which job should a new nurse take

Published

I am a new graduate and just received my lpn license. I have recently been offered a job at a local hospital and they have given me the choice of 3 different areas to work in. ER, Oncology-med/surg, and ICU. I don't know which one will be the best starting career choice. Most of my in school experience was in med-surg, but I would love to hear from nurses who work in the following areas about their jobs. I guess my biggest fear is that I am so new to nursing, which is not to say that I am afraid of doing skills, just that I don't bring experience to the table. Any advice that can be given would be greatly appreciated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's a learning curve one way or another. Choose the area that interests you most, not the one that may be easiest. You'll be glad you did.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank You! I am just so flustered, but honestly following my heart would be the best choice

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Select the unit that you think will interest you the most. You might turn out to be unhappy working in a certain specialty if it was never something you wanted to do in the first place. Good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work in Oncology as a New Grad (been there a year now) and LOVE it!!!! I just started giving chemo. I love that the pts stay for a longtime, we really get to know them and their families. AND they tend to get admitted again and again which makes taking care of them easier as we know their history. We get attached to the pts and even text each other on our days off to see how pts are doing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Its up to you really, you need to go where your heart is but if it were me personally I would go for the ER all the way. If I couldn't have the ER then probably Med/Surg but definitely not Oncology (sorry but a little too depressing for me.)

!Chris :specs:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Do all three areas have the same length of orientation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Corrections, Acute Mental Health.

From a semi-new grad to another- unless you already have a specialty in mind that you feel is your calling, work something general, like med/surg or ED. This way you build on and perfect your most fundamental skills. Do that for a couple years. By the end of those couple years, you'll probably have a place in your heart for something particular.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So much for the "Can't find a Job" we keep hearing from a select few

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ER offers the best training.Once you gain experience in ER they will hire you everywhere.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I think you can't go wrong with the ER/ICU from an experience perspective. As beachbutterfly said, once you gain experience in ER they will hire you everywhere.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion