Help: job choices as a new grad

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Specializes in ICU.

I recently graduated my LPN program ??

Now I'm faced with 2 job offers and I'm not sure which would be better as a new grad. I want to pursue my ADN next year, so i really want/need ALL the practice and knowledge i can get. However, I'm also a single mother. I do have friends who support and help me with my kid.

Option 1= Office nurse. This would be indirect care, which makes me antsy. Hours are AWESOME. Days. Mon-Fri. No weekends. No holidays. I can switch my hours around if i need. Its more administrative, regulatory, documentation, behind the scenes etc rather than direct care / clinical. Personally, I want to practice my clinical skills BUT again, as a single mother who wants to continue my education, I'm drawn to the schedule and hours. Plus: benefits!

Option 2 = Hospital. It would be part time. 12 hour shifts. Every other weekend. I have friends who will pick my kid up from daycare and watch him on the weekends.. I would have so many days off which will help when im back in school so i can study... Obviously this would be direct care. However, its not medsurg or anything, its behavioral health (not knocking BH because i am actually interested in it).

My mind is saying take the office job! But my heart REALLY wants to go the hospital route. I don't know what i should do. I don't know what specialty i want to pursue, i havent found my nursing niche. The office job DOES have centers that offer direct care, so i was thinking maybe i could ask to work with patients every so often so i dont get rusty but i don't know if thats possible.

Advice?!?

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

HOSPITAL! LPNs are a rarity in the hospital.... It is very hard to get into the hospital as an LPN!!! Please! And then once you are an RN you will have that much more opportunities for yourself!!!!

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Did you ever decide on a job I'm in the same situation I'm an RN doing a school case private duty nursing but I'm not gaining experience at all! Anyone have insights on davita/dialysis as an RN????

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Specializes in ICU.
On 10/2/2019 at 9:59 AM, Nurse.Kelsey said:

HOSPITAL! LPNs are a rarity in the hospital.... It is very hard to get into the hospital as an LPN!!! Please! And then once you are an RN you will have that much more opportunities for yourself!!!!

Im just worried starting out in behavioral health as my first job. I hear from other nurses that it's a terrible idea because changing to other positions will be impossible

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I was going to start on behavioral health also but I heard the same thing! Now I'm doing a school case but its minimal medical care. It's boring but the hours are good. Anyone have insights on davita/dialysis????

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

@lfamigli it doesnt matter it will be waaaay harder to go from office to a hospital job. Go with the hospital job. As an LPN this is a very very very rare opportunity. Soon all hospitals will not hire LPNs.

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Specializes in ICU.
2 minutes ago, Nurse.Kelsey said:

@lfamigli Soon all hospitals will not hire LPNs.

Wait, why will all hospitals stop hiring LPNs soon?

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.
Just now, lfamigli said:

Wait, why will all hospitals stop hiring LPNs soon?

If you havent noticed, most hospitals dont really hire LPNs. Its being phased out. Also, more and more hospitals are going for magnet status. Soon the bare minimum requirement for nursing in hospitals will be BSN lvl. Continue your nursing education. And be happy that you got yourself in the hospital!!!

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Specializes in ICU.

@GinaMarie00 im leaning toward the BH route at the hospital. I never had a psych clinical so im a bit worried i wont like it and end up stuck. Apparently diving straight into psych as a new grad is "nursing suicide".

I do know that i want to work with patients and dont wanna be stuck behind a computer all day. At least with BH i can gain some nursing skills and knowledge; since i will be hired on at a hospital i could possibly / eventually speak to my supervisor about having a shift or two on a medical floor if i get worried about losing my skills.

Albeit, i am going to school for my ADN and will eventually be a new grad again lol I'm banking on the fact that theres a plethora of new grad programs for RNs- so if worse comes to worst, I can kinda start over ?‍♀️

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I would go with the office job, those are hard to get,hospital jobs are easy to get because of all the people who quit.

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