Calling All Nurses.....How did you......

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Decide what area to go into after you graduated from nursing school? I will graduate in May and was absolutely convinced that L&D was where I was meant to be. Now for some strange reason, I am clueless what I want to be when I grow up. I vasilate back and forth from L&D to some sort of critical care. I need to get ready to start nailing down a job next month as that's when the hospitals in my area start interviewing and hiring GN's who will start in June. I know tons of people say go into MEDSURG for a year, but I honestly know that is NOT where I want to be. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

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go in the area of nursing that you love the most!!!

only there you will be happy and successful nurse!!!

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When I graduated from nursing school I always thought I wanted to go into long term care for elderly patients and I never wanted to work in SICU..but you know the old saying... never say never...20 years later I am still in ICU .

I guess what I am trying to say is don't limit yourself and be open to everything before you make your mind up.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I would say follow your heart. If you absolutely know Med-surg is not for you, go with L&D or whatever else you decide. If you get there, give it a good shot, you see it's not working for you, you can do something else. That is one good thing about nursing.

I bought the line and started out in m-s but hated it. There are a lot of nurses who are good at it and I am in awe of them. I am grateful for the experience it gave me but I hated almost every day of it, even c great coworkers. I went into community/family practice health (LOVED it!) and am now in OB/nursery, which I also love.

All that to say, go with your heart. You can always change later on. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Perinatal, Float.

I agree, never say never. In 1992 I didn't even consider that I had any choices, I just wanted a job! Ok, the choice I had was LTC or hospital and I did choose hospital, but there were very few jobs for new grads! It was frustrating. I worked as a CNA in a local hospital and after much searching my boss was kind enough to get me on as an RN in the float pool On-call. I am so glad it worked out that way! I was able to get experience in many different specialties and discover what I really liked! Eventually I got a job on the Postpartum ward (postpartum, nursery, gyn, antepartum) and enjoyed it for 7 years! well, about a year ago we moved and what I could find was a med/surg job. well, can you believe I am really enjoying the variety of pt! It helps that the hospital is small and elective procedures, the ratio law is here, so there are many shifts of only 2 or 3 pt for each nurse, but we get busy too! I also didn't think I would ever do nights again, but I really am not minding them at all now! the shift differential really helps, along with the kids being in school all day!

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Specializes in Pulmonary, Cath Lab, Float Pool.

L&D maybe difficult to get in. I would try that first because that is truly where you want to be. Another suggestion is Float Pool. You'll get to see many areas and sometimes I'm sure you will get floated to L&D.

Another area is Outpatient 24. Most are surgical patients who will hopefully go home after 24 hours. Do not go to an area you don't like. It would be a waste of everyone's time and talent. It is hard to orientate someone who doesn't want to work there.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
L&D maybe difficult to get in. I would try that first because that is truly where you want to be. Another suggestion is Float Pool. You'll get to see many areas and sometimes I'm sure you will get floated to L&D.

I respectfully disagree with this suggestion. I don't believe that med-surg is necessarily the best place for a new grad (unless that is the new grad's primary area of interest), but I do firmly believe that a new grad needs a "home" unit for at least the first year or two. Most new grads coming from ADN and BSN programs are in need of substantial orientation time and mentoring to sharpen their clinical skills, critical thinking, time management, prioritization, and to learn the "ropes" of hospital politics. This is difficult to accomplish if the new grad is not consistently assigned to a given unit and preceptor.

The one exception may be an experienced LPN continuing to work in the same setting. But I have never seen an inexperienced new grad succeed in a float position.

Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in CVICU, PACU, OR.

I was a student on a cardiac medical unit for 4 years and after I graduated I accepted a position on a cardiac medical unit at a new hospital. I was really unhappy and realized that it was the patient population I didn't enjoy. I switched to cardiac recovery and I love it!

The great thing is you can try something and if you don't like it you have other options. Critical care would give you a good background if you decided that labor and delivery wasn't right for you. Of course I am bias though. Be sure to shadow a nurse on the units to see which environment you like the most.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Perinatal, Float.

In response to a comment about new grad not succeeding in a float position, yes, I did receive a lengthy orientation with one nurse on one unit, then I was one-at-a time oriented on the different floors (for a shorter amt of time) before floating there. If it is done well, it can be done!

I think the thing to think about is that no one job/area is forever. Life is not stagnant, and if you are feeling it is, it is time to change! If you are not liking an area of work you are in, think of it as not forever and look at it as a learning experience while you look around for other options!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I too graduated in 1992 - there were so few jobs that I took what was offered...long term care. I wanted to work in a hospital, but there were no positions at all for new grads and this was Indianapolis, not podunk! However, in 1994, I was able to get my foot in the door, at the VA, working 8 hour shifts on a med-surg floor. I rotated all three shifts a week!!! (I can't even believe I took this job now).

Then, in 1996 we moved to central IL and the only job available was in the ER and I thought that sounded like fun. Well, 10 years later, I left there but loved my work!

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Think about which rotations you liked best during clinicals. In my area, it's very difficult to get into L&D. One hospital won't even take RNs with med-surg experience. So if you have a chance at it, you might want to go ahead and take it.

I'm in the same situation as you as far as trying to figure out what I want to do. I will have a preceptorship rotation in psych and am interviewing for an SNA position on the oncology floor of another hospital. Right now, those are the two areas I'm most interested in. But, the way I see it, it all boils down to who offers me a job! :)

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What do you guys think about working in a nursing home as a new nurse?

:rolleyes:

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