New grad nurse looking for some guidance

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi everyone,

I am a new nurse (graduate of May '14) and was hired a few months ago to work in a medical foster home. It's a rewarding job and I love that I get to work with kids & babies.

Two days ago I received a call from a recruiter asking if I would be interested in interviewing for an adult rehab position in a large hospital nearby. 32hrs/week, D/E/N rotation.

I don't want to switch from working with children to adults, nor change my schedule (which is currently 3 - 12 hour day shifts a week, plus I get overtime often, which is awesome for paying back student loans). Pay difference between these two jobs is $3/hour. I didn't feel like it was worth risking a job I love for one I would probably hate, so I turned down the interview.

After this happened, I started to wonder if I made a mistake. I have no interest in adult rehab, but I have a lot of interest in working in a hospital. I live in the midwest, and there's definitely competition, but it's not nearly as bad as other places. Still, I've been asking myself: "Should I have at least gone to the interview?"

What do you think? I'm looking for thoughts and opinions from others in case something like this happens again. My long term goals include working in a neonatal or pediatric ICU. I'm wondering if my current position in private duty nursing is enough to get me anywhere 6 - 12 months from now (such as in OB, general Peds, or step-down ICUs), so if you have any ideas on what my next steps/goals should be at this point, please share. I feel a little lost.

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

No, you shouldn't have gone to the interview. It's not what you want to be doing, and you like the job you have now. Don't fix what's not broken.

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I disagree with the above. If you want to work in a hospital, you need to get your foot in the door. You can always do a pediatric job PRN

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Specializes in pediatric.

I would have gone to the interview, just to check it out, practice interviewing, and like VAnurse said, at least consider getting your foot in the door to a hospital. Being a "large hospital," they probably have a NICU or PICU. And it was only an interview, not a job offer ;) Woulda coulda shoulda at this point, but next time consider it!

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Going to an interview is always a good thing because of the practice and usually you find out what the latest requirements are for positions. The requirements are not always advertised with the position, specialty certifications etc. So by attending the interview you learn currently what hospitals are expecting for new employees. It sounds like you are on the beginnings of your desired career path. Most specialty areas (NICU, L & D) require a certain amount of basic med-surg nursing before going into a specialty field. It really depends on what the nursing market is at the time, and where you are located. If you enjoy what you are doing then I would continue and while there investigate what hospitals are looking for with NICU positions. If positions become available you should apply and go through the interview process to find out what steps you may need to take to enter a specialty area. In the meantime, if you do not have your BSN work on that, and if you do, then start your MSN. Higher education is being required more and more even with beginning level nursing. Good Luck!! Congrats on keeping your position and knowing enough to be looking at other opportunities.

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Specializes in hospice.

The mere fact of having to rotate to all different shifts would have made me turn down the interview. If you work nights it's already enough of a challenge to cope with the circadian rhythm violation and get adequate rest. (Ask me how I know.) Throw in having to work other shifts and.....forget it.

Don't underestimate the value of liking your job. Hospitals will always be there, and if you're meant to go that route an appropriate opportunity will present itself .

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Obviously everyone's opinions differ in this case. I would have maybe gone on the interview for the experience. I've been on many an interview where it never ended up in a job offer. So it wouldn't have hurt. Maybe you would have seen that that was not the type of place you saw yourself working at. As a Peds nurse, I don't believe this potential opportunity would be beneficial in transitioning into a hospital NICU or PICU.

If you like your job, and the patient population you are serving, then stay there. I personally think it sounds very rewarding. You are only in a few months- get some solid experience there first. If you decide that you have plateaued at some point, then move on. Then you will have had some solid peds experience, in an alternate environment. The hospital is not the end-all be-all job.

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Specializes in hospice.
The hospital is not the end-all be-all job.

AMEN :up:

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Thank you everyone for your responses. This has been helpful! I should have gone to the interview for practice. Next time :) For now, I'll stay in my current position, gain experience, keep searching, and work on making my resume more appealing to hospitals. I've been thinking a lot about getting PALS & NRP certs. Also just signed up to volunteer at my church's infant/young child care center!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Having to rotate all shifts would have been a deal breaker. No thanks!

You did the right thing.

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