New grad doesn't want to work on the floor...

[regrebs]

I just finished nursing school and will be taking the NCLEX soon. Some of my classmates have already been hired on varying units, but I've known from the beginning that staff nursing isn't really for me. I've thought about research, oncology, infectious diseases, genetics, and other specialties, but I don't necessarily want to work on an oncology floor, and so on. I did well during clinicals and preceptorship, and I love this field to death, but my heart just isn't in the hospital-unit setting. I will be continuing my education and have been considering school nursing as my job for the time being. My mom, a nurse for 30-some years now, worked as a school nurse for the last couple of years, and I helped out every so often when I had time or when she was out of town. She knows how I feel about staff nursing, and we both think I'd enjoy the school setting and should apply at the local district. My main concern now is that, when I further my degree and want to work somewhere else, I won't be taken seriously without hospital experience. What do you experienced nurses think? Do you need to work in a hospital to be considered a "real" nurse? (My mom says no, but I don't know if she's saying that as a nurse or as my mom!)

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

Opinions are like _ _ S _ _ L_ _, everyone has one...lol. But seriously the thing that's needed to prove you are a real nurse, is your sucessful completion of school and your license. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Look at all the types of nursing, we don't all work in hospitals, but we are all REALNURSES! Hugs and good luck in your career!

[dorimar, BSN, RN]

I'm not trying to be insensitive or rude, but I really don't understand why you chose nursing. What exactly is it that makes you "love this field to death". There are all kinds of science degrees, but nursing involves the art of caring for patients... If you find no joy in that, I don't understand why you didn't get just a science degree.

[dorimar, BSN, RN]

And after analyzing further, I don't think you must have a desire to work in a hospital, but you must desire the caring for patients part.... That could be in a variety of settings, but truly the cornerstone of nursing is caring for patients.... Even if you wanted to teach (as I do), you have to have that basic understanding of the profession to teach it. Nursing is both an art and a science. It sounds to me like you just want the science... I know I may be misinterpreting your post though.

[himilayaneyes]

It sounds like you enjoy patients and the science part of nursing, but the not the bedside care which is the heart of nursing. At the end of the day, the most important part of the equation is the patient. However, you can care for patients outside of the hospital setting. However, most places will require you to have a year of acute care experience before hiring you for things like home health or even school nursing. Believe that one year of experience will help b/c in those jobs, you'll be flying solo. And yes, we also have nurse researchers. However, those researchers more than likely started at the bedside. In fact, the purpose of the research is to improve bedside care...evidence based practice. But really your best bet would be to ask a nursing researcher their opinion. However, realize that opinions aren't set in stone. If you become a school nurse, perhaps you could research nursing interventions in the school population. There are many options available. Hope you find your niche. Although you may want to consider another field such as biology or genetics, etc...if you really don't like nursing that much. And please know that I'm not trying to be rude in saying this, but perhaps you should really consider the reasons that you decided to study nursing...was it b/c of your mother or of your own initiative and would you be happier in another field. At the end of the day, you don't want to be stuck in a field that you don't enjoy. Here's a link that may help you (FYI, they suggest at least a year of experience since they say it'll play a big role in your research). Good luck.

How to Become a Research Nurse | eHow.com

[roser13, ASN, RN]

As I read both your post and the answers, one thing stands out to me: the answer to your question lies not with you or with us. It lies with your potential employer.

It truly matters not what we think. It only matters what your employer wants/desires/needs. Prior experience may or may not be important.

[edogs334]

Saying what you said about what type of nursing position you desire after graduation(on one level) kind of like saying "I want to join the police department, but I don't want to put in my time working patrol; I want to be a detective right after I graduate from the academy." As other people have said, a lot of non-bedside nursing employers require or prefer at least some bedside experience. I can understand, however, your lack of desire for a career in inpatient bedside nursing. Inpatient nursing, even though it's the "bread and butter" of what nurses do, isn't for everyone and there are options for new graduates who want to work in non-inpatient settings. You just have to look for them because they're less obvious than the opportunities for new grads in hospitals.

[PetiteOpRN]

At the ACS where I work, they take prior experience very seriously. We don't have time to teach the basics (you know, the stuff they don't bother to really teach you in nursing school, which you are supposed to learn in your first year of hospital nursing).

At one point, we hired a nurse who had been a case manager for years, and it was a disaster. We did not know where to begin with training, because she didn't have the same assessment or clinical skills that are a 'given' with a lot of other nurses.

Not all employers are so picky, but there are some who are.

Who knows, you might love bedside nursing. I used to hate orthopedic surgery, but if I tell myself that it's a lot of fun sometimes I start to believe it.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

Don't expect it to be easy to get a job.

Of course its not easy to get any job but it would be easier to get a job in bedside nursing right out of school than non-bedside nursing.

[nialloh, RN]

Firstly, the thing that makes you a real nurse is the RN after your name. That is one of the most important things, and is respected all by its self.

That being said, I would recommend at least 1 year of floor nursing. This will sharpen your assessment skills, and will help with time management. You said you are interested in school nursing, you will need it there. Also, if the research market falls through, you will have something to fall back on.

In this field, experience is king.

[tralalaRN]

Like you, I did well in school and clinicals too, however, I didn't have an interest in doing hospital or LTC nursing either. I did land in a hospital out of nursing school, and disliked it - landed in a privately owned dialysis clinic - disliked that too. Landed back in a hospital med/surg this time - truly hated this. I've now found my niche and it's private duty nursing for medically fragile children. I love it, and will be staying until I retire. It gives me a certain amount of flexibility and independence. No hierarchy or politics here! I certainly did bounce some the few years after nursing school, but that's ok, I think, as I was putting my toe in the water. Some people just aren't cut out for hospital or LTC type nursing. The trick is to find your niche. Are there shadowing opportunities available in the areas you've indicated you might be interested in?

[mauxtav8r]

Consider your first year in the field working as an extension (and completion) of nursing school. Then, no one can argue that you are not a "real"nurse. Take a year of med surg nursing on a floor, consider it a class that pays you, rather than vice versa.

It is a means to an end.