New Graduate - Research Nurse Residency

[robin4]

Hi All,

I am considering accepting a position into a research nurse residency to start off my nursing career as a new graduate. My concern is, will it be difficult to transition/get hired into a clinical/bedside nursing position if I choose to pursue that after a year of working as a research nurse? I do not necessarily want to limit the rest of my nursing career long-term to only working in a research nurse setting. I also have goals for FNP in the future, and am wondering if starting my career in a research nurse position will hinder me from bedside nurse jobs and NP school in the future?

Thanks in advance!!

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

OP: I think you answered your own question. If you want to be a bedside RN in the future, then you may want to choose a job by bedside now. Unfortunately, no one will be able to tell you what your future holds if you take this job now or you take a bedside position because many of us have found that no matter what work experience we have, the demand for our skills in the future depends on the local market. In other words, if you have work experience in one area of nursing, you will essentially be stuck/trapped in that area if the market is tight and is only interested in nurses with experience in X. On the other hand, if you live in an area where employers are desperate for anyone with a license in nursing to accept a position outside his/her area of work experience, you may find that there is more flexibility to move around in your career.

By the way, I think it is very cool that a new grad has an opportunity to go straight into research nursing. However, from my experience many RNs who become research RNs are those who already have experience with direct patient care and the critical thinking and solid soft business skills that comes from years worth of bedside work experience. Thus, I think even in a good research residency program, you might find it to be a bit of a challenge compared to your more experienced colleagues.

In any case, good luck! I am making moves at this time to further my leadership career in research nursing so I am a bit bias in favor of this specialty at this time. :)

[texrnvw]

where did you find this program? I am looking into research myself. I think you should still do it, research will help you be a better FNP.

[lauranurselaura, BSN, RN]

Hi Robin4!

I agree with everything that MBARNBSN said. I'm a research nurse (study coordinator) and have found that having bedside/clinical experience has been very helpful. Though I should note that those skills aren't necessarily what got me the job as the physicians were looking for someone with some medical knowledge and could talk to/consent/develop a good rapport with patients and sponsors of trials (soft business skills). That is to say that you don't have to a be a nurse to be a research coordinator. If you think that you'll want to transition back into clinical/bedside nursing since that experience is helpful to getting your FNP, I recommend going that route as I will admit I have lost a lot of my nursing skills ever since I started in research. I knew of a few research nurses who have worked on the floor part-time because they felt they were losing their nursing skills. Just some things to keep in mind..

That is awesome, though, that there is research nurse residency program that exists! Most research nurse coordinators learn everything in a baptism by fire/ on the job training way.