How Picky Should I be with My First Job?!

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Hello everyone,

I passed my NCLEX in March of this year. I have my ADN and I will have my BSN by the end of August. I have been searching for a job and no luck yet. I had one interview and didn't get the job. I know places in Bakersfield and Antelope Valley are "easier" to get a job but I am scared that their training will not give me a good foundation for the future. However, I am scared that I won't get a job soon enough and I will lose the skills that I have. Should I just apply to the hospitals that may not have as good as a rep as others?

Also, I live in SOCAL area

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Specializes in CVICU, CCRN.

If it's about skills, and not about really needing to pay the bills as soon as possible, I would say to try to be a bit picky about where you get your first training. The best type of place would be a hospital, on a telemetry floor. These floors, although heavy, are the best places to learn the basics. You will be able to master your skills and then have the options to go to more acute areas - ER, ICU. Speciality areas will also lean towards you as well! Try to stray from speciality areas like OB, psych, OR for now -- do your couple months/1 year of the telemetry floor first to at least get a good development of skills and then look. Try, also to stray from nursing homes if you can. All the best.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, NURSING EDUCATION.

I don't know about California, but in my state they just passed the mandate making BSN the entry level into practice. They now have even more of an advantage when competing in the job market with ADN's. Hopefully by the end of this month with your completed degree you will be getting more callbacks. Good luck!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I don't know about California, but in my state they just passed the mandate making BSN the entry level into practice. They now have even more of an advantage when competing in the job market with ADN's. Hopefully by the end of this month with your completed degree you will be getting more callbacks. Good luck!

What state is that?

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Thank you all!!! Appreciate it so much!

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If it's about skills, and not about really needing to pay the bills as soon as possible, I would say to try to be a bit picky about where you get your first training. The best type of place would be a hospital, on a telemetry floor. These floors, although heavy, are the best places to learn the basics. You will be able to master your skills and then have the options to go to more acute areas - ER, ICU. Speciality areas will also lean towards you as well! Try to stray from speciality areas like OB, psych, OR for now -- do your couple months/1 year of the telemetry floor first to at least get a good development of skills and then look. Try, also to stray from nursing homes if you can. All the best.

Why do you advise to stay away from nursing homes?

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When I took my first job, my main criteria was who offered the longest, most thorough orientation period. The position I took was offering one on one with a preceptor for two months. That showed me that they really wanted to give me the foundation to be successful and do my job well. The company did follow through with what they offered for training, and I ended up feeling very confident by the time I was on my own. I stayed for more than two years, and even after leaving to pursue the specialty I really wanted, kept on as a per diem to help them out now and then because they were good to me. Many hospitals offer graduate nurse residencies that last that long or even longer, structured training with a preceptor that sets you up for success. I would recommend looking for something like that if it is available in your area. My local hospital has nurse residencies for "ER track" "med surg track" "home health track" etc.

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