Non-hospital RN experience good or bad for new grad RN?

[swoo5]

Hello. I have another question and thanks to all of you that have answered my previous question. The answers have been so insightful.

My other question is this: Is non-hospital RN employment considered positive or negative on a new grad RN's resume who would eventually like to be employed in an acute care unit?

I'm a new grad RN in California. Passed NCLEX on June 9, 2014. It is very hard to secure hospital positions as a new grad RN.

I'm open to also looking at non-hospital RN positions, but have heard that if I want to ultimately end up in a hospital unit, that that experience could be looked on as a negative.

Logically, I would think that any experience would only make me a better nurse down the line.

Could any of you wise nurses out there please give your thoughts on this to a new RN that is eager to start her career? Best.

[87RN]

I know of nurses who worked in nursing homes who have transferred to in hospital LTC, SNF, psych and Medsurg, then applied to ICU and got in. I think any nursing experience/ job is better than none, especially with the economy the way it is. The new grad program at my hospital accepts nurses who have not had acute care experience and graduated in the last three years, even if they have been working in a clinic or care home, etc.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

RN working in LTC, SNF, home health, hospice or private duty = RN Pay + RN Experience

Waiting for a callback from the hospital's HR department = Zero Pay + Zero Experience

I started out at nursing homes for several years before receiving more than one job offer at hospitals. It's the "old new grad" who's had a nursing license for more than one year but has no experience that looks more unattractive to recruiters than the new nurse who's actively working in his/her profession, albeit outside a hospital.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Any job that can assist in paying off your student loans is a good job.

Down the road, if you decide you would like to switch to a more acute care hospital situation--cross that bridge when you come to it.

After around a year or so, I would see about per diem hospital postions. Or you may love what you do and decide no hospital position is worth it.

Best wishes in your endevours.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Accept any decent position you can find. There are fewer hospital jobs available. LTC, sub acute, home health and clinics provide valuable experience.

The longer you're out of work, the harder it is. Any experience is better than none. Just apply everywhere.