First Nursing Job Offer - Advice Please

Hello AllNurses,

It's been a few months since I have logged on and it's great to be back. I am graduating in three weeks with my BSN and would appreciate an opinion or two on the job offer I am leaning towards.

Mental health is my passion. The offer is for a mental health system in my area with about 10 locations with services in mental health treatment and substance abuse. I will be hired on as a float, Monday-Friday, 8-4. The position is salaried at 55,000/year with 7 hours PTO earned every 2 weeks. No call, no weekends. Also mentioned matching 401K and putting money into a 403B. It comes with full health benefits. I'm also starting grad school (PMHNP) in the immediate Fall and the Director assured me that they would work around my evening class schedule if I need to leave early/stay late some days. I've been a Nurse Intern (nonpaid) in mental health for almost 2 years this May.

I never imagined my first nursing job being outside of a hospital but everything seems to be lining up. I'm 21 and haven't had much experience with any of this so your feedback would be much appreciated. Stay well everyone.

-M

[catherine19, RN]

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. You don't need to work in a hospital to be a great nurse. Your focus is mental health, not med/surg. You are specialized. Now, I don't know what your plan is later on, but the current job offer will be perfect while in school.

[Closed Account 12345]

Take it! Good benefits, great schedule, aligns with your term goal

[amoLucia]

If psych is your interest, go for it.

It sounds like Civil Service, so a good place to start (yeah, salary a bit low, but the benes are well worth it!).

Good luck.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

If I were you I'd work a full year before going back for advanced practice studies.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

1 hour ago, Jedrnurse said:

If I were you I'd work a full year before going back for advanced practice studies.

There are always a few non-clinical courses that can be accomplished while you are getting experience.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

36 minutes ago, subee said:

There are always a few non-clinical courses that can be accomplished while you are getting experience.

36 minutes ago, subee said:

There are always a few non-clinical courses that can be accomplished while you are getting experience.

True, and that can help keep up good studying routines.

[itswild]

Thank you so much everyone for the feedback. It's very helpful to read your comments. I have accepted the offer.