New Grad settled for office job! help1

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Just graduated, wanted med-surg, applied every where, hospitals, clinics, LTC, 2 months after I graduated I still did not have a job. Major bills piling up, had to get a job. An office called interveiwed, started next day, then hosp. called but only with prn, could not give up full time job for prn.

The problem, all I do is computer work, shots, vitals, strp/flu test.

This is so not what I went to school for. I don't feel like a "real" nurse. I was so excited to pass boards and so ready to begin my big career, such a let down. The plus is I have a full time job, good hours, no weekends, no holidays and I have 2 kids I have neglected for the last year in school, but I feel so depressed. This is a great job, good doctors, awesome doctors, great people to work with, but..........

Then I think well maybe I am being unrealistic about my thinkin about the hospital, maybe i would not love it. but how am I to know.????????

I am thinkin wait till first of year and try again for hosp. everyone says you have to start prn to get foot in door, but what if I hate it, and I throw away one of the best jobs ever?

HELP!:cry:

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My friend took a job in a Dr's office but will be doing more intense stuff,this is not what she was looking for but it fell into her lap and she is gonna stay with it,hours are great...as for me I was offered a job{have not sat for boards yet}but decided it was not for me because it was for 1 client with DM,it was fulltime in adult program but I feel like I want to get burned out{lol}and try something with more to do but then I think it may kick me in the butt when it comes to weekends,holidays,and 3-11 shifts ...starting to think I may look into dr's offices even though I was a MA years ago and swore if I did nursing I would go elsewhere,you have to do whats right for you,think of it this way you can always pick up some hours in the evening trying something different..thats the good thing about nursing right?

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Specializes in Mental Health.
Just graduated, wanted med-surg, applied every where, hospitals, clinics, LTC, 2 months after I graduated I still did not have a job. Major bills piling up, had to get a job. An office called interveiwed, started next day, then hosp. called but only with prn, could not give up full time job for prn.

The problem, all I do is computer work, shots, vitals, strp/flu test.

This is so not what I went to school for. I don't feel like a "real" nurse. I was so excited to pass boards and so ready to begin my big career, such a let down. The plus is I have a full time job, good hours, no weekends, no holidays and I have 2 kids I have neglected for the last year in school, but I feel so depressed. This is a great job, good doctors, awesome doctors, great people to work with, but..........

Then I think well maybe I am being unrealistic about my thinkin about the hospital, maybe i would not love it. but how am I to know.????????

I am thinkin wait till first of year and try again for hosp. everyone says you have to start prn to get foot in door, but what if I hate it, and I throw away one of the best jobs ever?

HELP!:cry:

I can appreciate your plight.:nurse: I am in that situation right know and I graduated over 3 years ago. I have tried working nights because it was a better schedule for me but it's that desire that currently has me jobless. I find the jobs and recently had a great schedule 10p-6:30a, however, a new administrator decided to change the schedule to 12p-8:30a which meant it was time for me to go. I have kids and sometimes it's hard maintaining a job and taking care of a family.

I would love to work in a clinic, for a good salary of course, and have nothing to do but vitals and paperwork...sounds good to me sister.:up: However, I can understand that you are seeking more excitement because you are new to nursing. I don't think most hospitals pay LPNs good salaries, and LTC pays well, but will also cause quick burnout. Keep looking and I'm sure you will find what your're looking for and enjoy the peace while you can because you definitely wont find it in hospitals or LTC. :heartbeat God Bless!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

You are a nurse, a community nurse. I can understand your feelings, however. I also work in a hospital clinic. Personally, I wouldn't trade it for all of the tea in china. I have weekends and holidays off and decent hours. I can have a life. However, I also knew that it may limit me regarding other positions in the future, so what I did was work per diem in med-surg alternate weekends to get that bedside experience. Believe me, it is harder, and when I leave, I am beat! But, I know that I can add these other skills and experiences to my resume. I decided that I do not want to expose myself to hurting and swollen feet and chaos on a full time basis (I want to control when I want to go up there to do this), so I get all that I can from the clinic experience. What I did gain from it, however, is great teaching skills, get more of a chance to actually read charts and piece together what is wrong with a patient and was able to correlate it all with the bedside.

If the job market for LPNs is plentiful, I would wait at least about 9 months to a year to search for other options before you lose confidence and courage to do bedside. Also, consider asking discretely what other options you have...maybe some of the doctors you work with know of places where they do ambulatory surgery, urgent care and other options that may offer similar things, such as choice hours and days off.

I can understand that you do want to practice all that you learned in school, but please do not feel that you are not a nurse or that you are not needed where you are currently. Nursing has so many opportunities that you can eventually find your niche and gain more satisfaction. Most people do job-hop for the first two years while sampling around for what works best for them.

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I graduated and went into LTC and hated it. I went to assisted living,,hated that. Hospital work didn't interest me. I had 26 years of office based experience and looked for an office setting. Got a great job at an ENT surgical clinic and LOVE IT! It gives me Mon-Fri, 8-4:30, no holidays or weekends and half a day Fri off. I do alot of computer work, scheduling tests, injections, no blood drawing, and thats fine with me. The pay is alot less(14 vs 16-18 at the other jobs)but it's worth it for me. Each of us has our priorities and our likes and dislikes. This works,,for me. Good luck in finding your place in the profession. :nurse:

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Well, I became a nurse a couple of years ago and, frankly, hated the floor. HATED it. I now have an informatics spot and, as Deva said, wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China.

I think, HopeJade, that you have been given a blessing that you don't yet recognize as such. Time with your family, to take courses at night if you want, weekends and holidays, a great group - and you're gonna read the horror stories here and even think about giving it up? Girl, are you CRAZY?

:)

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I understand your frustration. seems that there is hardly any "real nursing positions" for new grad LvN/LPN nurses. Your not alone in this situation keep your chin up. I will keep you in thoughts and prayers. You do the same for me. And hope to hear how you love your new exciting position as a nurse. :nurse:

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Ahem,,,,,I consider my position "a real nursing job". Just because I don't work in an acute care setting doesn't mean I'm any less a nurse than those LPNs who who do work in those settings. That's the beauty of nursing, there is a niche' for everyones talents. It's enough of a pain dealing with the people who already don't think I'm a "real nurse" since I'm not a RN without fellow LPNs follwoing suit. That comment was harmless in intent, I'm sure,,it just rubbed me the wrong way.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Well, I became a nurse a couple of years ago and, frankly, hated the floor. HATED it. I now have an informatics spot and, as Deva said, wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China.

I think, HopeJade, that you have been given a blessing that you don't yet recognize as such. Time with your family, to take courses at night if you want, weekends and holidays, a great group - and you're gonna read the horror stories here and even think about giving it up? Girl, are you CRAZY?

:)

Reading these forums made me hug my job sometimes as well. Yes, we each have our niche, some have to work the floors because that was what was available, others desire it. I like to dib and dab in a bit of each, but go 'home' to my clinic. The other stuff, for me is to build the resume to get more jobs like this...Monday-Fri, holidays off. Hey, I have to go to work tomorrow, but am off Election Day. Can't beat that! Don't have to argue about getting union time off for two hours to vote, etc... (Sue...I ain't crazy, either).

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I wish I could get an office job. I am a new licensee with no job....everyone seems to want at least 1 year experience before they will consider you. Well.........how do I get the experience if no one will hire me? I've taken care of a family member for 1 year, did trach care and peg tube care, so I do know some things.

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Reread what you wrote about the advantages of your present job and thank heaven that you have a job at all. Many new grads go more than one year without getting a job offer at all. You can get a part time position at the hospital and keep your present job. The part time position will allow you to get that missing "excitement" and experience while allowing you to retain the good job that you already have. It would be a terrible shame to trade a good job for one that is hell on earth and not be able to go back to the good job. You need to consider that this present position works out well for your family life. Very hard to beat that advantage. Get your other needs met by working at another job part time. It is very doable. Good luck to you.

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I will be starting LVN school in Sept. I am also a nurse recruiter, I call into the hosptials to find out if have needs for Perm or per diem LPN and gotten some positive responses. Give it a try nothing to lose. Good Luck .

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