New Grad in Public Health Position

[annabash_rn]

Hi nurses! New member here. I read through so many of your posts during nursing school and before taking NCLEX and found them to be extremely helpful. I debated on posting this but after getting several completely different responses from my nurse friends on this subject, I felt it was worth a shot.

About me - I am a new grad RN working in a health department. I work in a STD clinic. It is a walk in clinic, so some days we see several patients, other days only 1 or 2. I have been in my current position for about two months. I have a background in social work prior to returning to school for my BSN, which is a large part of why I took this position. I also thought I would like returning to the 8 to 5 work world but honestly, I'm not sure its for me. I don't sit still well and there is a lot of down time with this position. While I realize a lot of you reading this will think 'wow, I can't believe this chick is complaining about having too much down time when I am lucky to get 10 minutes to eat my lunch!' I do not intend for this post to come off that way. I am just simply asking for advice. I went into nursing wanting to make a difference and while I enjoy working in this clinic, I feel I should be doing more. I worry I will be at a disadvantage when being considered for nursing positions down the road when I hear all my nursing friends discuss the multiple IV's they start every shift, or talk about difficult experiences with foleys. The only nursing related tasks I will do at this job are blood draws and exams/screenings.

My fear is that as a new graduate, I am not gaining valuable experience like I would in a hospital. I like my job, but I am starting to feel as if it would have been better to take a position working in med/surg for a year, or in a nurse residency program. Should I stick it out for a year then re evaluate? Also, I realize all hospitals are different, but is it possible to work PRN in a hospital as a new grad, and if so is that something I should consider?

Thank you in advance (:

[~Shrek~]

I work in community health. I sometimes feel the same way. I sometimes see 10 patients in 4 hours and am running around or I see only a couple and get a lot of "down time". I don't like having too much "down time". I also worry about my marketability if I ever decide to move on. However, there are a few things to consider.

1. Unless you are planning to get out of community health and into the hospital setting, your experience is still valuable. . But there is plenty of mobility. For example, you can move up to a Case Manager, go on to work in other specialties such as epidemiology or nurse family partnership, etc. In addition to being highly mobile for community health positions, you are highly marketable for things like doctor's offices, case management, and clinics. Likewise, things like psychiatry are always hiring someplace, somewhere, and tend to pay relatively well.

2. Nurses like to downplay community health and treat it like a "dead" specialty without mobility. Even community health nurses have an inferiority complex, which keeps our specialty disrespected and therefore underpaid. I have also noticed this with psychiatry. Unless we get respect for ourselves and our specialty, we will always be considered a "second class" specialty by the general nursing public. Step up and be proud of what you do. I understand that in school they badger us with "you are not a real nurse unless you work in acute care first!" but that is simply untrue. When job hunting and talking about your job, be proud of what you do.

3. Community health is very different from acute care. In acute care, people are sicker and need to be tended to immediately. People in community health are healthier and generally don't need to be seen ASAP. This makes things less busy. You get to spend 1 on 1 time with each patient. You get to take your time to do things like draw blood, chart, and teach, and don't have to feel rushed and then worry that you missed something important. Although the "down time" is uncomfortable, the "up time" is still at a pace where you can feel comfortable.

4. Local governments tend to have better benefits than the private sector. Like pension plans!

[~Shrek~]

Also, you can always learn skills like foley insertion/ removal, and IV starts. It's not as if you can never ever learn them. If an employer is willing to hire you in the future, they should also be willing to train you in the necessary skills you need to learn.

[annabash_rn]

Thank you for your response! It made me feel a lot better. I'm not sure community health is the best fit for me forever, but as a new nurse I do feel like I'm learning a good set of skills working here.

I am interested in working in labor and delivery some day and worry that not having that acute/med surg experience will lower my chances of making a career change.

[~Shrek~]

Thank you for your response! It made me feel a lot better. I'm not sure community health is the best fit for me forever, but as a new nurse I do feel like I'm learning a good set of skills working here.

I am interested in working in labor and delivery some day and worry that not having that acute/med surg experience will lower my chances of making a career change.

I would suggest applying to both new grad and non-new grad L&D positions as you see them. A hospital that sees your experience and is willing to hire you *should* look at your history and be aware that you are not experienced in L&D and will need training-- and offer you the training that you need. Some places will appreciate your work background and view it as an asset.