new grad RN job in Dr.'s office

[Sanforkl]

Hi all,

I live in NC and just graduated nursing school in Dec. I have been offered an ER position but quite honestly, after having my practicum there, I am feeling that the environment may be too stressful and may not be a good fit for me. I am thinking about looking for a position in a Dr.'s office and was wondering how the pay is and if that is a good place to start out as a new grad? I am concerned that if I ever wanted to leave the Dr.'s office later on down the road and go back to a hospital setting, say a labor and delivery unit, I will not be a good candiate since I have not been able to practice my skills as much in a Dr.'s office. I would also consider an Urgent Care. Can some of you with experience on this topic chime in and let me know if this is a good move or if I should stick it out in the ER for 6 mos and then look for a job change?

Thanks!

[judybsn]

I wouldn't go to a Drs. office right after grad. You don't want to loose your skills (and that can happen faster than you think). If you don't want to take a really stressful job like ER, something like a surgical floor would still provide lots of action and time to practice your new skills. Then once you have some basic experience move to ER or L&D or if you decide you don't like hospital nursing then go to the Drs. office. It's harder to move the other way.

[Satori77, ADN]

I agree about not taking a Dr's office job right away. That is a good position when you don't want to do bedside nursing anymore, not at the beginning of your career. Why did you get offered the position at the ER? Did you apply, or was it the one you did your practicum at? ER would be a great job to use all your skills. Assessment skills and time management are a must in the ER, so it can be a difficult place to start. But if you did your practicum there, they must think you will be good. From there, you could go almost anywhere.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

The hospitals won't touch you if you do not go into acute care. Been there - done that! Worked out fine for me becasue I never wanted to work in a hospital, but if I needed the job right now they wouldn't call me at all.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

I could never do office work, but some good friends of mine love it. before taking an office job ask to shadow for a few days to make sure that is the path you want to go...

[jjjoy, LPN]

As the others say, if you don't start in the hospital, it would be VERY difficult to try to get back into it later.

I'm also thinking it likely wouldn't be that easy to get a job at a doctor's office. Most MD offices use medical assistants, not nurses. The ones who do use RNs use them because they want the experience and expertise an RN usually brings with them that a new grad doesn't bring.

I think most all inpatient nursing jobs are incredibly stressful, even more so for a new grad. A supportive atmosphere may be more important than the specific type of unit one is working on.

I think it's useful to consider one's first year as a nurse as a continuation of your nursing education. The license allows you to BEGIN your practice as a nurse.

[Schmoo1022]

Please, please, please, listen to the above posters! A year or to ago, I would have absolutely told you to go into whatever you wanted. Now, I say start with hospital. I went straight into long term care, and though I love the elderly. I feel trapped. Trapped because hospitals won't touch me, nor any Dr. office. I also have lost any confidence I had. I am now in the process of looking for a nurse refresher course that I can do while working and afford to pay for. At least give it a try.:redbeathe

[Ms. Nurse Assistant, LPN]

What do RNs do in a doctor's office? I heard they often become like secretary's just answering the phone and recording messages

[Schmoo1022]

As the others say, if you don't start in the hospital, it would be VERY difficult to try to get back into it later.

I'm also thinking it likely wouldn't be that easy to get a job at a doctor's office. Most MD offices use medical assistants, not nurses. The ones who do use RNs use them because they want the experience and expertise an RN usually brings with them that a new grad doesn't bring.

I think most all inpatient nursing jobs are incredibly stressful, even more so for a new grad. A supportive atmosphere may be more important than the specific type of unit one is working on.

I think it's useful to consider one's first year as a nurse as a continuation of your nursing education. The license allows you to BEGIN your practice as a nurse.

That was an excellent post. You are right, the license allows you to begin your care and LEARN. I don't feel I did myself any favors by going into long term care directly. I missed out on a lot of technical skills.

[truern]

Sanforkl, the RN at my doc's office knew in school that she didn't want to work at a hospital. She was hired as a new grad and LOVES what she does...which certainly is NOT "just answering the phone and recording messages".

Sure she makes a little less than she would at the hospital, but she has great insurance and wonderful hours. Plus she has holidays off!!