Can't decide....any input?

[rnrae]

OK, I graduated last May and started working in a 500-bed hospital, 85 miles away, with critically ill patients. As a new nurse, the stress was incredible and didn't get a whole lot of support from co-workers. I lasted 7 months.

Now I'm working in a small, 60 bed rural hospital, 25 miles away. The pace is MUCH slower, I'm a charge nurse (yeah, it's true) and very bored! The big city is now sooo appealing. I have an interview tomorrow to work on the oncology floor of a 700-bed hospital and another interview Tuesday with Hospice.

I just feel like I'm missing so much by being in a small hospital. I'm 52 and really don't have alot of years to experience many different areas of nursing. I'd love to find somewhere I can stay put and that will keep me challenged!

Any input would be so appreciated!

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

Well, why do you think you did badly at teh first job? Lack of support? Lack of orientation? That kind of thing could be different at another job.

Since you are 52, don't waste time where you aren't happy. But try to figure out if what you're lacking at the current place you'll be able to find elsewhere.

[debblynn13]

I graduated last may also. I started working in august on a fairly busy oncology floor. I love it, but it can be overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like I know absolutely nothing. There is so much to learn. We do occassionally get medical overflow so I get experience in other medsurg areas too. We do a lot of infusing blood products, chemo, TPN. Most patients have central lines or ports, but do have a fair share of peripheral ivs that need to be started. We have NG tubes, PEG tubes, JP drains, fractures caused by bone cancer. One patient had peritoneal dialysis. Basically anything that is out there, we might see. We also get the Hemotologic patients, sickle cell, HELP syndrome. We even had an overflow post appendectomy patient one day.

It can also be a very emotional floor. You see the same patients day after day, weeks, months. You can become attached to them and it can be hard to see them die. You can become very jaded and think all people with cancer die. We never see the outpatient cancer patients that get their chemo and radiation and never need to be admitted. We usually get the really sick cancer patients. But on the flip side it is very rewarding, the patients and families are usually very appreciative of our help.

Not sure if oncology is what you are looking for, but I can guarantee it will keep you challenged.

Debblynn