Home care vs med surg for first RN job

[lucillefay]

I need some advice as a new grad. I have been offered a job at a home care company but have been told by many people that if I start my nursing career in home care I may get 'stuck' there and it will be more difficult in the future to go anywhere else. Many have suggested I turn down the job offer and keep looking for a med surg type position which they strongly believe would open many more doors for future nursing career options. Does anyone have any advice for me? Am I crazy to turn down a job offer when I don't have any other offers? Is Starting my nursing career in home care really that detrimental to the rest of my future nursing career? Or should I take the position in home care since that's the only offer I have at the moment? So confused I don't know what to do!!

[caliotter3]

How badly do you need an income? The home care job will probably still be there if you allow yourself another three months (or however long) to search for a hospital job. Good luck.

[missnurse01, MSN, RN]

I need some advice as a new grad. I have been offered a job at a home care company but have been told by many people that if I start my nursing career in home care I may get 'stuck' there and it will be more difficult in the future to go anywhere else. Many have suggested I turn down the job offer and keep looking for a med surg type position which they strongly believe would open many more doors for future nursing career options. Does anyone have any advice for me? Am I crazy to turn down a job offer when I don't have any other offers? Is Starting my nursing career in home care really that detrimental to the rest of my future nursing career? Or should I take the position in home care since that's the only offer I have at the moment? So confused I don't know what to do!!

it is pretty true that having home care experience is not seen as hospital or acute care experience...so when you transition over to the hosp you will basically be considered like a new grad, with no experience. You can always take the job, keep searching for a hosp based job, and then quit or go to per diem at the home care place. depends on your goals too, people sometimes go to home care, love it and never leave.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Home care is a special beast but you need to be able to work by yourself and keep a good schedule. With no experience I did home health for awhile. I didn't kill anyone but I saw many other nurses who almost did. If I had to do something I had never done before I would be up all night researching it. You have to know when to ask for help and when to say "I don't know how to do that." It's med/surg out of the back of your car...it's not as cut and dried as you might think.

So what if you take the job...the only way you will get stuck there is if you decide to stay.