New Grad Where should I work?

Nurses New Nurse

Published

I recently graduated took my NCLex in June of this year and passed the first time with only answering 75 qustions. So thankful for that. I wanted to take the summer off to spend with my daughter since the past two years I was either working, doing clinicals or at school. Now, since she is starting her school back, I have decided to start looking for employment. The thing is, I am scared as hell. lol I really don't want to be running around like my head has been cut off. I want a more laid back approach, where I can fully absorb and learn what was not taught in nursing school. I don't feel like I learned a lot in my clinicals because we barely spent time at the hospital and when we did we ended up leaving after about 5 hours. Most of "clinical" was spent in a lab practicing on a dummy. Not the same as a person. I did a preceptorship and my preceptor was awfull. She gave me 4 patients and she took 3. One of hers was discahrged that morning so she only had two most of the day. She ended up giving me all of the "bad" patients nobody wanted to deal with and then went about her day. I could not find her most of the day to help me. I pretty much had to ask other RN staff. I was so furious because I was expecting to her to teach me new things. I started to call my instructor in the middle of the night and tell her I was walking out and she would just have to let me precept with another nurse another day. It was her responsibilty to her patients. Her name had RN behind it. I was only a student. Anyway, I carried on, but it was a miserable experience to say the least. I almost went ballistic when one of my patients was discharged and she decided to give me another "bad" patient. What the hell? HOw are you gonna do that to me when I have no clue about new admits and you are not around to show me and you only have 2 patients. Really? I am just scared. Not really certain where to go. I know I did not like med/surge at all. Mainly because I just did not like the staff on the floor. Very lazy

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatric.

Slushy- where do you want to work? Why did you go to nursing school? Surely there must have been something that piqued your interest during your time in school? If you don't know what you're nursing niche is, what do you require to make a living? What do you know you don't want to do? Look at job listings and see what sounds interesting.

Not a whole lot is learned in clinical anyway, and it's unfortunate you had a bad experience. But that was then. Look ahead, and look around. As a new grad in a tough job market, you may want to just start getting experience, however you can get it, in which case home health and LTC may be options. Good luck! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@mluvsgnc

I thank you for your reply. Well I there are a couple of places I know that I do not want to work. Number one is behavioral health. Had a clinical one day and saw one of my nursing buddies get attacked by a patient. It was just a mentally draining environment for me. Med/surg I didn't care for. The unit was interesting but most want at least 1 year experience. I enjoyed the OR but again they want at least one year. I have applied to some positions for PACU and outpatient services as well as Onocolgy/Ifusion therapy as well as some clinics in the past week. It's still early so hopefully I will hear something soon. I don't want to do the 12 hour shifts because of being a single parent. I would like to see my child more than once a week. lol. I am just a littel scared. Starting this new adventure and I really don't know what my niche is. GUess I really want know until I get out there and start doing it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Wow. You have a whole lot of "won'ts". Good luck on finding a job that is customized for your needs. You do realize that working 12 hour shifts mean that you'll only work ~ 3 days a week, right?

FYI, preceptors are not supposed to "teach" you anything. That is what your instructor is for. Preceptors are there to protect their patients and support you while you apply the skills and knowledge you (supposedly) gained in the classroom.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

What do you mean "bad" patient? Maybe try working in a clinic setting or one of the flu/vaccine clinics to start. That would be a low stress environment to start.

Don't you like you be part of the healing process? If you don't enjoy this maybe you have chosen the wrong profession. Not saying you don't or that it's wrong to not have a desire to help others, but I think that people that don't enjoy helping people would probably like a different field better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
@mluvsgnc

I thank you for your reply. Well I there are a couple of places I know that I do not want to work. Number one is behavioral health. Had a clinical one day and saw one of my nursing buddies get attacked by a patient. It was just a mentally draining environment for me. Med/surg I didn't care for. The unit was interesting but most want at least 1 year experience. I enjoyed the OR but again they want at least one year. I have applied to some positions for PACU and outpatient services as well as Onocolgy/Ifusion therapy as well as some clinics in the past week. It's still early so hopefully I will hear something soon. I don't want to do the 12 hour shifts because of being a single parent. I would like to see my child more than once a week. lol. I am just a littel scared. Starting this new adventure and I really don't know what my niche is. GUess I really want know until I get out there and start doing it.

Usually PACU requires previous exp., preferably in critical care. Outpatient oncology/infusion therapy is also another area that tends to require previous exp., although there are some places that may hire new grads. Day surgery is yet another area that's difficult for a new grad to get into, (1 because they want someone with exp. who can handle admitting people and getting postops simultaneously; very fast paced, and (2 it's one of the coveted positions, so you'll be competing with people who have more seniority.

If you can suck it up for a year on M/S, you may find more doors open to you. Right now, I'm afraid it's going to be hard for you to get everything you want. You're going to have to give a little until you have more to offer an employer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
FYI, preceptors are not supposed to "teach" you anything. That is what your instructor is for. Preceptors are there to protect their patients and support you while you apply the skills and knowledge you (supposedly) gained in the classroom.

I don't necessarily agree with that--in my senior preceptorship, my preceptors taught me tons. Who else would have done it? The instructor isn't on-site the way they are for regular clinicals. Perhaps you didn't mean to come off this way, but are you one of those preceptors who says things like "If you haven't already learned how to do that, I don't know what you're doing here?" I've never heard anyone suggest before that preceptorship is not a teaching role.

I do agree that the OP sounds pretty negative. You're making a lot of assumptions, but I'm glad to see you acknowledge that you may not know what you want to do until you get in there. Trust me, lots and lots of parents work 12-hour shifts. Many of them comment that it gives them MORE time with their kids, not less.

And you're writing off med-surg simply because you perceived the staff on the floor you observed during clinicals to be "lazy"? Med-surg nurses are generally some of the busiest people in the hospital. Maybe this was a bad floor, or maybe you misread the atmosphere.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Where should you start as a new nurse? Anywhere you can get a job. You may not have noticed how bad the market is for new grads. Nearly half of new grad nurses are still unemployed one year after graduation. Unfortunately you aren't really in a position to pick and choose. If you get offered a job, take it. I STRONGLY recommend starting to apply immediately and NOT taking time off. Once you pass a year without having worked as an RN you will be what is known as an "old new grad". This means the students who have less time out of school will be perceived as being more relevant to the employers needs and you will be perceived as no longer being fresh. Taking time off essentially makes your window of opportunity that much smaller. You can expect it to take you four to six months to even get a reply to an application based on modern day averages.

As far as fast paced, bad preceptor, etc....well, nursing IS fast paced. The slower environment you are desiring certainly won't be found in a hospital or rehab or snf setting. Most of the jobs that are more laid back are jobs that require significant experience working the ones that aren't, so that you have excellent assessment skills and the ability to recognize a problem and intervene before it becomes a crisis.

Recognize as a new grad you bring almost nothing to the table. You will need to scale back on your list of can'ts, won'ts and don't wants. The first year stinks for pretty much everyone, but there ARE good situations out there. I hope you find one and I hope you start tackling getting a job sooner rather than later. Best of luck and congrats on getting your license. :)

eta: Ah, just reread your post. You already DID take the summer off. Can't undo that now. I wish you the best of luck. PACU won't be an option for you without critical care or ER experience. Oncology might be interested but don't expect that to be a calm or stress free environment at ALL. If you couldn't handle med surg, most of the specialties will be too much for you. Maybe consider home health I guess. Your list is excessive to be honest. You are bottom of the totem pole. You can't pick and choose this much. Your fears should not revolve around what kind of work you will get. It should revolve around whether or not you can get work at all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

When I was student I also got assigned the "troublesome" patients. Hey, why not start from that point learning how to deal with difficult patients. Anyways, I would advise you to apply everywhere including the Med/surg units for learning experience and growth. Once you obtain 1-2 years of experience move on. A friend of mine worked on a very busy, tough telemetry floor for almost 2 years. She hated every moment but got gained so much experience that she was able to move to same-day.

Go through the fire, trust me you won't get burned.

Sent from iPink's phone via allnurses app

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I thank everyone for their replys and input. I know that as a new grad my options are limited. Let me be clear on one thing, I do enjoy nursing and helping others. There are certain areas that really don't appeal to me that much such as behavioral health that I want to steer clear of. It was just too mentally draining for me. As bad as I want a nursing job, I would never apply for that. Knowing that jobs are hard to come by, I have applied to many facilities in diffrent areas other that PACU, Day Surgery, Onocology(where I really want to work). I have applied for MEd/Surg, Telemetry, Dialysis, Physician Offices,L&D, and many others. I decided what the hell. I am gonna apply for everything if I can. JUst not Behavioral Health. lol Yes I took the summer off. Really only two months after I passed NCLEX before I started applying. Thankfully since my last post, I have already interviewed for a Dialysis position. I think the interview went well because she said she would be calling me back for a second interview after she speaks with her manager. I am assuming that is who I will be interviewing with. I have also got a call back for onocology, 2 physician offices, med/surge, and Day Hospital. Yep Day Hospital . All in the past two days and have set interviews up for each one. I would love Day Hospital but I do know my chances are slim. I am glad to see I am getting call backs without having to wait extended periods of time like some others I know put in before the graduated and haven't got a call yet. Maybe my military experience as a Naval Hospital Corpsman and a PCT is standing out. Anyway thanks for all the comments and wish me luck>

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

You will probably have to work where ever you can get hired, which is most likely LTC, home health, or behavioral health since these types of nursing are generally more willing to hire new grads. Sorry for that news, but jobs are hard to come by for new grads.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment