New grad, job decisions

[mredwin3]

Hey everyone,

I'm graduating this December and am overwhelmed by the amount of different things you can do as a new nurse. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do/where I want to work but it's hard to decide when I haven't had a clinical in every single department. I know everyone has different strengths and may like different fields of nursing, but I'm interested to know what some of your favorite RN jobs have been? What makes for a good job? What do you wish you had known when applying for jobs as a new grad? Any other advice?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I'm not sure where you are or what the job market is like in your area, but from what I'm reading on AN, that first job is difficult to find. Apply for everything you can think of. If, during the interview you feel you absolutely cannot stomach the job, don't take it. But cast your net wide and consider everything you can. When you get your first job, you'll develop a better feel for what you enjoy and don't enjoy as a nurse. The second job is the one where you'll have more choices, and you'll be better armed with information about your preferences.

My first job was on a Med/Surg/Tele floor, and I learned enough to know that I preferred Medicine to Surgery. My second job was in oncology, which I loved, but I had to relocate and ended up in hematology/bone marrow transplant. It was interesting and challenging, but my own cancer diagnosis, divorce and the deaths of all of my primary patients in the same week dimmed my enthusiasm for the specialty somewhat. It's the only time I've ever transferred in-house. I found MICU to be interesting, challenging, and exactly where I wanted to be. I loved it until I had to relocate again -- and wound up in CCU. By then I was on my fifth job and I had a really good idea of what I liked and didn't like. I chose CCU deliberately based on those likes and dislikes, and I've been in some form of cardiac intensive care (medical or medical and surgical, then a cardiac surgical ICU) for the past 30-some years.

I apologize for being so long winded. Don't get so hung up on choosing a specialty for your first job that you let good opportunities pass you by. Get that first job, learn everything you can and then you'll have a far better idea what specialty you'd prefer.