Do i settle or do i wait?

Nurses General Nursing

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New here with a question....

I am a new grad and my passion is in the maternal child area--particularly Labor & Delivery...I am in the Chicago area and am having the hardest time finding a job in that specialty. As lots of you have said, everyone is looking for experience but noone is willing to give you experience to take elsewhere. I would love to work at one of the major hospitals and have applied to probably all of them....(my favorite would have been U of C as i did my Peds rotation there) ...I have gone on a few interviews...my first ended up getting me an offer for cardiac stepdown but the pay was lower than other hospitals, another was for a med/surg position with lots of bells and whistles and the pay was GREAT and most recently an interview for what i was told to be on a "mother/baby" unit but it turned out to be 10% mother/baby and the rest "female potluck" so, not really what i wanted.

MY QUESTION: DO I HOLD OUT FOR MY DREAM JOB OR DO I SETTLE FOR SOMETHING ELSE? :banghead: I'm really getting frustrated.....

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I could be wrong, but as a new grad I dont think its the smartest thing to be really picky. I think its important to gain experience and then you can always transfer after a year or so.... I think you shouldve taken that 10% mother/baby job because you could have gotten your foot in the door to later transfer to L&D, I dont know, thats just my opinion though.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

As a new grad in an area where the job hunt for new grads is very tough--I wouldn't be picky, either. If there is one job that can get you experience related to your interest, I'd take it. Just carefully weigh your options and decide which is best for you, as no one else can do that.

It's amazing to see the differences across the country--new grads in my area would be lucky to have even ONE job offer, let alone a choice.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

In my area we are pretty much able to pick our speciality but since you are having trouble getting what you want your third offer sure sounded good to me. It would be enough to have a Mother/Baby spot on your resume after a year or so if you want to start reapplying then. Good luck!

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Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

I agree...I would take the M/B one and get your foot in the door and then see about transferring to L&D after getting some experience. It would also help by doing this because you can develop a professional relationship with the docs.

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It depends a lot on your financial picture. Also, you don't want to stay out too long and make whoever you interview with more than 6 months from now start to wonder why you are not yet employed.

For a few months, you could say you were comparing offers and vacationing a little after arduous school. After that, I think people start to wonder.

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Many facilities actually require mother/baby training before they will accept the nurse for L and D training.

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Specializes in ICU.

working is better than not working

:saint:

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I am with the ones who say don't be so picky. I never in a million years saw myself as a cardiac nurse. But, I did that for 6 years and LOVED it. I also worked at a county jail as a new grad (local hospitals were not hiring at the time) and had a ball. Loved, Loved, LOVED corrections nursing. Now am doing my dream job of hospice and couldn't be happier. But, the experience I had throughout all the other areas have helped make me the nurse I am today.

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Specializes in cardiac ICU.

The hospital where I worked prior to and just after gaining my license usually did not even hire new grads onto specific units. You had to hire into a float pool and then apply for specific unit positions as they opened. The experience you gained floating was a benefit to whichever unit became your "home".

Experience only benefits you in the end, regardless of whether or not it is in the area where you eventually want to be.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
New here with a question....

I am a new grad and my passion is in the maternal child area--particularly Labor & Delivery...I am in the Chicago area and am having the hardest time finding a job in that specialty. As lots of you have said, everyone is looking for experience but noone is willing to give you experience to take elsewhere. I would love to work at one of the major hospitals and have applied to probably all of them....(my favorite would have been U of C as i did my Peds rotation there) ...I have gone on a few interviews...my first ended up getting me an offer for cardiac stepdown but the pay was lower than other hospitals, another was for a med/surg position with lots of bells and whistles and the pay was GREAT and most recently an interview for what i was told to be on a "mother/baby" unit but it turned out to be 10% mother/baby and the rest "female potluck" so, not really what i wanted.

MY QUESTION: DO I HOLD OUT FOR MY DREAM JOB OR DO I SETTLE FOR SOMETHING ELSE? :banghead: I'm really getting frustrated.....

you have had more offers than the typical new grad. you need to get experience where you can and i don't think you should be too picky because then you can lose a great opportunity. UofC is suppose to be a great place to learn. the pay is lower because it is a teaching/union hospital but they also have great benefits and they pay for your BSN or MSN 100%...at your school of choice. i would have worked there when i graduated but i didn't want to drive that far everyday. if you have more questions about chicago area hospitals PM me.

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I agree with the others, it is probably not best to be so picky at this time. I would say if your goal is L & D, then take the closest offer to that. The mother/baby one may not be but you want but you will gain some relevant experience which will likely help your chances later of getting into L & D.

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