New grad in ambulatory surgery, lost about what my next move should be

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hi all!


I graduated May 2020 from nursing school with my BSN, and passed my boards June 2020. I was a very driven girl; I graduated magna cum laude from a very intense and reputable program, and went into an L&D residency. I planned to work for a year or two, and then start a WHNP or FNP program. I had life all planned out.

until my L&D residency didn’t work out. The older nurses ate me up... rumors that were blatant lies were being spread  about me, and one of my preceptors acted nice to my face but amplified all my mistakes (nothing anywhere near life threatening, or harmful) to my nurse managers behind my back and without talking to me first. I grew depressed and felt like I was on thin ice each day. We (me and the managers) both mutually decided that it was best I leave. I don’t wanna elaborate too much, but yes I tried to defend myself. I was devastated. I did a L&D externship the Summer before at a different hospital and I got amazing feedback. I got told that I would be great in L&D.

I grew discouraged and didn’t know if I belonged in nursing. I applied like crazy to any and everything because I had bills to pay. I accepted a job at a pain surgery clinic. It was great at first; amazing hours, the work is easy, and I learned how to do IVs, finally. After 2 months of working there, I was asked to step up as an admin nurse (basically the main/sometimes only nurse for one of their branches). So basically I’m in charge of following up with patients, ordering supplies, and all my other nurse duties(pre/post op vitals, IV insertion, drawing up and giving prophylactic antibiotics, intervening in emergencies, etc). My coworkers and patients love me; I get told all the time that I do a great job. I definitely feel like I thrive in outpatient.

But I don’t feel challenged at all, and I don’t care for pain a management. My heart is still in women’s health. I love not being in a hospital... My work life balance is amazing, and I’m honestly very happy. Im paid salary, but the math shows that I make $3 more an hour than I did at the hospital. I have tried to apply to a few women’s health outpatient clinics/surgery, to no luck probably because I’m so new to nursing. Those jobs are also very rare. I feel like a hospital may need to be where I go back to. Here’s what I’m thinking should be possible next moves...

1) I stay where I am a bit longer until I reach a full year of experience, and then maybe I’ll be more marketable for women’s outpatient clinics, or any other community setting dealing with women/children. My ultimate goal is to be an advanced practice provider in the outpatient realm anyway.

2) I join another residency and see if I can give L&D another try. Or mother/baby, or ER. Those are the areas I have passion for. If I’m going to take a pay cut by going back to the hospital, I’d rather it be in something I’m excited to get up for each day. I realize that those areas are competitive.

3) I just stay where I am, take advantage of the amazing hours, and just work through FNP school. I just am not sure if pain a management is exposing me to enough to get a graduate degree.

Please give any advice!

1
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Specializes in Reproductive Medicine.
On 12/27/2020 at 5:05 PM, Juliet BSN RN said:

Hi. Consider reproductive medicine. Infertility clinics need RN's and it is the best of both worlds, an office setting, women's health and autonomy. It is a great place to be a nurse practitioner too. I have been in the field for 20 years after leaving L&D. Unfortunately, there is no good orientation program in the field. It is on the job training and will take a good year before you feel like you have experienced everything. Good luck!

 

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Specializes in Community health.

I vote for option 1!  At the moment, even though you’re bored, try to count your blessings. You have an amazing, “easy” job, great hours, and a great salary. You don’t want to stay there forever, and you don’t have to!  But for the next few months, enjoy your nights and weekends off, enjoy your paycheck, and take a deep breath. Once you’ve been working for about a year, calmly (not frantically, because there’s no rush) start applying for jobs that actually interest you. You’ll be hireable for sure. 

3
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11 hours ago, CommunityRNBSN said:

I vote for option 1!  At the moment, even though you’re bored, try to count your blessings. You have an amazing, “easy” job, great hours, and a great salary. You don’t want to stay there forever, and you don’t have to!  But for the next few months, enjoy your nights and weekends off, enjoy your paycheck, and take a deep breath. Once you’ve been working for about a year, calmly (not frantically, because there’s no rush) start applying for jobs that actually interest you. You’ll be hireable for sure. 

Thank you so much for being so sweet and helpful!! I’m leaning on the first option. Maybe there’s a reason I’m in outpatient.

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On 12/30/2020 at 12:11 AM, Nice girl said:

 

I would LOVE to work in a fertility clinic. What a dream. Unfortunately those jobs aren’t so common but I will look super hard, and may be willing to leave the state for it if it comes down to it.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Yes, definitely stay where you are for a year minimum. By applying now, you're looking for your third job in a very short time frame- especially in a time when many places need nurses due to what's happening in the world. To a hiring manager, you're going to look like a flight risk. Get the year, establish a history, and maybe by then some of this craziness will have settled down.

3
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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Duplicate threads merged

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Specializes in Operating Room.
On 12/27/2020 at 7:05 PM, Juliet BSN RN said:

hi all!


I graduated May 2020 from nursing school with my BSN, and passed my boards June 2020. I was a very driven girl; I graduated magna cum laude from a very intense and reputable program, and went into an L&D residency. I planned to work for a year or two, and then start a WHNP or FNP program. I had life all planned out.

until my L&D residency didn’t work out. The older nurses ate me up... rumors that were blatant lies were being spread  about me, and one of my preceptors acted nice to my face but amplified all my mistakes (nothing anywhere near life threatening, or harmful) to my nurse managers behind my back and without talking to me first. I grew depressed and felt like I was on thin ice each day. We (me and the managers) both mutually decided that it was best I leave. I don’t wanna elaborate too much, but yes I tried to defend myself. I was devastated. I did a L&D externship the Summer before at a different hospital and I got amazing feedback. I got told that I would be great in L&D.

I grew discouraged and didn’t know if I belonged in nursing. I applied like crazy to any and everything because I had bills to pay. I accepted a job at a pain surgery clinic. It was great at first; amazing hours, the work is easy, and I learned how to do IVs, finally. After 2 months of working there, I was asked to step up as an admin nurse (basically the main/sometimes only nurse for one of their branches). So basically I’m in charge of following up with patients, ordering supplies, and all my other nurse duties(pre/post op vitals, IV insertion, drawing up and giving prophylactic antibiotics, intervening in emergencies, etc). My coworkers and patients love me; I get told all the time that I do a great job. I definitely feel like I thrive in outpatient.

But I don’t feel challenged at all, and I don’t care for pain a management. My heart is still in women’s health. I love not being in a hospital... My work life balance is amazing, and I’m honestly very happy. Im paid salary, but the math shows that I make $3 more an hour than I did at the hospital. I have tried to apply to a few women’s health outpatient clinics/surgery, to no luck probably because I’m so new to nursing. Those jobs are also very rare. I feel like a hospital may need to be where I go back to. Here’s what I’m thinking should be possible next moves...

1) I stay where I am a bit longer until I reach a full year of experience, and then maybe I’ll be more marketable for women’s outpatient clinics, or any other community setting dealing with women/children. My ultimate goal is to be an advanced practice provider in the outpatient realm anyway.

2) I join another residency and see if I can give L&D another try. Or mother/baby, or ER. Those are the areas I have passion for. If I’m going to take a pay cut by going back to the hospital, I’d rather it be in something I’m excited to get up for each day. I realize that those areas are competitive.

3) I just stay where I am, take advantage of the amazing hours, and just work through FNP school. I just am not sure if pain a management is exposing me to enough to get a graduate degree.

Please give any advice!

I say option 3. You are happy where you are. Stay there, gain experience and pursue that Women’s Health NP. Not to slam L&D but they can be very tough on new grads and/or people they perceive as not “fitting in”. 

2
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2 hours ago, GadgetRN71 said:

I say option 3. You are happy where you are. Stay there, gain experience and pursue that Women’s Health NP. Not to slam L&D but they can be very tough on new grads and/or people they perceive as not “fitting in”. 

Thanks so much! I’m leaning on this after a few days of pondering. And I agree with you. That experience has almost turned me off from L&D. Those nurses were relentless in finding ways to get rid of me. Being the only person of color on day shift didn’t help either.

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