Early nursing jobs and "black marks" on resumes

[mtcorias]

So I have been a medic for a long time and have recently become an RN in 2013 and completed my BSN while working for an advice line this month. So now I'm out looking for other working opportunities. Now, in the past, other RNs I've worked with (I spent some of my time as a medic working within the ED) have told me that there are some jobs that will torpedo your career early on (the prime and most common example being a nurse at a nursing home).

Now, my current RN experience is in telephone triage and advice, it worked for my school schedule. I'm out for other jobs right now and one job that looks interesting is working for the state for the school system (not exactly a school nurse, but similar enough that we can call it that). It has good pay, benefits, sounds interesting and provides more public health experience which is where I'm looking to go long term.

However.. Am I destroying my chances of ever going back into the hospital, much less critical care/ED in the future? I don't necessarily see myself going in that direction, but then if you asked me a few years ago I wouldn't have seen myself being an RN either.

Just curious, jobs are not exactly growing on trees out here, but I don't want to take a job that will harm my long-term prospects.

Thanks!

-Mike

[guest83140]

I am a older nurse so I don't mine having a chance of going back into the hospital, I am looking to retire within 5 years. But to answer your question, I would stay PRN and maybe work every now in then to keep my foot in and stay current even if it's 4 hours every other weekend. Yes, some hospital insist on current 1-2 years so that is what I would do.

[Nola009]

I think you could keep your options open by maintaining a prn job either at a hospital or a SNF. Steady employment in any nurse spcialty should keep you marketable, IMO.