Need some advice for first job

[JennyMac]

Hey guys, I would really like some advice on what to do...I've been looking for my first job as an RN and was finally offered a job on a telemetry unit... the hospital seems receptive to new grads and the orientation is 6 wks-2 in a classroom and 4 with a preceptor. I accepted and am due to start in about a week. The hospital is not in the best area, though, and my family is concerned about me working there. A friend of the family who is a nurse got me an interview with an oncology nurse manager in a different hospital, and the manager said that I could work there as far as she was concerned, but I'd have to wait for the nurse recruiter in HR to come back from vacation to interview me and OK me. This nurse manager said that they don't have many new grads on the oncology unit, but if I'm really eager I should do okay. If I wait for the recruiter to come back, I will already be in orientation for the first hospital everyday and won't be able to interview. But if I give up the first hosp. for the second, I run the risk of not being offered the job by the recruiter, and may end up with no job! The second hospital has a very good reputation and is in a slightly safer area. I guess my real question is, what unit is better for a new grad with absolutely no experience to start on- Telemetry or Oncology?

[bubbly]

As a new nursing grad myself, I think the most important thing is working in a specialty you enjoy and a hospital that has a good reputation with new grads. It sounds like the first hospital is the better decision, especially if telemetry is what you are interested in right now. Don't let your family sway your decision because they don't particularly like the area. It is your decision! Have you ever had a tour of either units of both hospitals? To me, it seems riskier to wait on the oncology hospital, especially if they are not experienced with handling new grads. It really is important to be in a great internship because you learn so much from them and how to be confident in your skills. Go with your instincts and good luck! :)

[MIA-RN]

I am a ways past my first year but I started in a specialty and missed using a lot of skills, which I later had to relearn. So tele might be a bit better because you are going to get patients with lots of different conditions; the main thing that will tie them together is that they need tele monitoring. Whereas on oncology you may be in a place that handles certain oncology patients (ex. gyn onco, hematological onco etc) so you may end up specializing to a point.

Now if its your passion, then go for it. Or if you are not feeling that you are safe in the original hospital.

Likely the nurse recruiter works more 'traditional' hours--8 - 430 or something. So if you are orienting on days, and you are out at 1530, then you could try to schedule an interview for late in the day. Or maybe if you are doing classroom orientation, you could ask to leave a half hour early or so, don't have to say why, just say you have an appointment. They might let you; I think I remember people leaving early now and then during my orientation. Plus we sometimes got out early during the classroom part too.

Where there is a will there is a way.

My advice is that you should definitely find a way to interview at the other hospital. You don't want to look back later and regret not doing it. Maybe you will find something you love there, and maybe even if its not onco, maybe they will have other positions open that are attractive for you.

good luck! :)

[MelBel]

Do any of the hospitals around you offer a longer orientation? I get 12 weeks...2 classroom, 10 on the floor, and I'm in my 11th week right now. 4 weeks just seems so short for a new grad...I suppose I COULD have been off orientation after 6 weeks, but it is nice to be able to work, and know that there is someone else there for the sole purpose of helping me if I need it.

The nurse recruiters I talked to were all available in the evenings if necessary...if they are interested in finding good nurses, they will probably work late one night so you can interview.