Job Interview

[DimplesRN]

Hello all! I am finally back :)

I have been a nurse for 3 years. I have only peds and newborn experience. My first love is definitely pediatrics. I am in the newborn nursery now, but am having issues with management, wishing to leave night shift, and desiring to get out of the hospital setting, and have discovered a newfound interest in public health. I am a RN-BSN student who is going to graduate next semester( God Willing), and have applied for a health dept postion in the neighboring county after my community health rotation in my city's health dept. I really love the teaching aspect, the one on one with the clients, and all of the outside experiences, i.e. travel clinics, screeningss, flu shots, etc. I feel that community health is a way to combine both my love for peds and public health. I know I will have to take a pay cut, all of the nurses warned me of this at clinical, but I don't mind, because I am just taking care of myself and my dog. I guess I just want advice, about anyone in this situation with experience, words of wisdom. anything constructive would be appreciated. I will have a 30 min commute, vs 10 min now. But I think the pros outweigh the cons. I have an interview this Friday. I am so excited. Can anyone give me interview advice? I also wanted opinions on the fact that where I am interviewing is a lot smaller health dept than where I did clinicals. I want to be able to learn all of the programs well, and I don't want to be bored if they have a lot slower pace. Any advice is appreciated, Thanks in advance.

DimplesRN :)

[DimplesRN]

Only one response in a pm. but just wanted to update that I got the position. I am so excited for the opportunity. I cant wait to get started. I will post back in a few weeks with updates.

[noahsmama]

Congratulations on getting the job! I'm in the same position as you -- pedi nurse transitioning to public health (just got offered a job today!). We'll have to keep each other posted on how it goes! Good luck!

Diane

[MissIt]

Congratulations to both of you! I am really looking forward to hearing how you like public health.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Hey Dimples. I know too many nurses who work ridiculous shifts, burning themselves out in micro managed short-staffed facilities and hating every minute of it. They do it because they got themselves into debt right off as their careers began thinking generally more about the $$ they could make than about the price it would exact on them. So if you start off your career with the attitude that you live within your means without killing yourself in the process, the money is secondary.

I love public health. It just feels right. If teaching and hooking people up with services is your thing, you will love it too.

[DimplesRN]

thanks to both noahsmama and wonderbee,

we definitely should keep eachother posted on the positions we took, noahsmama :) what are the odds of both of us being peds backgroud. thanks to you wonderbee, for the very smart and practical advice. i know what you mean. i know nurses that feel "stuck" related to financial obligations. i am so glad that i have been pretty careful with my spending. i have let myself be available to a great opportunity withough worrying so much about making ends meet. i would have felt terrible if i had to let the chance pass me by.

i start on monday. i get more excited every day. wonderbee, do you mind telling me more about what you do in your job?

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Hope my PM gave you what you were looking for.

[soso]

Hope someone can give me some much needed advice. I am a brand new nurse, yet to step foot on the floor, who is very much interested in public health nursing. I have my ADN and a BA in Social Services (where I've worked the last 8 years) and am applying to BSN programs. How does one get into the field with no experience, nursing experience that is. I am also pursing my MPH for Spring 11. I don't want to waste my time and be unhappy working in a hospital when I know this is not what I truly want to do. Please advise!!