Nursing Career

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It has always been my desire to be a nurse. I put it off to have and raise my children and I am now at a point where not only am I ready education wise but personally as well. I have had to put it off a couple of times the past couple of years due to the unexpected passing of my brother 11 months after losing my father. One of the biggest things that cause my husband and I to go back and forth on this is the ability to work in an office setting as a new grad. Can anyone who has knowledge of the Denver, Colorado new grad opportunities please let me know if an office setting is a realistic opportunity for new nursing grads? It sure would help me to feel better about starting nursing school, finally, in January.

Thanks,

April

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I think you're jumping the gun a bit too early by questioning employment opportunities long BEFORE schooling.

Employment opportunities are usually distinctly specific based on geography. Rural South Dakota will be different than metropolitan Denver, for sure.

And the specialty governs job opportunities also. Jobs in a physician office is usually very limited for nurses, esp newbie nurses. The typical trend is to hire MAs (medical assistants), NOT nurses.

Have you checked Craigslist.? I sometimes read it just to see what's happening around the country.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Office work as a new grad is highly unlikely . The job market in general is tough without restricting yourself to just looking for an office job.

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Thanks for your response amoLucia. I don't think it is ever to soon to look into what you think you want as it gives one a more realistic view of what opportunities are really out there for them. From previous experience years ago I went into a profession being told that there were hourly pay opportunities when in fact there were not. I also don't think trying to be as informed as you can is jumping the gun. Besides that I am not interested in what opportunities are outside of Denver since I have family needs that will require me to stay in Denver.

I am not really looking at physicians offices but rather opportunities outside of a hospital or nursing home. Something that will offer a new grad the opportunity to work a standard Monday - Friday schedule. I have seen some jobs on indeed which are M-F and say new grads welcome. I just wanted real life feedback.

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Thanks loriangel14. At this point I am just trying to see if what I am seeing posted on indeed is a reality, that being office positions or at least M-F positions which state new grads are welcome. I know what I'd like to be doing and I understand that most of the time for any nursing job you need 1-2 years experience. I have been burned in the past being told one thing and reality is the exact opposite. I really would prefer going into this knowing the reality of what I should be expecting.

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A non-bedside nursing position with regular office hours is a prized position. These jobs are scarce and the competition for them is fierce. This is the equivalent of looking for a man who is a perfect 10 and who is also kind and rich.

New grads will have to compete with nurses who have years of experience but are getting older or injured and are even willing to take a paycut for a non-bedside job.

So yes, the kind of job is available, but you might not get it right away or easily.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The 9-5 office jobs that are begging for new grads may have unwritten issues why they cannot keep experienced staff. A local agency likes to hire new grads, promises them the moon and full time hours, then literally throws them to the wolves.

9-5 office jobs are coveted positions that want strong experienced nurses. Or they pay low with the extreme minimum benefits due to low insurance reimbursement. You are going to find it difficult to find utopia in a day shift office setting as a new grad in the metro Denver area this is reality.

You may have better luck as a new grad in acute or subacute rehab day shift. But even office jobs may have evening or weekend requirements especially if an office that deals with a healthy population such as OB/GYN, perinatology, or pediatrics. Again these offices may consider new grads but prefer experienced nurses for their top notch triage and assessment skills.

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You would be making a big gamble in any part of the country and either find yourself without a job, or doing something that won't work for you.

And a few years out in our healthcare industry? It's a gamble for the most flexible. We really have no idea what it's going to look like, other than the current market is flooded with new grads and more coming. As well as in an era of severe cuts in Medicare funding.

Your question is basically, Can I expect there to be a much in demand M-F non bedside position for myself as a new grad in a tight job market for new grads and in an industry that is in a rough state of change?

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Your question is basically, Can I expect there to be a much in demand M-F non bedside position for myself as a new grad in a tight job market for new grads and in an industry that is in a rough state of change?

Great summarization in a nutshell!

Another thing to consider - there is no way to predict which way the healthcare industry will swing in a few years. Esp as it impacts nsg.

And you left no indicators of your personal variables that will impact that time window. Are you seeking an LPN, an RN ADN or RN BSN? FINANCES will tremendously impact your choices. Are children in your plans?

I stand by my previous post. You've already been burnt by earlier career information which didn't pan out. There's NO ADVANCE guarantee in healthcare & nsg that you can safely bank on either.

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I appreciate everyone's comments and advice. I guess my original post was lacking in details that I didn't really believe were relevant when I first posted this. Let me just say this, when I graduated high school in 1993 I did so with my CNA licensure. I went to work right away with the goal of being a nurse as volunteering at a local hospital really ignited my passion for nursing. I worked in a nursing home, home health, and finally landed my dream job of working in the hospital that I volunteered at. I left the hospital when my oldest was 6 months old so that I could have a regular working schedule for his sake. He is now 20 years old and my youngest is 16 years old. I have continued through all these years of watching the nursing trends with regards to jobs and new grad opportunities. I've also gone back to work in the same hospital I left. So I am aware of the every changing job opportuinities and trends in nursing. It is the same changes that happen in every industry - they all change with the times and the variables of what is happening in that industry. I totally get that office jobs for nurses are a prized possession and seasoned nurses will always have the upper hand of new grads. I was really just looking to try to confirm or deny the latest trend I was seeing being posted on indeed for new grads.

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I really appreciate your reply. I feel that yours is the first to really address my question to the fullest. I also understand that experience is preferred over new grads. This is typical in any industry but I also believe that it can also be a great experience. I don't believe that there is utopia in any nursing position but I do believe that when one finds the right position they feel fulfilled and that is what I am after. After waiting 20+ years to fulfill my dream career I want to achieve just that -fulfillment.

Thanks again as you gave me some great information that I am uncertain I would have found on my own.

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Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

I would say check out Indeed and Monster to see opportunities in your area and the qualifications required for them. It will give you a general idea but just know that things change a lot in a few years time.

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