First New Grad Job In MD Office Advice

[jules0217]

As most of you know the job market has been very difficult for new grads particularly in my area ( Philly/ South Jersey). I worked over the summer as an RN at a summer camp and have been unemployed since. I FINALLY have been offered a job in a Pediatric MD office. The staff seems very supportive and peds is my desired area of nursing. However, I am a little nervous about not getting hospital experience. Is this going to hurt me later down the road? And will I be able to move into a hospital setting later? Most Peds RN hospital jobs in my area require 1-2 years experience so I am hoping working in the doctor's office will do that for me. Any advice would be appreciated. Also, if there are any nurses working in doctor's offices, how do you like your job? My eventual goal (right now I have my BSN) is to go back to school and get my MSN and be either a FNP or PNP.

[AZMOMO2]

It's better to be a working RN than be unemployed. You can always keep looking for that elusive hospital job while you work at the office. If you want to become a FNP or PNP in the future then an office is a great place to work. IMO

PS... that does not seem like the best poll questions.

[nursel56]

The experience a potential peds unit employer requires is of the type that will result in them not having to start from square one, which is expensive and time consuming.

Your typical day in a doctor's office vs working at a peds hospital will look completely different even though they share the common age group. Therefore they usually look for recent acute hospital trial by fire. :)

Working there doesn't mean you won't learn a lot of valuable information about the specialty and experience working with kids and the adults they bring with them. (it's an art form, really :))

You could also use the job to network with people who do work in peds hospitals - if you do a fantastic job there you can give yourself a word-of-mouth reputation (good as gold) The really cool docs like to help people move up in their career goals.

Here's a link to my alma mater Children's Hospital of LA about their RN residency program - it will give you a feel for what you might want to think about now even though I do realize you're in Philly good luck!!

RN Residency | Pediatrics Nurse | RN Versant - Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

[SalineFlush]

As most physician's offices offer RNs insulting pay and the office vs. acute care difference in clinical experience is vast, I would encourage you to continue to assiduously seek employment in acute care. Physician offices are not conventionally desirable starting points for nursing careers (although I understand your need for employment post-graduation).

[mcneillmama3, BSN, RN]

I noticed your post. I have always worked in geriatrics-assisted living, SNF and flu clinics. Currently I work as an independent contractor in long term care planning and care coordination. Just a lot of paper work and more headache than I am making in money. I'm losing money on every case I work due to the high gas prices, the paper that I have to buy to print out the documents I take with me, ink jet cartridges I have to buy, then my licensing fees, continuing ed fees, TB skin testing, CPR and malpractice comes out of my own pocket. I have back problems now too. Do you think I could move in to an office nurse position? What kind of training would I be provided? We had a couple of girls that got hired right out of nursing school with no work experience at all-they didn't even work as CNAs or pharmacy techs while in nursing school, and they got hired in doctor's offices right out of school. Are the skills any harder to learn than what is required of a SNF nurse or hospital nurse. I've also worked in acute cardiac care, but it was 14 years ago. What advice would you give a seasoned nurse wanting to change venues to a medical office.

[nursel56]

McNeillmama3 -There is a lot of walking involved with most doctor's offices, and most likely sitting down and standing at frequent intervals but it is nothing like transferring a pt or boosting up in the bed. Lots of telephone time (usually) but I can't fathom a scenario where you wouldn't have the skills or quickly pick them up with your experience and knowledge.

You may even discover that the MDs in your area don't hire licensed nurses nearly as often as they used to.

The two factors that made all the difference to me were a combination of the doctor's personality and the type of specialty he or she practices. You run your tail off in some of them, but a nice grandfatherly internist might actually bore you!

I hope you can find something. The predictable hours and consistent workflow are definite plusses to that choice, as well as your weekends and holidays off.

[littlekaneRN]

congratulations on landing a job! i am also a new grad in the philly area and have also just been hired to a dermatology office. after speaking candidly with staff and my past professors, they have assured me that once you start a job as an rn in an office setting, that you are not "doomed" to stay there forever. my last professor said that many of the graduates in the class before mine said that they did start in an office and were able to transition to the hospital settings. i do know of a really special pediatric facility in north philly that hires (new! or experienced in any field) rn's roughly every 6 months. i had to decline their offer for me, but i loved the facility and if peds is your thing, it is a wonderful place and had circumstances been different, i could see some great experience there. send me a message if you'd like to talk!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

At this point a job as an RN in an office makes you more valuable than an RN without a job to most employers. Learn what you can, and keep your eye open for an job openings in your area.

[milan2006]

What is the name of the facility in Philly? I live in NJ, but was thinking about relocating to Pa. Please message me the info. Thanks

[Dumplins, MSN, RN, APN]

i know there are some hospitals in south jersey that are picking up new grads. it's tough though. competitive.

and you're not doomed after working as an office rn. especially if it's related to the specialty you want to get into like peds.

you have to think of it this way: if you dont take the office rn job and keep searching, you have 0 experience.

if you take the office rn job and hospitals dont see it as real experience, you STILL have 0 experience. you're still in the same boat. but maybe..JUST MAYBE..you'll find a hospital that sees your year of experience worth something, and they'll pick you up. i like to think of as, some experience is better than no experience.