New Grad Needing Advice

orthonurse55 · Jun 23, 2012

Begin the job with an open mind. I took a job at an Ortho office once, just because I didn't like where I was working and I thought it would be a way out until something better came along. I found a LOVE for Ortho and stayed there for 20 years! You never know what opportunities may be hiding there for you. And if it really isn't what you want, it will give you some experience. Good luck and I hope you are as happy with your nursing career as I have been!

minnymi · Jun 23, 2012

I guess it depends how badly you need the job.

In my opinion, if you let her know you don't intend to stay then she'll treat you as disposable because well....you are to her.

Managers want to hear and like to believe that employees are in it for the long haul.

If you aren't...and you can afford to look elsewhere then I would say do that.

If you need the job then I would do what it is that she is requiring you to do and go with the flow while you look for another job.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2012

What would it accomplish if you went to your manager and said, "I'm just using this as a job to get experience because what I really want is peds"?

Getting "stroke certified" is not a huge investment, it's an online course to learn how to use the NIH stroke scale.

If you take this job and get the experience, it may give you an in for a job in pediatric neuroscience. That is my background and where I spent the first 5 years of my career and I had many colleagues who started in adult neuro and easily made the transition to peds.

allnurses Guide · Jun 24, 2012

Almost nobody gets to start in their specialty of choice these days, particularly popular specialties like pediatrics, NICU, L&D and ER.

Work the job as if it is exactly what you wanted and needed.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 24, 2012

You are a new grad. VERY FEW new grads have the luxury to cherry-pick their first job. Many new grads are lucky to get any job offer...in fact, a lot of new grads are now old new grads because they couldn't get that offer even though they were willing to work anywhere.

Stick with the job, get through the new grad first year growing pains, and gain your 1-2 years' experience. That will put you on stronger footing to transition into another area. And don't fool yourself into thinking that what you learn here won't be applicable in peds...specialties are more intertwined than you think. So learn all that you can.

IMO, you would be foolish to give up this opportunity since there is no guarantee that a second opportunity will come your way. And let's be honest: there's too many other new grads out there so it's not as though facilities will be fighting over you to fill their spot. However, you need to decide what is best for you.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 24, 2012

i just graduated nursing school and got my first job on a neuro unit at my local hospital. i was very excited to be offered the job and took it without thinking twice. it was the only job i had interviewed for so far and i wanted to get some med-surg experience to start with so it was perfect. my plan, however, is to eventually go into pediatrics.
after i accepted the job, the manager of the unit changed. she called me to introduce herself. while we were talking she explained to me that the unit has had a bad turnover rate and is in need of many improvements and that the hospital plans to turn it into a full stroke center. she said this also means getting all of the nurses stroke certified.
basically, i'm torn. i really feel bad walking on to a unit that is in desperate need of some employees who are dedicated and are really interested in that field when i know my heart is not in neuro. i guess i'm just looking for advice. did any of you have a similar experience with your first job? should i be up front with my manager about my passion for peds?

the days are gone when a new grad could start out in the specialty of her/his choice immediately after graduation. the days are gone when a new grad could count on having any job immediately after graduation. you have a job. unless you're living on a trust fund or expecting others to support you, keep that job. get stroke certified and express an interest in working for a full stroke center. who knows -- you might actually love it there. if not, there's plenty of time to transition to pediatrics after you've been at your current job for a couple of years, learned how to be a nurse and have built up some great recommendations.