Oh man, I need help...

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Specializes in OBGYN.

Would it look really bad for a new grad to start out in a Dr's office? I graduated almost a year ago and have stayed home since then with my new baby. Now I have a really good offer at an OB/Gyn office (4 days a week, no nights/weekends/holidays, better pay than hospital for new grads). But I can also take a hospital position (telemetry.. not my fave) that has an 18 week RN Residency. I know that one is better for my nursing career, but I also have to consider that the office job is better for my family right now.

Am I making myself totally unmarketable by starting in an OB/Gyn office? I have to decide today..

I ultimately want to end up in L&D within the next 2-4 years.

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Specializes in OBGYN.

anyone?? please, i'll take any advice i can get!!

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I'm sorry, I don't know the correct answer. I would think that starting out in the doctor's office for your family sounds like a better choice. It is an OB/GYN office and you want L&D eventually, so it sounds like a good start in that regard. Remember, you are your own cheering squad, so if you decide to leave that place in a few years, stand behind your choices and be proud of the great job you do!:twocents:

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

If you want to work L&D then go with the hospital job. You still need to keep your skills up. The tele job would help you more, and you will have a foot in the door at the hospital.

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Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).

If you are interested in L&D, then I think the more appropriate skill set would be found in the OB/GYN office as opposed to the telemetry unit. In the OB office you'll be exposed to all the prenatal appointments and myriad of testing, ultrasounds, client teaching, fielding calls from pregnant patients..........just my 2 cents.

Unmarketable? Hardly.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I think you should be asking the Nurse Manager of the L&D unit of your local hospital. Call her up and tell her your long-term career goals. Then ask her what type of experience would SHE prefer that you get. After all, it's really HER opinion that counts, not ours.

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i would take the doctor's off job if it means less stress, more time at home with your family and no weekends/holidays....go for it!!!

if you want to be in l&d in the future....whatever you learn in the ob/gyn office will definately come in handy i'm sure....

also remember, working 12 hr days in hospital often times become 13-14 hour work days...so more time at work and less time at home....

best of luck with whatever you decide~

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Well, tough decision! Both sound good for your career except you will not have the opportunity to learn skills in the doc office, but then again the doc office will help prepare you for L&D. It depends on what you feel would better benefit you in the long run...L&D knowledge or actuall nursing skills. Both can benefit you in different ways. If you choose the office, then when/if you want to go to the hospital in L&D, you can always let them know that you are a "beginner" with skills and Im sure they will train you. Here, on L&D floor, even if you have several years experience on a hospital floor, you still get 6 weeks training before being turned loose. And you can always float to another floor to get more experience with skills. You ultimately have to do whats best for your family. I went on nightshift for 3 years on a med/surg floor. It did prepare me better, but it almost destroyed my family. I would probably take the office job, but thats me. You have to weigh the benefits. If the hospital job is nightshift, then that would answer your question also.

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Specializes in OBGYN.

anyone else?? it seems like so far, people are saying office job.. that kinda surprises me.. any more advice for me? i'm so anxious about making this decision..

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Is the office affiliated with a hospital? I ask because I had a similar dilemma. As a new grad LPN from the hospital that paid for my nursing education, I was placed back in the same clinic I worked at as an aide. I had to take it, because I owe time based on the contract they provided. I also know that I would rather have weekends and holidays off, and most new grads do not get this. What I did, however, is signed up with one of the agencies my hospital uses and I work per diem on alternate weekends on med-surg to gain/retain nursing skills. All new grads have to work 6 weeks on med-surg anyhow before being sent to their regular assigned area, so, I didn't forget as much as I thought I did, and now, I can pad my resume with both, community health as well as med-surg. No one has to know that I do it twice a month and I would be able to carry the interview in confidence. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Oh, and yeah, if I had to make a decision, I would work the office. I see too many things that make me uncomfortable to work on the floors on a regular basis.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Starting a job as a new RN is difficult under any circumstances. Starting one with a young baby at home, even more so.

Because nursing is such a tough job, I always advise new grada to take jobs in settings that are of great interest to them. You mention that telemetry "isn't your favorite". That's enough right there for me to advise you to take the OB job. Add to it the regular, predictible hours with a new family and the OB job wins hands-down.

P.S. if you decide not to take the OB job, let me know. I'd do it in a heartbeat!

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