Graduating in May, Rural area jobs for new grads?

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Hi all,

I'm writing to ask for advice. I'll be graduating in May from an associates program in a fairly rural area. There's only one (small) nearby hospital, and they will have many applications from new grads for jobs there. I'm pretty sure I will be offered a med-surg position (I had a really good interview today), but the nurse manager said I would have to work only nights for over a year! I know there are hardier souls than me who could do that, but I know myself and I know I could not sustain that schedule for so long. I am really interested in either emergency or maternal-child nursing there, but there will be limited positions in those areas...

Can anyone give me some ideas about how to plan for the possibility of not getting a job in the hospital right out of school? Other types of jobs or waiting until something opens up...? My fiance and I are very attached to the area and would like to stay here if at all possible.

This is my first post-I'm excited to hear back from all you smart nurses and nursing students!

Thanks,

Megan

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Specializes in LTC, geriatric, psych, rehab.

Have you thought of being a school nurse? That is challenging, has day time hours, no weekends or holidays, and kids can be fun. If it sounds interesting, check with the board of education in your county. All counties have to have a school nurse, no matter how rural they are.

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Check with your county (or adjoining counties) and see if there is a need in the public health clinics too.

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That does sound pretty interesting. Thanks for the tip-I'll look into it. But can a GN really go straight into school nursing?

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