New Grad Dilemma - Help

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Hi all,

I am a new grad nurse looking for a job and I've been applying for close to 4 months now and have gotten barely any call backs for interviews. About a month ago I interviewed for a position at a hospital I really want to work at which I ended up not getting, and today I was contacted by an HR recruiter for that same hospital asking if I'm interested in working on a drug/alc detox unit there. I've noticed that this position has been posted on their website for quite some time now and I can't help but feel like that's a red flag maybe? I used to work in the medical field a while back (not as a nurse) but I have had these types of patients before and well... let's face it - I don't really want to work on that type of unit, especially as a new grad. Also, it's not a long term goal for me to stay on a detox unit obviously so... I feel I'd be more comfortable on a Tele/Med-Surg unit to start off.

Anyway, the dilemma is as follows: I've been steadily trying to get a job for what feels like forever and have been very adamant about applying to this specific healthcare system because I want to work at this hospital (or any of their hospitals really), however, I've been mostly denied from the other positions I've applied to there. So, do I take the job and risk leaving after 3-6 months because I know myself and I know I won't be able to handle that type of unit, or do I respectfully decline and inquire about other possible positions and risk looking for a job longer?

I know that this is a way to 'get my foot in the door' and can't be a picky new grad, but I feel that this could cost me future opportunities if I take the job and end up hating it and leaving shortly after. In the e-mail she did mention that she got feedback from the previous interviewers that I 'would be an excellent candidate for a unit based role', so I feel that asking for other potential opportunities on a more suitable for me unit wouldn't be too much or too out there. I mean, after all, I have to think about my future as well and I'm sure being a long term candidate is better than leaving after barely getting through training.

I would love to hear your thoughts & advice. Thank you!

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Specializes in Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula.

What's worse on your resume? An unemployed gap, or working a unit for six months? Nobody knows. Are you willing to bet your lost wages on it?

How do you know what kind of nursing you'd hate if you haven't actually... been a nurse yet?

I had similar thoughts about working med-surg and was certain that I'd leave the bedside after a year. Nearly three years later at the same facility where they have certified me, invested in my education, and given me responsibilites (and I still don't love this particular kind of nursing..), I'm glad I didn't get cold feet when I was still green.

You might LOVE your coworkers. You might realize that detox work and keeping people comfortable at their most vulnerable or rock bottom is incredibly rewarding. You might take advantage of the opportunity to fine-tune your therapeutic communication skills and turn into that valuable nurse on other units when combative patients are admitted or someone goes CIWA out of nowhere.

The other think to consider is... how long do you think you'll have the attention of this particular healthcare system if you keep playing Goldilocks with their offers??

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I think if you honestly don't think you could last a year, don't take it. (Only 3 months you think you could last? Really? That's like orientation). There is likely a policy for how long you need to work in order to be considered for an internal transfer.

I do think you'll have to make some sort of compromise. If you have your heart set on this healthcare system--which I think is a mistake for a new grad-- you may just have take what you can get.

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Specializes in ED / CTICU.

I understand how you feel. I graduated in May of 2018. I had my heart set on a hospital job and even got an interview in Liver Transplant through a professor of mine but unfortunately it did not happen. I am licensed in two states and graduated top of my class, did an externship in a local ED, have 10 years experience in healthcare and I still had a lot of problems finding an ideal job situation and I still currently have difficulty as I still keep going on interviews! I was offered an outpatient hemodialysis job that I was not crazy about accepting but I needed to start working. I thought about holding out for a better job but I did not want to go a long time without experience. I have no interest in staying in Dialysis or Nephrology of any kind but I also knew that realistically, I needed to get some experience. If I did not accept this offer, I would still be here months later with no job offers. I strongly preferred to work in a hospital. I am so disappointed that hospitals keep rejecting me but I apply as much as I can. My dream job hands down would be in the Emergency Dept. or an Adult Med Surg job but this is the job that was available to me. I was licensed in June and got a job offer for Dialysis to begin July 16th. This was also a non contract job, so I could leave if and when I find a better opportunity. My advice to you is to start working even if it is not your dream job or ideal work situation. Because I took this job, I now make enough money to work on my BSN and I am getting a lot of experience doing Nursing Assessments and just being a Nurse. Once I finish my BSN I know I will have a lot more options. Remember that any experience is better than no experience at all. Best of luck to you! Its hard being a new grad!

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Often, what you think you will like and what you like are not the same. Nursing is so different from clinicals or working as a nursing assistant. I don't do a lot of detox, so maybe if I had only all detox, I'd hate it. But, honestly, I enjoy the population when I am assigned someone who is going through detox. They often have many comorbidities, so there can be a lot to learn. If you do take it, go in with an open mind and heart.

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I would definitely explore the option. Tell the recruiter that you may be interested and that you would like to shadow. See what comes of that. I think you would be surprised at how much good experience you would get on that type of unit.

A lot of drug addicts/alcoholics have comorbidities due to their addiction and will have other medical needs. Also, detox situations can get critical in a hurry, you would probably end up in rapid response situations and transferring patients to the ICU. When I worked in med-surg, our hospital did not have a designated floor like this so we got a lot of these patients and it wasn't usually just plain old detox. They definitely had "med-surg" issues and you needed to use your nursing skills.

Either way, I would never pass up a hospital job in the system I wanted to be in after looking for four months. If you don't like it, stick it out for a year and transfer.

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Thank you all for your feedback. It definitely helps to get others' opinions because even though I have some sense of direction of where I want to get to eventually in my career, I definitely do not know where to begin or what to expect. It's a whole another world from nursing school. I do think that if I take this opportunity I would definitely gain experience and learn to utilize my skills.. but I'm more worried (and I think it's because I'm still new and never have worked as a nurse) that maybe this type of nursing requires someone who has had years of experience and is more confident in themselves & their skills. Idk.. I'm also worried about whether or not I can do the job on this type of unit or if I'll just be the worst nurse ever lol! I worked as an EMT in the past and I know how difficult these patients can get & that's why I'm so back and forth between deciding what to do. Anyway, I'll talk to her tomorrow and see where it goes from there.

Thanks everyone!

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Specializes in Oncology, OCN.

I'm also a new grad struggling to get that first job right now. I started applying back in May, graduated in August, passed NCLEX in September. I've only gotten one interview, plus two mini interviews at an open house match day, so far. The interviews weren't horrible but I wasn't fully prepared for the specific nature of some of their questions, plus I wasn't aware of the extent that higher acuity patients were sent to another location so my "goals" didn't really fit the position I was interviewing for. Not just "what are your weaknesses" but more situation dependent type questions about a weakness and I struggled to come up with appropriate answers. I've got those answers now but I'm not getting by the recruiter screen right now to even be considered for interviews. At this point I'm open to pretty much any hospital position that isn't OB or psych and just keep applying as new grad positions are posted. So I'd say if you're being offered an interview take it, get your foot in the door.

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