residents or not- there are pros and cons for this- call me or catch me at work.