Job

It depends on what interests you. I would recommend a new grad program if at all possible. What units available to new grads in a hospital can depend on need. For example, my hospital's last new grad class most new hires went into ICU, ED, L&D, NICU, with maybe 1 or 2 total to med-surg, but when I was hired, it was a ton of med-surg and ICU stepdown hires, with a few L&D, NICU, post-partum - no ICU or ED.

I would recommend having a good idea of the new grad residencies/programs in your area, and what their application deadlines are. Some take applications surprisingly early - many of my classmates moving to other areas had jobs secured in new grad programs before we graduated. And never wait until the last minute to apply. Sometimes applications will close early if the response has been strong.

I was a new grad into L&D, which had a nice long orientation in a very structured program with an experienced preceptor. I've been on my own for a little while now, I'm still learning as I go, but even on my worst nights, I absolutely love my job, the people I work with, and don't think I would have been this happy doing anything else.

(* Not every orientation in every hospital/specialty/unit is nice and long. Definitely something to ask about during interviews!)