So as the title says, I have been offered 3 nursing positions but I am stumped as to which would be most suitable for a new grad. All are willing to wait until I pass the NCLEX-RN and hold the jobs for me until June 14th, so to speak.
I am in the last semester of my ADN program, and have provisional acceptance to several RN-BSN programs that I can start upon graduation.
That being said, where do you feel is a great starting point for new grad nurses to gather the greatest experience?
I wouldn't recommend float. Not enough orientation and floating on different units is going to require more training than they seem to want to give. Either of the other ones would be good. What do YOU want to do?
Congratulations Besaangel! I don't have any advice for you because I'm just about to start nursing school but your post was inspirational. I love knowing that jobs are available to those of us going into this profession. I like hearing about people's success!!! Again, congrats!!!
I used to tell my patients that not everybody has kidneys, and not everybody even has brains, but if they don't have hearts we don't have to worry about taking care of them because they're, like, dead.
You'll get a lot more transferrable skills in cardiac.
Observation can be interesting, too; you'll see a lot of interesting things and get your ear bent about insurance (i.e., "He's on a 23-hour obs so we have to rule him out or admit him")
I wouldn't recommend a float pool job for a new grad, too fragmented.
Thank you so much for your responses. It is great to receive feedback on aspects that I had not previously considered, especially with my limited experience.
I went through my interview notes and found the following updates:
Obs would allow unlimited OT (I always pick) but they also require 16 hrs stand-by shifts biweekly which would be deducted from regular hours if called in to cover
Obs sees a wide array of patients, including r/o cardiac patients which means several admissions & discharges daily
Cards allows only 8 hours OT in the unit but I could help out in the cv-icu if I want the additional skills acquisition
Cards does see post op pts but is a medical overflow so would get medical pts
All things considered, I'm leaning towards cards progressive; I operate on the cards icu and stepdown currently so it won't be strange/new and the learning curve/exp would be invaluable.
Have you shadowed on each of the floors you're considering? That's the first thing I'd do. I would want to see how the unit works, what everything is like, and how the nurses interact with one another when the stuff hits the fan. Second, find out as much as you possibly can about each one of the floors' nurse managers. I work as an extender in a hospital, and my nurse manager is seriously the best boss I've ever had. She's generous with pay raises and kind/respectful when she has to give constructive criticism. I don't think any of the floors in my hospital are bad as far as unit cohesion goes, but I know a few managers who don't get to be as giving with pay raises and won't be flexible so much with hours either. It's good to find out before you work there which managers will do what for you, and what they'll expect of you in return.
Third, benefits. Are both the cardiac and the obs positions at the same hospital? If so, the benefits are probably the same. If not, have you fully investigated the insurance/extras that are offered by each position? One big thing is tuition assistance, since you say you'll be going on to do more school after this. Another is extras. For example, my hospital provides a free basic gym and a walk-in clinic where you can be seen and get most things you need done for free. They're also very progressive about employee health and give lots of incentives via stuff like half-price weight watchers, etc.
Fourth, how badly are you going to need the extra money that overtime could bring in? The good thing about OT always offered is that the money is there if you need it; the bad thing is that it means the shifts are usually chronically short-staffed.
I honestly think that no matter where you are, you're going to get a lot of great opportunities to further yourself as a professional and learn a lot through the care you provide your patients. Good luck picking a floor .
That's pretty cool that you have options! I didn't get started early enough and graduated WITHOUT a job. My dream job called me... Blessed I guess :) I always thought that CSU would be interesting! As Amnesty said, however, it would probably be wisest to go with the job that offers the more thorough orientation. My orientation into med-surg was done through the Versant program working with my hospital, and overall was about 4 months. I was scared spitless on my first month or two alone as well, and ended up with female problems (never an issue before then!) and a kidney infection as well, and had to take metoprolol for stress (I thought at the time that my consistently >100 heart rate was the prob... my doc chalked it up to stress. He was right). However, 1 year later, I feel well adjusted, had a good review, and am VERY grateful for my team. I can't even imagine being thrown into a program with 6 week orientation?! Yikes! Find a hospital/floor that sets you up for success.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thank you so much for your responses. It is great to receive feedback on aspects that I had not previously considered, especially with my limited experience.
I went through my interview notes and found the following updates:
Obs would allow unlimited OT (I always pick) but they also require 16 hrs stand-by shifts biweekly which would be deducted from regular hours if called in to cover
Obs sees a wide array of patients, including r/o cardiac patients which means several admissions & discharges daily
Cards allows only 8 hours OT in the unit but I could help out in the cv-icu if I want the additional skills acquisition
Cards does see post op pts but is a medical overflow so would get medical pts
All things considered, I'm leaning towards cards progressive; I operate on the cards icu and stepdown currently so it won't be strange/new and the learning curve/exp would be invaluable.
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I would stay away from the float. YOu will be a new grad and although it sounds like you have it all together....you are just starting out. Floors are going to expect you to "Jump right in" and will have little tolerance for the new grad "adding" to the "burden" of their day.
OBS units can be very fast paced and it might be a challenge however if it is a routine I think it would be ok.
My vote. Progressive cardiac. You will be busy but will gain a solid base AND gain critical care experience. I vote the Cardiac progressive.
Amnesty, I wrote a really nice reply to you and of course it got deleted It is the same hospital. I have shadowed in the ER/Obs, one of my clinical preceptors in one of my clinical rotation is a float nurse, & shadowed on my floor with the ICU & Stepdown nurses which is what prompted me to apply for these areas. They are pro-health and are building additional resources for employees. As far as OT goes, I kind of always just picked up (not that I had to) but wanted to help out because it was easier on the scheduled staff to have the help for a few hours.
wow ClaraRedheart, Im glad you made it through and are feeling better. That's enlightening to hear.
Thank you Esme12... Once again, you have added your ever-inspiring & wise advice.
I cannot thank everyone enough for their contribution. Thanks again. You all are AWESOME
Just wanted to stop by and update you guys on the Nurse internship progress in Texas as aforementioned.
Flew down on Wednesday to interview Thursday; got on the spot job offer from one and the other called and offered a position Friday... All are from S&W in Temple. Also drove down to Houston Friday for Memorial Hermann's career fairs since I've already applied there; HR recruiter ensured all nurses in attendance would get interviews and if no requests by mid-April, to call her directly so she could expedite requests...
besaangel, ADN, CNA, RN I realize this os an old post. However, I will be a new graduate ADN nurse in Florida. I would like advice on how to apply for out of state jobs. How did you find these job openings? Thank you for posting this. I found it very insightful.
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It is the same hospital. I have shadowed in the ER/Obs, one of my clinical preceptors in one of my clinical rotation is a float nurse, & shadowed on my floor with the ICU & Stepdown nurses which is what prompted me to apply for these areas. They are pro-health and are building additional resources for employees. As far as OT goes, I kind of always just picked up (not that I had to) but wanted to help out because it was easier on the scheduled staff to have the help for a few hours.
scaredsilly, BSN, RN
1,161 Posts
I wouldn't recommend float. Not enough orientation and floating on different units is going to require more training than they seem to want to give. Either of the other ones would be good. What do YOU want to do?