MPH/Public Health Nursing Career Question

[publichealthrn87]

I have been losing sleep over this question for the previous three weeks, so I figured I would post it here to see what the community thinks!

I graduated from nursing school in 2010. I moved to a different state shortly after finishing school. I immediately started looking for work, passed my boards, and then....I couldn't find a nursing job in a hospital to save my life. No one was hiring new graduates at the time. I bounced around a little bit within community-based nursing before landing in corrections. I worked in a jail for four years; two years full-time, two years per diem while I was working as a public health nurse for the county. While all of this was going on, I was pursuing an MPH. I graduated with this degree in December, 2014.

I was recently accepted into a CDC program for new public health grads. It is a two year program and while I am excited about all of the opportunities I will have in this program, I have this nagging sense that I am making a mistake and will be unable to find a job in nursing once the program is complete.

So my question is this: is two years too long to be out of the nursing field especially for someone without acute care experience?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

If you're aiming for an acute care job, it would have a negative impact. Frankly, I know many large acute care systems that simply will not hire any 'experienced' (>12 months of nursing work) staff nurse that does not have acute care experience. The acute care environment is in a constant state of flux.... Today's work environment is very different than it was 2 years ago. With the ongoing pace of change, it will be dramatically changed in 2 years time.

But - acute care is not the only branch of nursing that is worthwhile. It seems as though you're already established on a career in public & community health. Maybe that is the path you should continue to pursue.

[publichealthrn87]

Thank you so much for your thoughts!