Private sector or NHS?

[KT94]

I am coming to the end of my days at university, and the time has come when I start applying for jobs. My dream job is to be in the community nursing team and eventually gain the qualifications to become a district nurse. My only problem is, as a newly qualified, I will find it very difficult to find a post in a community nursing team. I have been offered a post in a local community hospital in an Elderly Rehabilitation unit with the NHS, where, if I accept this job offer, I will only be in the job as long as it takes me to get a job in the community nursing team. I also have a job offer in a private nursing home where the pay is a lot higher than with the NHS, and as mentioned previously, again with this job, I will only stay as long as it takes me to get a job in the area I am desperate to work in. My only worry is that if a start work in the private sector, I will find it difficult to get a job in the NHS in my dream job. I am asking for any advice on which path to follow? Stick with the NHS or go with more money in the private sector? Help!

[Capricorn90]

As a newly qualified I'd stick with the NHS as its how you have trained - the private sector works slightly differently and it's a big enough learning curve going from student to staff nurse alone. Do the community NHS hospital have a community nursing team based there? If so there may be internal opportunities etc after a little while or if a job comes up you kind of already have a foot in the door with the trust. Up to you though of course! Do what you think feels right, as either way with perseverance you will still get into community if this is your end goal