New grad needs advice on experience

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jun 30, 2013

I can tell you what I did. I got what ever experience that I could get and kept applying to the hospitals that I wanted to work for...eventually I got in.

I did 5 months pediatric home health - left because I didnt have enough support from my company and as a new grad was overwhelemed - but then did 11 months in adult SNF/LTC

while I was in the SNF I was hired on to work on-call in a Pediatric LTC which after 3 months turned into full time.. that gave me my 2 years pediatric expereince.

I then started applying to the 2 pediatric hospitals in my city. I got a call for one and was hired into an on-call position I was half way through my orienatation and they offered me full time.

My advice would be get an expereince that you can and it will lead to more open doors

NRSKF · Jul 3, 2013

Thank you! It is helpful to hear what other people have done.

bethm214 · Jul 3, 2013

I have done 31 years as a peds nurse, primarily at Johns Hopkins. I think a good place to start is a general pediatric position in a hospital, maybe a small community hospital that has a small inpatient peds unit. I do not think homecare is a good place to start. Too much autonomy and not enough support. Likewise, I do not think acute peds is a good place to start as you really do still need to learn the basics of real life nursing. If you must take adults, a general med surg unit is a great place to learn adult basics. Real nursing is very different than nursing school and adults are very different than peds.....but, they all do have things in common. Best of luck to you.

NRSKF · Jul 4, 2013

Thanks!