New Grad RN.... work options that do not involve a hospital

[new.grad.rn]

Hello everyone, I am a new grad. I've been working on the med surg floor for about a month now. & I realize that I do not like it at all. I am very stressed out. I suffer with a hx of anxiety and bouts of depression before going into nursing school. I used to have full blown panic attacks. & I sense them about to start again. I love nursing, I love taking care of people.. But not like this.. (the hospital i work at is the largest in my city ((Chicago)) the hecticness of the hospital is not the right environment for me. I know that every RN is not meant to work in a hospital. And I'm starting to see that I am one of them. So I was just wondering from any nurses out there who did not go into the hospital setting where should I work? I have my BSN and my RN license of course. I'm willing to go back to school if I need to get my masters in order to find a job. Any suggestions would be great. I remember my clinical professor told me that she went into public health right out of nursing school. And never worked in the hospital.

I just want to say I really do take my hat off to any nurses that work in the hospital acute setting. That is not an easy job at all! And I've seen from first hand you guys rock and deserve more credit than you get;)

I'm not looking for the easy way out, I know nursing is hard in whatever Avenue I decide to take. Im starting to think things like I hate nursing or why did I go to nursing school in the first place. And I don't want to be that person where I build up animosity in my heart because i actually do love taking care of people.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Public health, occupational health, infection control and diabetic educator are all specialty areas that would allow you not to be pulled in five million different places and be effective.

[elkpark]

Public health, occupational health, infection control and diabetic educator are all specialty areas that would allow you not to be pulled in five million different places and be effective.

Most employers in these areas will not consider applicants qualified without some significant amount of prior nursing experience, though.

That's the "catch" every time some new grad posts here about not liking the hospital or LTC and asking about other kinds of work settings. Yes, there are countless other career opportunities in nursing besides working in an acute care hospital or LTC setting -- but nearly all of those opportunities require real nursing experience to be considered qualified.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

@elkpark, true, although I know infection control and public health nurses who did not have any staff nursing experience, they did research during their post degree education and it opened the door to their careers.

[luvsltcrn]

I have been in LTC since I graduated almost 20 years ago. I absolutely love it. I can't compare it to working in a hospital but might be worth looking into. Good luck in your search!!! :)

[ProgressiveActivist, BSN, RN]

Home health and or hospice, with a goal of a case management or middle management within that agency is a viable career path for a new grad. Especially one with anxiety and panic attacks.

[elkpark]

@elkpark, true, although I know infection control and public health nurses who did not have any staff nursing experience, they did research during their post degree education and it opened the door to their careers.

I can see that that might be possible. The OP, though, says she is a new grad with a BSN and license, and no mention of any research or post-graduate education.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I can see that that might be possible. The OP, though, says she is a new grad with a BSN and license, and no mention of any research or post-graduate education.

She is willing to go back to school, she can look for a post grad education that entails research.

[new.grad.rn]

I can see that that might be possible. The OP, though, says she is a new grad with a BSN and license, and no mention of any research or post-graduate education.

What does research entail? Is this an actual job or internship? I wouldnt mind getting involved that

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

There's correctional nursing (jails and prison infirmaries), developmental disabilities nursing, private duty, home health, hospice, nursing homes, physical rehabilitation, psych, addictions (e.g. methadone clinics), school nursing, and occupational health nursing, just to name a few non-hospital options.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

What does research entail? Is this an actual job or internship? I wouldnt mind getting involved that

It depends on the type of research, clinical trial research coordinators usually need a minimum of two years nursing experience, research assistants do not always need experience. Public health research usually requires a related masters degree in public health or epidemiology. Did your undergraduate degree include introductory nursing research, epidemiology and community health courses?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Research is not the place for a new graduate. How about office nursing? Research is very hard to enter.