How long did it take you to get into your dream nursing Job?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello everyone! I am a new grad who has been working in the ED at an amazing hospital with magnet status. I want to stay with this hospital for my entire career, just not in the ED. My heart is in L&D/ post partum. I plan on staying in the ED for at least 1 year then begin the search for my dream job. How long did it take for everyone to get into their dream field of nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'll let you know when I get there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You know, when I graduated I wanted to be a pediatric nurse practitioner so I planned to get a job in peds in the local children's hospital for a year or two and then take a PNP course. But we moved, and my first job was in a PACU-- and I loved it. It led to my next job, in a huge ICU, and I loved that. Then I was an independent in critical care, and I loved that. Then I was a critical care clinical specialist, and I loved that. Then I became a case manager in work comp, and loved it. Now I have my own company in legal nurse consulting and life care planning, and I love that. See the pattern here?

Don't waste your energy waiting and hoping for that "dreeeeeaaaaammmmmm" job. There's something cool to be learned and experienced just about everywhere, and the job you may adore in ten or twenty or thirty years may not even exist now. Get good at what you do, and the rest will take care of itself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
How long did it take for everyone to get into their dream field of nursing?
After seven years of nursing, I have not discovered the 'dream job.'
Up Vote Up Vote ×

5 months after graduation; in the NICU. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Coming up for 13 years and still looking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health/School Nursing.

3 years. School Nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1 day after graduation. I'm lucky, but at the same time dreams change! In a few years I'm sure I'll be chasing after something new :sarcastic:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The job I'm in now I like I plan on staying for another few years, so I guess it's dreamy enough for now. But not forever, I don't imagine the next job I'll be at forever either, but if i get what I want from it I'll stay a while

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"Dream Job" to me fits in with things like "perfect man", "fabulous kids" and "dream house". How do you define that?

I work in a good and satisfying job.

It is not perfect; everyone has the occasional bad day, patients act like patients, we still need to come to work when we are scheduled. The job also has a sympathetic manager, good staffing, plentiful supplies, respect from the doctors, interesting diagnoses and patients who often do recover well.

I found this job after a year when I left my first nursing job which nobody would ever call a dream job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Almost 1 yr to the day. Initially worked cardiac tele, but the ED has my heart & soul!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I've been a nurse for over nine years now, and I really cannot say I've ever had my "dream job", nor do I even know what that is anymore. =)

I THINK that my dream job would be as a school nurse, but even that job has drawbacks that could get pretty old after a while. Lots of paperwork. Low pay, at least in my area. Could get boring at times.

Not quite as much "hands on" work. Still, with the great hours, and getting to work with the kiddos, I think I would really like it.

Unfortunately, I can't ever seem to find an available position. =(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment