First Job - Not A Great Facility, Take It Or No?

[BrooklynRN11201]

Hello - well I passed nursing school and I'm almost done with a 9 week graduate nurse externship I've been doing in the Emergency Department of a hospital here in New York and I love it! I'm also studying for the NCLEX-RN which I have scheduled for 9/4. The hospital I'm externing at is actually looking for 4 new ED nurses so I think I have a chance contingent upon me getting my license in September. So what's my problem?

Thing is, this hospital is in a really rough neighborhood - very much inner city public city funded type of place. A lot of what we see is drug overdoses, alcohol withdrawals, domestic violence, babies having babies, gunshot wounds, stabbings, prisoners, homeless people, well you get the idea. Now it doesn't bother me at all working there personally since I believe these "forgotten" areas are the most in need of quality nursing care (okay, that's the new nurse talking), but I guess my hesitancy is that it's got a reputation for not being a very good hospital. Would a future employer NOT hire me after seeing I worked there?

In other words, do I just take the first job for a year or so and hope to move on to greener pastures? Or do I hold out for a job at a facility where I'm not ashamed to say I work? (that's a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea).

Many thanks!!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

The way I look at it... Experience is experience. You need to have experience somewhere to get a job in the future. If it comes down to it in an interview just explain that it was a great experience. You got to work in an area and help the under-served. I am a new grad too and I am in the same boat. Do I take the job or pass in hopes that something better comes along. As a new grad your choices are limited without experience, so it's best to get the experience while its in front of you.

Please change your avatar. This place tends toward the anonymous for a reason. You don't want to be instantly identifiable to your manager or colleagues.