Hello Everyone--newbie RN

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Specializes in Telemetry; CTSICU; ER.

I've been reading many of the posts on this website for the past month or so, but just decided to join. I have a very pressing question. I have worked in the same hospital for the past 6yrs. I just passed boards 2 months ago almost and just recently started applying for jobs as a nurse. I work currently in a job that pays me more an hour than a starting nurse and the only option for a job that I have right now is in a unit that is notorious for having a high turnover.(Due to the management). Should I take the job, just to get my foot in the door for nursing? Or should I just wait, could be many months, for a nursing job that I would have more possibility of having some longevity in? I owe this hospital, for my schooling, until mid-2009 and then I'm free to go anywhere. Should I stay in my job now at this hospital, which counts for paying back my schooling, which I'm basically happy with and take my time getting a part-time nursing job at another facility? If I don't take a nursing job right away will I lose my "skills" to be a good nurse? Any input I could get would be greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Welcome to Allnurses. I'll move your question to general nursing where you might get more answers. Congrats on your new role, I hope it works out.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

It is hard to say what to do but in my opinion I would probably stay at my current job and get a part time somewhere.

I like to get paid and would not want to decrease my salary. However there is always a flip side. If nursing is your passion and you want to advance then getting a nursing job would be better. I have known people to quit a good paying job (pay maxed out) and take a 25-30% decrease in pay with a new one. But two years later they are making what there were making and have not reached the salary cap. They enjoyed the new job and advanced because they worked hard and knew the rewards would be great if they stuck it out. And there is still room for higher pay.

It is all how you want to look at it.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

I say stay and work as a nurse part-time and/or wait for a good nursing job to open up. I was in a similar situation (but being the same as an RN, not more), and sometimes I wish that I had held onto my old 0.5 FTE. That way I wouldn't have to work full-time as a nurse but could still gain experience.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

At first I was going to say you should resign and get an RN job somewhere else where you can put your education to good use. You can always go back to work for this hospital at a later time if you terminated in good standing. Then, I see you owe this hospital tuition repayment, is that correct? You may be stuck having to take the position on the unit you're not too happy about and hoping that things work out. I doubt the hospital is going to allow you to waste your potential RN talent when they could be taking advantage of the investment they made in your education.

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if the turnover at the new place is high,

what'll you do if you are not happy there?

sometimes you can't return to your former employer if they have a hiring freeze on (they might think you're wonderful, but if they're not hiring ...)

I would stay where you are and look for something part-time, then see about making changes

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