First offer not what I want...

[epg_pei]

The local hospital has offered me a one-year position in psychiatry. I do want to practice mental health nursing, as an adjunct to med/surg nursing, but I don't want to commit completely to psychiatry fresh out of school. Nor do I want to decline an offer from the local hospital, it is where I want to work. Anyone have any suggestions?

[truern]

How many applications have you put in?? Have you given the process enough time??

Myself, though..I'd want to get my foot in the door where I WANT to work, then try to move around once I'm there.

Good luck

[llg, PhD, RN]

I don't really understand what you applied for... "mental health as an adjunct to med/surg." Can you clarify that? Did you apply for a job on the psych unit or not? Did you apply for multiple positions within that same hospital? Did the hospital realize that you really want a med/surg position and not a psych unit position? What did you tell them that your desires were?

Since I am not sure what type of job you were hoping for, maybe the hospital wasn't either. If that could be the case, you should probably talk with their recruiter and clarify your desires so that they know you really wanted a job on one of their med/sur units.

llg

[epg_pei]

Thanks for the replies. I did make it very clear in my application that med/surg was my number one choice, psychiatry second. The HR person said the other day that med/surg opportunities would likely arise and that I can apply for specific positions once I am there. So I guess that's probably the best option, to get my foot in the door, and see what develops over the year. I can always look elsewhere if it doesn't pan out. I just feel like not doing it right out of school I will lose knowledge and what skill I have developed.