Best first jobs?

Willofthewisp · Feb 1, 2021

I am about to graduate myself. I have heard two schools of thought. One is to go med-surg and possibly get into an RN residency. You will be able to use and master all the skills you've learned and it is seen as a pretty good position to be able to transition to other specialties. Acute rehab is also a good one.

The other school of thought I have heard is to go with what interests you and what will hire you. A lot of peds positions want experience that you could get from med-surg or rehab, but experience is experience.

On this note, I was kind of wondering what people thought about a first job being in long-term care/assisted living. I am moving right after graduation and will only be in the location for 2 years. I've been offered a job as an RN at an assisted living/LTC facility, but I don't want to be pigeonholed in that my whole career. Is working there for the 2 years (and probably getting my BSN while I'm there) and then going for a RN residency at the next location possible/recommended?

allnurses Guide · Feb 1, 2021

LTC/Assisted living does indeed tend to be difficult to get out of once you are in it, unfortunately. I am not weighing in on whether that is right, wrong or sideways, but it just is a thing. Dialysis as well.

Most residencies are not open to RNs with experience. That means if you are graduating with a two year degree and then go on to get your BSN, you are not going to be qualified for the residency, as you won't be a new grad. Most residencies cap the applicant pool as being for new grads who graduated within the last year.