As a new RN, should I stay at the hospital I currently work at?

TexasPediRN · Mar 21, 2006

Hi,
Right now I work as a student nurse tech in a certain Chicago hospital. I'm preparing to apply for jobs next month (I'm graduating May) and wonder if I should stay at the current hospital (everyone there has been friendly) or move to a new hospital as a new grad. Any advice?

After 1.5 years as a nurses aide, I became a GN and eventually an RN on the same floor that I was an aide on. The transition was seemless, and because I already knew how the floor worked, where items were, and all of the people there, it took pressure off of me in that aspect and allowed me to concentrate more on nursing and taking care of my patients. I didnt have to worry about finding someone to show me how to enter orders, to show me where things were, to tell me how to make kardexes (i had learned to do so as an aide), or how to do many things on that particular floor.

I really did feel that my transition was seemless and it was just a lot less stressful since I already knew and worked with other nurses.

I've since moved on (but not by choice- fiance's job transfer out of state), but I do wish I was still there. It gave me the opportunity to focus more on my patients instead of having to learn how a floor runs.

Ultimately, it is your choice and this is just my personal experience and opinion. I had loved the floor I worked on as well as the other nurses and they helped me so much. I wish I could have stayed longer and learned more from them.

However, if you arent comfortable at the hospital you work at now, I would recommend another floor or another hospital all together. Just a thought though- it may be easier to get a job at your current hospital. I'm not sure how many new grads they take each year, but you'd certainly have your foot in the door.

Good Luck, and congrats on being so close to graduation!

-Meghan :nurse: