New Grad Dilemna

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Specializes in fam/int med; urg care; CT stepdown/ICU.

Good evening!!

I am a 12/08 new grad and passed my RN boards this past Jan!! YAY!

Prior to graduating, I have 3 years as a CNA/student extern on an oncology unit where I worked mostly nights and weekends. It wasn't too great. I also have been working as a LPN for the last year in a family medicine office and I absolutely love it.

My problem is where to work now. Even though I took and passed my RN boards almost 5 months ago, I love love love working in the outpatient setting. I love being able to establish a relationship with my patients and feeling like I really can make a difference through disease education and some prevention as well. I know you do some patient education in the hospital, but I also had the impression that the info went in the patient's one ear and out the other at discharge time and that they weren't paying any attention to their RN, just impatiently waiting to go home. I also love my schedule, and after 3 years of being miserable with rotating shifts and barely getting to ssee my family/friends/boyfriend, it has been such a blessing to be able to attend birthdays, weddings, and Sunday dinners.

When I 1st graduated, I wanted to stay in the outpatient office setting (I'm looking to start a MSN program probably within 2 years to be a FNP because I love community/clnic nursing so much) but now I'm starting to wonder if I should get med-surg experience first after hearing so many people say "that's what you should do."

Am I being selfish by staying at a job that I love and enjoy (even though I make less money) instead of going through the terrible 1st year of new grad med-surg nursing?

If anyone has any thoughts whatsoever, especially if you've been in this position, please please help!! Nursing is such a wonderful career - I'm so excited to be in a field I love and don't want to grow to hate it, but I also don't want to be going about my career the wrong way. Thank you so much in advance! God Bless!! :)

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Specializes in ER.

I don't have much advice for you, but an outpatient day position sounds like heaven. Many,many nurses would love to have no nights and weekends. Honestly it probably wouldn't hurt to get some acute care experience in the hospital. But that is really up to you. You have extern experience under your belt so I am sure you know how crazy a unit can get sometimes. If it were me I'd stay with the outpatient day position. I'm hoping to eventually get one of these jobs. Best of luck whatever you do.

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Hi

I too, am a new RN grad(12/08) passed boards in Jan 09(:yeah:) and I'm from SC....small world:)

If you are happy where you're at, I say stay there. Hospital nursing isn't for everyone.

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When I 1st graduated, I wanted to stay in the outpatient office setting (I'm looking to start a MSN program probably within 2 years to be a FNP because I love community/clnic nursing so much) but now I'm starting to wonder if I should get med-surg experience first after hearing so many people say "that's what you should do."

^^This is conventional wisdom for nurses who plan on having careers as hospital floor nurses. But I don't see how it applies to your situation if you plan on going for your FNP in the next two years. It sounds to me like you're in the right place and getting the right kind of experience for a future FNP. Where's the dilemma??

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The best thing about being a nurse are the options and avenues open to you. There are unlimited possibilities in your career and you can explore them at will. You can always pick up a casual position on a med-surg floor and see if you would like it. You could also contact any unit manager in a hosital and ask if you could shadow for all or part of a shift. - Good Luck

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