New Grad Nurse, Job Advice Please?

[Caitlin023]

I'm due to graduate in a few months and I'm a little scared to begin my career as a Registered Nurse. I feel pretty confident in my assessment, med/injection, and critical thinking skills, but I'm still pretty intimidated by some of the more complex skills like central line care, NG insertion, etc. I do have the opportunity to brush up at my school's skills lab and plan to prior to graduation, but I'm wondering what would be a good job to start out with to gain experience? I've heard med/surg from a lot of nurses and I've been lucky to have the chance to do 3 full semester med/surg clinical rotations, but I still don't feel like I'd be up to par being all on my own on that type of unit. I have plenty of experience in LTC as an aide/ med tech, but don't want to work in LTC long-term. Any suggestions for gaining experience while still keeping my license other than med/surg? I've been considering dr offices, clinics, or maybe a step-down/ rehab type unit. Also, in general, how much training will I get as a brand new nurse at a hospital if I do decide to go that route? Thanks!

[zzbxdo]

You'll be fine. The real learning starts on day 1 as a RN. Don't worry about other experiences outside acute care right now, you'll just be worn out unnecessarily. Just get that first job first and ride out 6 months of non stop learning.

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

I've been a nurse three years. All of that in the ER. I had a three month orientation, but I still vividly remember how completely terrified I felt that first night on my own. Apply for a job in the area you really want. If it doesn't pan out? It just wasn't a good fit for you at the time. It would not be the first time a nurse left a job because they didn't feel comfortable/weren't ready.

[xxdiscoxxheaven]

Orientation usually picks up where school left off. Don't worry about those technical skills. Those can be taught. Most places care about advancing your clinical judgement skills

[FloatRN19]

I feel most new grads, regardless of their experience, feel a bit overwhelmed when they get out. Maybe not even overwhelmed maybe just inadequate. I know when I was about to graduate I didn't even think I'd use my nursing degree. Precepting and orienting at work completely changed my confidence level.

as for work advice when I got out they, they being those professors who hadn't been a new grad in 20+ plus years, said don't apply for a lot of jobs. Apply for the ones you really want so that way directors of nursing see that you want that specific job and not that you just want a job.

Do do the exact opposite. Apply for every job you see available in the hospital. Go on as many interviews as you can. If you get several offers ask to meet some people from each unit. If not take the first one and hit the ground running.

As for type of floor, again first come first serve. Personally, I started in float pool, and I think new grads should start in float pool. Exposes them to all areas of the hospital, lots of different points of view on how to work in a hospital etc.