what options besides bedside nursing are there for new grad

[sourapril]

I would like to hear from those who got a non-bedside job after they graduated from nursing school.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

What do you consider to be a bedside job? Direct patient care? Med surg?

[Sl1011]

I went straight to a doctor's office after graduation. I also worked PRN at an endoscopy center for a very short while (but it didn't work out with scheduling). I know some nurses that went into dialysis too. Most went to the hospital, med surg and tele floors mostly. I'm trying to gain a little more experience so I can qualify for school nursing! My dream :)

[Crux1024]

Everyone I am still in contact with, who graduated with me from school went into some kind of direct pt care job. Its hard to get into case management, insurance com, schools, teaching etc without hands on experience.

I know of one who went into an LTAC supervision with no pt care, but she was an LPN there before graduation.

What are you looking for?

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

do you mean indirect patient care....? if so most jobs require years of clinical nursing work experience and are not usually open to new grads.

if you are asking about jobs where you will not have a patient load per shift such as within ltc, rehab, or a hospital setting, then your options may be better. of course you will need to find a place that is willing to hire and train. i know of new grads that started out in hospice, home health, public health, outpatient clinics and school nursing.

[WIN007]

I think you need a year of hands-on clinical experience in med-surg or similar before considering other options. It's hard to work as a case manager or admin if you don't have a firm grip on the workflow. At a minimum knowing the work flow is going to be invaluable for anything else you attempt in a clinically oriented environment.