New grad, Bored.

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Hello everyone, I recently graduated from nursing school earlier this year and ended up with a clinic type setting job. The job is great!but gets so boring 70-80% of the time while at work because of literally nothing to do. I'm currently looking for anything to to do on the side to keep me occupy (such as doing a side business, videos, etc) but don't know what to do. It would be great if I can get some advice on things to do to help out the nursing world (including new grads, students, teachers, or the general population). Thanks in advance.

If you had experience, I would suggest a prn job in an inpatient care setting. You would get paid well for your side job, keep up skills and contacts, and it would make your more routine job look so good.

As a new grad, I doubt any reputable place would hire you without experience.

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

If you have the ability to be proactive and get involved in tracking or improving quality control measures in a documentable way, or taking any kind of initiative that has documentable outcomes, that kind of experience could later give you a big leg up in some cushy hospital jobs that aren't bedside. It's very hard to get that kind of experience on the clock in a regular floor job (because there simply isn't time) so take advantage of that and pad out that resume so that if you want to work in quality control or management in the future you have that to point to. That is, I promise you, a more marketable skill than being able to drop an NG tube first try.

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Thanks, what PRN places would you suggest would offer inpatient services? I would rather prefer hospital settings compared to nursing homes in the ability of doing more work/skills.

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If you're looking for something to add to your nursing career why not taking an online course such as Coronary care one or your critical care one, if your looking to advance into a more acute setting after.

Also, if at all possible, at your current work setting why not get involved with volunteer aspects that are offered or working on the council board. I'm sure having a new eager insight to aid and add to the setting would be greatly appreciated.

You could also talk to your supervised about any in session or workshops that are available at your setting. Not only is that a great way to get involved more but its also showing the initiative to advance yourself.

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I'm not sure what your budget is, but if you have the money or tuition reimbursement for it, you could do an online course. Personally, I have always wanted to take a medical Spanish course because there is such a shortage of translators in my area. Is there a language other than English (or anything else you may speak) that is commonly spoken in your area? There are so many positions where a second language is preferred or even required. It is a huge advantage on your resume, which I'm sure you already know. You could even practice with your patients on your downtime!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

At this point in my career I would love to have a job where I was bored 80% of the time! Are there any side projects that you could work on during your down time that are job related? For instance we never have anybody with enough time to do chart audits, maybe something along those lines could productively fill your down time.

I would imagine your employer would prefer to help you find work related tasks to keep you busier instead of you using that time for personal endeavors like an online course. Continuing education is definitely beneficial for you, but if it's not specifically related to your employment I doubt if you employer will be happy about you getting paid while you're working on your secondary career.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
If you have the ability to be proactive and get involved in tracking or improving quality control measures in a documentable way, or taking any kind of initiative that has documentable outcomes, that kind of experience could later give you a big leg up in some cushy hospital jobs that aren't bedside. It's very hard to get that kind of experience on the clock in a regular floor job (because there simply isn't time) so take advantage of that and pad out that resume so that if you want to work in quality control or management in the future you have that to point to. That is, I promise you, a more marketable skill than being able to drop an NG tube first try.

Oh man, I would have loved to have had the time to do this. OP, if you can, this is a great idea.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Wow. I'm not saying anything bad about you or your job, but I'm actively doing something about 98-100% of every shift I work at a LTC/rehab facility. If I'm lucky, I actually get to take a 30-minute 'dinner break', but half the time I'm doing something for 10-15 (or more) minutes of that. And am there late more often than not.

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You wouldn't be bored doing my job...want to switch?

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I guess it depends on what your end game is. What's funny is a lot of nurses in acute care get burned out and then look for the type of job you currently have. But the good thing is acute care opens a lot more doors. If it were me, I'd try to get into acute care first to get the most experience possible. Again, I guess it depends on what your ultimate goal is. Good luck!

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What's funny is a lot of nurses in acute care get burned out and then look for the type of job you currently have.

But the new grad is working in a clinical...so how is this funny? Are you saying Acute is clinical? So they would be looking for the same job within the area that made them burn out in the first place? Then I could see that as being funny...

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
But the new grad is working in a clinical...so how is this funny? Are you saying Acute is clinical? So they would be looking for the same job within the area that made them burn out in the first place? Then I could see that as being funny...

No the OP is working in a clinic, which would be a primary care setting.

Many people start out in a hospital job, which is an acute care setting - and get burned out and wish they could find a nice clinic job!

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