For those of you who started outside of the hospital

I started out as a CNA with a hospice agency, I worked as an LPN with the same hospice agency and now I am an RN with them as well. I have never done anything outside of hospice care. I am okay with that because that is where my heart is. I do often wonder if I have limited myself. I have never worked in a hospital.

I started out in a 60 bed little nursing home in a small town. Did a couple of part-time home care cases after my dear husband died.

Then the job market improved, I got a bonus to sign on to a part time hospital position. After a couple of years I switched to a med surg position in a small town hospital closer to home. Worked there 8 years, switching to to small hospital ICU.

Went back to the bigger hospital mainly for scheduling issues (raising children alone).Switched to ER. Now I've used that experience to take a new job that is pretty darned good (and cushy).

Let your career evolve and enter doors when they open for you.

I started outside of the hospital setting; starting as a LPN with Pediatric Provate duty home health and at an Acute Rehabilitation Hospital. I also did agency work at LTCs in my area; I also dabbled in Nursing Informatics.

I then went back and got my BSN while working at a Pedi Medical Daycare and once I got my RN license, I started receiving hospital offers. I dabbled in a PICU, but then returned to outside the hospitals as a supervisor in a nursing home, and was at a Pedi Post Acute facility and then accepted a PediER job this year-I have been at my current position for 8 months.

Each position I have experienced has helped me become a viable candidate to hospital employers; play up your nursing strengths and it is very possible to take your career wherever you want to take it.