Easier to get a job as a new grad?

[hope.s]

I will be graduating from my ADN program in May of 2019, and I'm trying to make a decision about where to apply.

If I take a job at the small local hospital straight out of school, would it hurt my chances of getting a job at a bigger hospital in 1-3 years since I will no longer be a new grad? Or would even a little experience be a stepping stone?

Thanks!!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I worked with plenty of nurses at a large academic pediatric hospital who started at community hospitals. You don't say where you live but, in my area of the country, large teaching hospitals are much more likely than small community hospitals to require a BSN so most ADN grads would start at a community hospital (or non-hospital).

[cleback]

Is experience at a small local hospital better than what, no experience? Of course it is. Also, nurses from small hospitals rock. Whereas tertiary hospital nurses have access teams to place their ivs, rt to give nebs, phlebotomy to draw labs, code teams to manage spiraling patients, it's just the nurse at the small hospital. So I'd lose the elitist misconception.

[hope.s]

Thanks for the input. I live in North Carolina

[hope.s]

I was asking if I should try for a bigger hospital right away as a new grad, or the smaller hospital. :)

[RNperdiem, RN]

Apply to all hospitals. At this point, you want a job. Who says you can't apply to both?

[verene, MSN]

I was asking if I should try for a bigger hospital right away as a new grad, or the smaller hospital. :)

Why not both? There are pros and cons to both large and small facilities, but either way you will be learning and building skills. As a new grad you should cast a wide net in your applications to see who is interested in you, and after research/interviewing see which job you actually want (assuming you get multiple interviews/offers).