New RN, don't know where to start

jchaconBSN · Jan 1, 2009

Congrats on passing NCLEX!

I think your friend is right, you should start out on Med/Surg. Having no previous experience, it will give you a great foundation on your nursing skills. You will see every type of patient with different problems, and this will eventually guide you into an area that you want to speacialize in. As far as starting in a nursing home, I would say no. Your biggest responsibility in a nursing home would involve passing out oral meds. You need to get into a hospital and get experience with assessments and procedures you will never see if a nursing home. Good luck! Where are you located?

batjhong · Jan 2, 2009

Im in Alabama right now, Im licensed in California. Will be moving to Buena Park this month though. :wink2:

smile123 · Jan 2, 2009

If you are a new grad nurse, you need to apply fo the New Grad programs. They are usually only offered 2 or 3 times a year. Go online and apply at the various hospitals. That's the way it's done. Then followup with the HR recruiter. These programs are specifically for new grads; they know you don't have any experience. At this point, I would say go for med/surg because they will have the greatest numbers of openings. Even so, the metropolitan areas of California have a nursing glut (San Francisco Bay Area), so it's best to take what you can get. Once you have a year of experience, you can move around, but you are a newbie, so join the crowd! Good luck!

Smile123

gwafuh_rn, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2009

we're on the same boat.i just passed my nclex last sept of 2008.im trying to apply to hospitals which has a new grad program.Right now I have my part time job as a visiting nurse in home health.Goodluck to us who is desperately looking for a job.hehe