Any suggestions for a non-hospital RN job?

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi everyone!

I am a nursing student in my last 6 weeks of school, and am looking for places to start applying for jobs. How likely is it that I can get a non-hospital job and what types does anyone suggest? I just know that I do not want to work at a hospital - I understand that it is great experience for new grads to go ahead and work on a med/surg floor or at least some floor in a hospital for at least a year or two - however, it just really isn't for me. I hate my clinical rotation this year, which is basically the same as the orientation that alot of hospitals offer for new hires (working independently, but under a "preceptor" of sorts and taking on more patients as time goes on). Plus, I worked in a hospital as a pharmacy delivery tech for a year before even getting into nursing school, so I know that I no longer wish to work in that type of environment. I am good at nursing, but the hospital is not the environment for me. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

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Well, I'm taking a guess that as a new RN with no experience, you'd be limited to medical offices and clinics. Neither pay very well for RN's, and sometimes the preference is to higher LPNs or MAs because of the wage differences expected.

School nurse jobs can be very hard to come by, and also pay squat in comparison.

Home health is attractive to many, but there again, you'd have to be rock-solid on your skills and assessments, wound care, etc as there'd be no one to "have a look": you're it. Besides, most such agencies require some experience (to know that you have those skills) before hiring. I was an excellent student, my skills had passed muster in a grueling nursing program, and I found when I started my current job I didn't know half of what I thought I did, or learned on the job. THIS education is absolutely priceless.

So, getting a job as an RN outside of the hospital, at least initially, will likely be a considerable challenge. In offices you could wind up short-changing yourself (your education has value, they don't pay for that), or limiting yourself in the long run. Having an office job that can be done by an MA or LPN isn't going to prepare you for many other, better options you could utilize later.

All that out there, the choices are all yours :)

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try and get a job at a lawyers office or insuranceoffice

yu can also do private duty with one on one care

many mail order pharmacy have a nurse on duty for customer to ask questions not addressed by pharmist

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, ICU.

Securing a position as a nurse without hospital experience will be very difficult to do. Have you thought about working in a clinic of some type?

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yes, i have thought about getting certification in wound care to work at a wound care facility. Or possibly apply an at outpatient surgery clinic. To be quite honest, i definitely went into nursing for the wrong reasons - no need to get into a whole lot of detail, but i didnt apply for nursing school because I love nursing - in the short, I really just wanted to get out of my parents house, and school was my only option at the time. I do like nursing, but unfortunately it is not my passion and I feel that maybe I took someone else's spot that should have been in school in my place who desperately wants to be a nurse. I think I am going to start applying for some medical offices - im not concerned with the paycut, because as of now I have no job so this "paycut" would at least be a paycheck for me. I am involved with a marketing a promotion business on the side with my fiance and we are really doing fine with that, and I love doing that. I dont want to say that I wasted this time and money in school because I think that your education is always worth it - even if you feel you made a mistake - because so much is learned and experienced in school that you won't get to experience anywhere else - but at the same time, I feel that maybe I should have stepped out of the program to allow someone else to step in?

I love people and love being able to help them and be there for them and provide care for them. I have always been great at medical and health related aspects of life, but I just dont want to put myself through hell at the hospital (I know myself, it will be hell for me), when I can be happy making less money in an office or clinic.

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Specializes in Med/Tele.

Hey! I am also looking for a non-hospital job to begin after my 1st year as a nurse is up in June.........I have been searching the newspapers and internet for jobs and have only found a handful.......am in the process of applying but havent heard back from any yet.

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hey there!! what kinds of jobs have you been able to find? So far, i have found a pediatrician's office, but that's about it. I know that there just has to be something out there for us nursing students wishing to pursue their career in a non-hospital environment! :)

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Specializes in Med/Tele.
hey there!! what kinds of jobs have you been able to find? So far, i have found a pediatrician's office, but that's about it. I know that there just has to be something out there for us nursing students wishing to pursue their career in a non-hospital environment! :)

I have found doctor's clinics, insurance companies, case management positions, telephone triage, day surgery clinics, wound care nurses, dialysis centers......most of them want at least 1-2 years of clinical experience. I have heard of some people how got jobs fresh out of school with no experience........but I feel like getting experience will help u out later in a lot of ways because being a nurse is so different from school. You might want to give it a try.....

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have you ever thought about working at a psychiatric hospital or clinic? Nursing Home?

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I know this question was posted a while back, but I was in the same situation. I worked MedSurg for two years straight out of college and was burnt-out afterwards. I did not want to see another hospital for a while. I found a job just by seaching the website hotjobs.com. I came across an administrative nursing job assisting the community. I've been working for them for about two years now. What made the job even better is that I am working for my home as a Quality Assurance Registered Nurse Reviewer. The pay is the same as the hospital pay. Everything is submitted electronically. I have to say I am a bit bored now. I work through a nurse agency when this happens and just to keep up with my clinical skills. View hotjobs.com or your state website. There are plenty of different nursing opportunities out there besides floor nursing.

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Thank you so much! This definitely helps me out! i will check out the website for sure! Thanks so much!

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Oh, other websites to check out for RN jobs: careerbuilders.com, monster.com, indeed.com, as well as your local state website. There are plenty of state jobs for nurses.

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