Non-Hospital jobs for new grads

JentheRN05, RN · Oct 15, 2006

I have never heard of a new RN getting into a doctors office unless they were friends with the doctor first. Usually need at least 1 year floor experience for just about any non-hospital job that I can think of. But there are TONS of nurses out there that can help you with this.

I don't think 1 med error should stop you from your dream. If anything that should push you towards the dream, because I tell you what - it only takes 1 mistake and most people never make another one (okay that's exaggerated, but it's rare - you know what I mean - you LEARN from it)

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Wendy_RN · Oct 15, 2006

Please don't let the incident that happened during clinicals keep you from doing something you really want. Besides, a med error could occur in a physician's office as well. Do what is going to make you happy.

A lot of the physicians in my area use MOA's instead of RN's in their private practices. A specialist is going to use RN's more, but most of them are going to want experience.

Just put some thought into what you really want to do with your career. Even if you decide a hospital setting is not for you, a little experience in a hospital setting would go a long way in your career. Best of luck to you!!!

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 15, 2006

Hard to secure a job in a dr office around here as a nurse. Most just hire MAs.

Good luck, like said above, don't let that error stymie you. You learned from it and can succeed in any position if you work earnestly enough.

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · Oct 15, 2006

I want to thank you all very much. I just have a lot of thinking to do in the next few months. This med error was not serious, but it could have been. I know I will not repeat the same mistake again, but I am just so terrified that I could do it again. I just don't want to hurt anyone.

mugwump · Oct 15, 2006

For the first couple months after I graduated I was just glad I didn't kill anyone, I didn't make anyone worse either.

Then I started to find my place and gain confidence in myself. It will come.

mtngrl, ASN, RN · Oct 15, 2006

I am trying to decide what direction I really want to go into after my graduation in May. Our instructors have told us to start applying in January. I am leaning towards a non-hospital setting.
I am just curious if doctors offices hire new grad RN's? I have heard that Dr's offices do not hire RNs period, unless it is a specialized private practice or a plastic surgeons office. Is that true?
Are there any other non-hopital jobs that a new-grad can get into?
I have wanted to be a NICU or a nursery nurse for years, but a med-error last week during clinicals made me change my mind forever.
(no harm done, thank God).
Thanks

I was hired into a peds office as a new grad (i'm an RN). I did not know anyone there either so that's not how I got hired. The director said she liked giving new grads a chance there. You don't use many skills though, so it's not good if you plan on ever going into a hospital. You don't sound like that's what you really want to do though so go with what you want!

maureenlynn · Oct 15, 2006

Try www.discovernursing.com. It has a list of many MANY different nursing jobs inside and outside the hospital. If something there appeals to you, you should research it and see if it's a possibility for new grads. Good luck!!!!!!

allnurses Guide · Oct 15, 2006

I am trying to decide what direction I really want to go into after my graduation in May. Our instructors have told us to start applying in January. I am leaning towards a non-hospital setting.
I am just curious if doctors offices hire new grad RN's? I have heard that Dr's offices do not hire RNs period, unless it is a specialized private practice or a plastic surgeons office. Is that true?
Are there any other non-hopital jobs that a new-grad can get into?
I have wanted to be a NICU or a nursery nurse for years, but a med-error last week during clinicals made me change my mind forever.
(no harm done, thank God).
Thanks

Oh honey, if that's really truly what you want to do, I wouldn't let one error change your mind, especially if there was no harm done! Use that as a learning experience and never be afraid to ask questions!! :icon_hug:

I will answer your original question though. First of all, I believe plenty of doctor's offices hire RN's, but yeah, usually you do have to have some experience. If you were getting a BSN, you could probably work in a health department; otherwise you would need experience then also. Home health or hospice might possibly hire new RN's.

truern · Oct 15, 2006

My doctor's nurse graduated a year ahead of me from the same program. She told me she didn't like the hectic pace in the hospitals and KNEW she wanted to do office nursing. She was hired without experience and not having an "in" at the office. It can be done :)

If office nursing is truly what you want, then go for it, but don't let a single med error keep you from hospital nursing if that is your dream.

Good luck whatever you decide :)

Humbled_Nurse · Oct 16, 2006

I will have to agree with everyone else. Please don't let that one med error keep you from your dream. I see you are from North Texas. There are lots of NICU's in the area that have new grad programs. I say go for it, but if you are absolutely adamant about not working in a hospital then I say to look into pedi. doctors offices or outpatient clinics. A lot of pedi offices still use RN's. A lot of doctors offices and clinics will likely want hospital experience, but you may get lucky.

Good luck!

PANurseRN1 · Oct 16, 2006

I hate to break it to the OP, but it's just as possible to make a med error in a doctor's office as it is in a hospital.

Every nurse has made mistakes. You can let a mistake crush you, or you can choose to learn from it. It would be a shame if you let one error define you.

Please think long and hard about this; perhaps talk to an advisor you trust. If office nursing is where your heart is, that's great. But if it's not, you'll just be hiding out, and you will probably always wonder "What if?"