Can't decide which specialty or where to relocate

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Specializes in Observation, Telemetry, Stroke.

Hello dear nurses!

My name is Sherry, and I am a new grad from Southern California. Kinda more of an old new grad. I got my BSN in 2012 and finally passed my NCLEX-RN in June 2014. I've been out of school and clinicals for quite a while now. The only thing closest to nursing experience I have is caring for a lady with (I think) somewhat late stage Alzheimer's disease for about 4 years.

I've been applying for jobs all over California and still haven't gotten any interviews or offers. I've also applied out of state and the chances are looking better out there. Been looking at Wyoming and North Dakota in particular.

I am currently looking at two offers so far.

The first one is from Fargo, ND and it's a position on the observation unit. I'm being offered $23.80/hour with benefits (but they aren't the best). The city looks like a great place to live in spite of the insane winters. I hear the people are nice. Found an apartment near downtown for $575/month. This city really excites me for some reason. I've even had dreams about living here!

The second offer is from Casper, WY and it's in behavioral health. I'd be getting $26.00/hour. Their benefits look really good too. It's in a smaller city than the first place, and gets cold in winter all the same. I am still researching more information on living in this city, but right now, I am not exactly thrilled about it as of yet. The apartment I found is $700/month. What I do like about this choice is that I think I'll be doing something I really like: mental health nursing. I have no experience in mental health nursing, but with what I know about it, it seems to fit me really well. I'm also worried about never getting the hang of the typical nursing skills like IV sticks, inserting catheters, etc.

I am really having a difficult time deciding on where I want to relocate and which nursing I want to do! It's hard to know if I'll like mental health nursing for sure because I haven't had that much exposure to it yet.

Should I start with the observation unit first, get the hang of my basic nursing skills, and then go to mental health nursing later? Or should I go with a job I *think* I might enjoy more in behavioral health and leave later if I don't like it?

Another thought... I'm Asian. I am aware I'm relocating to regions that are predominantly white.

I'm also considering the actual place I'll be living as well. This will be my very first time away from home, and I've been very sheltered most of my life.

There is a high chance I will want to move back to California after I gain a few years of experience. I feel bad leaving my parents back in California, as they've depended on me in so many ways. They're getting older and their health will eventually decline. I feel I have the duty to care for them in the future.

I am also worried about being able to make enough money to help my family back home, but I really do want to be truly happy in the place I live and work.

I'd like to see if any of you have some input about how to start off my new life and career as an RN!

Thank you very much for reading my post, all!

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Take the north dakota job. You don't want to lose your skills.

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Specializes in Observation, Telemetry, Stroke.

Thank you for the reply, xxXx|aLiYiAh|xxXx! That's the decision I've been leaning towards the majority of the time. I appreciate the input!

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Getting that acute care experience is SOOOOO important, especially if you plan to return to CA. Plus, you're EXCITED about it! :) Go to Fargo!

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Yep go to acute care. More opportunities once you have some years on you.

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Another acute care vote. But what did you decide?

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I agree about acute care 1st.

However, addressing the other issue: where do you want to move.... are you provided the opportunity to spend some time in each locale? Have you family or friends in either place? At the very least, during interview process, spend a few hours walking the halls of local hospitals to get a feel for the atmosphere, perhaps?

I speak from an experience: I had decided to move to Maryland with my boyfriend a couple years ago-- we had been together 5 years (long distance with every other week weekend visits, holidays, etc together) I loved the area, the weather. The opportunity arose where taking a semester off from the nursing program was mandatory so I stayed from December through September with my boyfriend. I subleted my apartment in NY. At a winter party that year, I met a woman who was the hiring manager at Johns Hopkins -- I had her business card and her cell phone number! So a job may have been close at hand. Seemed really promising!

It was awful. NO friends. NO family of my own. His family sort of "adopted" me but I was the 3rd wheel. I tried places to go, library, church, boat club. Nothing. I didn't fit in! The nursing school there also didn't want to accept my educational background and would have wanted 2 semesters worth of other pre-req's. So I def needed to return to NY to finish up. Upon return, I felt "HOME"...I knew I wasn't leaving again.

Hopefully I didn't come off as a know-it-all here. I just wanted to relay that it was such GOOD experience of what was really not in the cards for me. Your experience may vary!

I have no idea what it is like to be from another culture. I have lived in a white community all of my life. Our major University (Binghamton University) does attract a diverse population. The graduate nurses work the minimum 2 years and then move on. Since I have seen only a handful of diverse nurses after the 2 year point in the hospital setting, it could be assumed that our community is not conducive to diversity. I am not young: I am in my early 40's and worked in Real Estate for 12 years -- VERY involved in the community.

Wishing you the best in your decision. The salaries seem similar based on the apartment prices you quoted.

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Specializes in ICU.

I agree with the PP who said that moving to a new area is hard. I moved 400 miles away for my first job and didn't know anyone, and it wrecked my relationship and I had a really hard time making friends. I probably hung out with other people outside of work... twice in one year? Not counting a few times people went out to breakfast after their shifts. It is harder making friends as an adult, especially in a new area where the culture is totally different than what you are used to and you have no one to introduce you to other people. Making connections can be extremely challenging. I do recommend meetup.com as a way to meet people in a new area... I had some good luck finding other people who were interested in the same things that I was.

However, I don't regret moving because it gave me the experience I needed to get where I wanted to be. Good luck!

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Specializes in Observation, Telemetry, Stroke.

I think I have pretty much decided to go for the acute care job in North Dakota. While I wait, I am still searching for jobs here in Southern California in hopes that I don't have to move so far away from home. Hopefully something in California will come up, as small as the chances are!

Thank you so much for all your input! I really appreciate you helping me with my decision.

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Specializes in public health.

Take the Fargo job. Get a year of experience, reapply to CA.

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Specializes in Observation, Telemetry, Stroke.

Thank you for your input, sourapril. That was the exact idea I have planned.

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I would not go into psych nursing unless you are truly passionate about psych nursing and want to build your career in psych and/or become a psych nurse practitioner. Coming into California with a year of psych experience will definitely get you a job in California... but in things like psychiatry, new grad positions, LTC/ SNF, and clinics... not really anything else. Meanwhile, coming to California with a year of med/surg experience will open the way for you to not only work in med/surg again, but also in other acute care units AND in the things I listed (LTC/SNF, psych, clinics), AND in other non-acute care jobs!

If your dream is to become a psych nurse, and you know that it is your passion...go for it! But if not, then don't do psych nursing straight out of nursing school. If you find out you hate psychiatry, then you will have to go out and find another job again, and will be limited in your search. Whereas, if you go and do some med/surg for a year or two then decide you wamt change, then work in psychiatry for a year and don't like it, you can easily transition back to med/surg or to another unit.

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