New grad blues!

Trauma Columnist · Jun 27, 2007

Aw yes, the job quandary. I graduated last year in May and cont to work as a staff nurse until July. No jobs of any kind in my area. I ended up interviewing 55 miles away but they were going to pay less than what I was making as a staff nurse plus the commute. So...I did end up with the job that offered the most money. It is not in the specialty I wanted (by any means). However, for now, it pays the bills.

Some thoughts:

1. Pediatric specialty clinics..like CF, sickle cell, asthma.

2. Get some experience in the Public Health Dept?

3. Branching out: combine two part-time jobs like teaching and clinic?

4. If you have a peds ER, consider that?

5. Research??? (I know for me this would gag me, but if you are more numbers-focused, many offices look for a grad degree)

6. Management as a means to get in the door and then find a better job once inside?

Good luck...I wouldn't give up on my NP just yet. SOmetimes hanging out is all you can do. However, you don't want to give up an APN job and then have trouble re-certifying or finding something later.

utexas08 · Jul 2, 2007

Are these problems mostly geographically based? There are a lot of NP opportunities in my city and a lot willing to hire new grads to train. I hope this is something that's not too widespread. Grad NPs need money too!

Trauma Columnist · Jul 2, 2007

Yes, I do think to a great extent, it is the geographical area that you live in. I live in central IL and for the most part, the hospitals keep the APN wages artificially low.