SlightlyHumerus

First, let me say I am a psych nurse at heart. I had a Behavioral Health RN job in a large metropolitan hospital on a unit that treated only patients in need of the most intensive therapies. Most of our patients were one bed availability away from the state mental hospital. I loved running groups. I loved listening to people's stories of struggle, sorrow, and pain. And I hope was a small spoke in the wheel toward their recoveries. The stories were heart wrenching and stomach churning. I'd go home wondering how the world kept spinning on its axis while I was choking back tears recalling the reprehensible child abuse a patient suffered that had then manifested itself into horrific coping mechanisms. All of this compelled me to look at my life through a kinder, less judgmental lens. It also kept me from feeling sorry for myself for whatever slights I'd suffered in life. Their stories provided a unique perspective on the devastating impact childhood trauma has on a human being. The biggest surprise was that my job as a Behavioral Health Nurse ended up helping me in ways no amount of therapy ever could have. I kept a great quote in my head for when people asked me why I enjoyed behavioral health nursing (probably aghast that I, Miss Perky-Happy-Funny-Person-Nurse would do something so... well, un-pleasant). I think what people really meant when they asked me that question was, 'cleaning up poop is one thing, but wanting to help the same people who throw their poop at you is another.' The questions were never that direct so they came out as 'how do you do that for a living?". In my head I'd refer to Carl Jung's quote "knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of others" with one important addition: There is great empowerment in knowing your own darkness. That empowerment, the feeling I had at the end of a long day that ultimately culminated with a patient using a newly learned coping skill as if they had just batted their first home run, is I guess, what some refer to as job satisfaction. And I had a lot of it. So, dear nurses.com friends, here is my quandary: I left mental health nursing to be closer to home, to have regular office hours, to have family time on nights, weekends, and holidays. Great, right? It sounded so logical and seemed so obvious. A 10 minute calm back road drive at 0800 instead of a 35 minute hair-raising interstate drive at 0550. Duh. I ain't that stupid. So I made the switch. To office nursing. More specifically, Triage Nursing. And. I. Hate. It! With a passion! I won't waste space typing out all the reasons except to say I have no patience working with healthy patients who think they're first in line for an Adderall refill when I'm trying to squeeze in a patient for one-sided facial droop, slurred speech, and confusion. Sorry. Not happnin'. I'm more polite to my homeless schizophrenics. I have more patience with my ex-con fighting for his life to overcome addiction. I have become a hater of the WNL family practice patient. Period. I am going to hell probably. But before I do, please help me. I am 45 years old and I should be able to figure this out! Do you drive farther to a job you love? A job with shift flexibility and DVT-preventative sustainability. Or do you save precious time and drive to a job you hate? FYI, money is the same. Thank you for your input. I love you guys.

I accepted the position!!! I'm so excited. My preceptor's shift is 7a-7p so I'm not going to worry about the other shift until the time comes. NM said 11p-7a is not hard to get and that I shouldn't have a problem if I request it after my preceptorship finishes. I've been reading A LOT about adolescent psych and I think it's going to be a beautiful fit. I'll post again in a few months after I know what I'm dealing with…. thank so much for the advice posts.

Awesome advice!!!! Thanks! I'm probably going to accept a position in adol mental health and I'm a second-career new grad who thought I'd climb the oncology ladder…. looks like I might be trying something else first. The way I've thought about it, the psychosocial and psychological aspects of oncology are the reasons why I am so drawn to it. I love love love therapeutic communication, listening to people's life stories and being a beacon of hope for them as I try to steer them toward positive coping. So maybe I'll really like the little kids. I already have three girls of my own and, Lord knows, my own house is a mental health lab all its own! lol

Hi nurses!! I am a new grad, second career nurse. I have been job hunting since I graduated December 13, 2013. (And I mean the REAL DEAL hunting- cold calling, going to area hospitals and introducing myself to NMs on units I'm interested in, emails, phone calls, networking with friends of friends, doctor friends of friends, NM friends of friends, nurse friends, nurse friends of friends, nursing school instructors, linked in, job websites..... not a stone unturned) I used to be in sales and I guess the skills of shameless self-promotion never left me. My goal is oncology nursing and to get on the ladder at any area hospital with a strong new grad training program so I can start the climb. I received word Friday that I will be getting a call from HR at the hospital of my choice for a position on a unit I hadn't really considered, adolescent mental health. There are two problems: first, does psych offer any transferability to the oncology field? Second, the shift would be 3p-11p (the major after-school-homework-dinner-prep-how-was-your-day time with my 3 kids and husband). I was so convinced it was going to be so easy to take the first good job that came along......... and I was truly willing to be flexible with my first real RN job! But psych? 3p-11p? Ohhhhhhhh. Am I dumb to take it? Am I dumb not to take it? I live in an area SATURATED with nursing schools and hundreds of their fledgling new grads. I want to be with this hospital so badly! (Big system, strong training, lots of transferability, Magnet status, good vibes during clinicals, strong nurse relationships, yada, yada, yada). PROS: The idea of psych seems very appealing to me. I have some personal experience with dealing with mental illness in my family and I'm able to empathize with families enduring this struggle in a way that is unique and hard-won. I definitely have the energy for it. I'm a goofball and dealing with kids and teens would probably offer the opportunity for me to use this trait in a way that actually benefits the patients. It's THE hospital system where I want to be (not the exact location however). If I take the job I could transfer someday to another location closer to my home CONS: It's not oncology. It's not even a skilled-nursing position that will help me with the necessary skilled-nursing requirements of oncology (tubes, drains, blood, gore, wounds, surgeries, machines, meds, more meds, physical illness, life and death, etc). I'd be using up my "new grad" training on a psych unit and lose (new grad "forgivable") training on thousands of said nursing skills needed on other units. It's 3p-11p! Location of the particular hospital in the system is in a major city, which means fighting with traffic 30-45 minutes each way. Would it look bad if I took the job to "get in" but then left in a year or two for another location within the same company? So what do I do?????????????????? Any constructive input would be GREATLY appreciated (money is pretty consistent for new grad positions at any location in my area and perks don't matter either b/c my husband's job provides all benefits). Tomorrow I'm emailing all my contacts as a last-ditch effort to get interviews and/or consideration for the 50+ other RN positions I've applied for/expressed interest in. I will probably have to make a decision by the end of the week- April 4, 2014. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really do appreciate any help this fabulous community of all nurses.com provides! I looooove the articles and comments!

Such a sad story that will remind me to stick to my guns and not be afraid to "refuse" to do something on account of my patient. Thank you of sharing.

"I can tell you from personal experience that you can survive a sentinel error with your job and your license intact-if you recognize your error, admit it, tell the people who need to know, set about to mitigate the damage and tell your manager in the right way. Lauren not only survived but went on to thrive in her nursing career-not because she never made a mistake, but because she showed enormous integrity in what she did after she made one." THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I'm a new grad, getting ready to embark on this fabulous journey of nursing and you finally told me what no one else has, even during 3 years of nursing school! I've been terrified of the "what if?", and now I know, thanks to you. Thank you so much for putting it out there. We are human. Humans make mistakes. But it's all in the recovery. I will remember this advice forever!

***ME*** So I've done most of the above and the best part of this story is I got a call from HR of my 2nd choice facility today. She informed me that she had received "feedback" from some NMs and Directors that I was passing out my resume at their facility and that this was not the "process" I should be using... blah blah blah. And in the same breath she asked if I could come in to interview (Ahem! With one of the NMs I introduced myself to.... ) So it just goes to show you, you have to hoof it! Get out there! Introduce yourself! Smile! And NEVER EVER FORGET: Tell them you want the job! ***I graduated Dec, passed boards Feb, 1st interview this Thursday (2nd choice facility)! And the Dir of HR (1st choice facility) is forwarding my info/resume with a recommendation to THREE units and the New Grad program! I am so excited! I have been hoofin' it like a fat-headed politician, but one offer is all it takes, right? ...to be continued

Slightly Humerus was my real name but I've since had it changed.

Note to self: avoid Caribbean hospital at all costs

I think some of the opinions expressed in this thread come from an age difference, not a title difference. There's a life-experience difference between a 19yo new grad and a 40yo new grad, right? It's neither good, nor bad. Just different. Seeing nursing school as another profitable business comes with experiencing the real world. It's not an insult to education. It's reality. When you graduate nursing school you enter a long lineage of nurses. Some graduated during economic booms, and were virtually wined-and-dined to employment- with a sign-on bonus to boot! Some weren't so fortunate, and like now, graduated into a down-the-sidewalk waiting line of RN job hopefuls. For the latter group, we have to work DIFFERENTLY (not necessarily HARDER) than the others did to find employment. What is the argument? Please don't tell me I'm joining a battalion of old-battle-axes vs. young-naive-lazy nurses? Come on, people! The original point on this discussion was to give new grads an AWESOME piece of advice…. check your resume! Think about who you are. Does your resume reflect this same person? Digital application is just the beginning. Do that on Day 1. Then on Day 2, take a shower, put on your kick-butt business suit, and hit the pavement. Go find that NM. Go find the HM. Personally hand them your resume (same one you DIGITALLY put into system yesterday), shake his/her hand, get a feel for who they are by ASKING what they look for in a new grad that benefits that unit the best. Follow up with an email. Briefly describe why you are the best fit because you OFFER x,y,z….. see what I'm saying? HOOF IT! (full disclosure: I am a 43 yo new grad, who used to be in sales, who LOOOOOVES nursing, who is looking for a new grad position 67 days after graduation and 15 days post passed-NCLEX. I'm having a hard time like everybody else but I recognize that hitting 'send' on my computer is as effective at getting a job as driving my car past a hospital to get a pt assessment would be.)

don't waste your energy. i hate to say this, but move on. let it go. keep your chin up. sounds like you're a good nurse who met a corporate problem. not yours. i like what jadelpn says. it's a sad time for experienced nurses. but every corporation in america does the same thing. you get to a point in your career where you're too expensive. so keep calm and carry on. someone will love you! they didn't deserve you anyway. good luck!

Thank you, LadyT618. I'm glad to hear this. I'm in NC and I think since I've seen RN HH jobs with 'new grads apply here' I think I'm in the right state. My goal is oncology and I need to start somewhere!!!!! Argh!!!! So frustrated!!

Thanks for asking this question, Goldentea. I'm a new grad myself and I'm wondering the same. Can I add does working in home health look as good on the nurse resume as any other nursing job? The reason I'm asking is because I've noticed that suggestions for new grad employment often include phrases like 'you can always get a job in home health' or 'if all else fails and you can't get hired at a hospital… try home health' as if home health is the bottom-dweller job of nursing! Hope not.

WOW. that is an amazing story. Surely you can find a local attorney and ask if "dogs running at large" is a crime? It sounds more like a measly HOA violation. Definitely! definitely! definitely! follow-up with HR first, then the Unit Supervisor, by phone and in writing explaining the misunderstanding so there is no possibility of a black mark appearing on your file at that facility. Do all the homework llg suggests, and be persistent with deserving the job... you earned it! After all, you were hired to be a NURSE, not run Neighborhood Watch Patrol... lol

I understand your frustration, I feel for the new grad too. One of my favorite quotes is, "The single biggest problem of communication is the illusion that it has taken place" -George Bernard Shaw. I think you'd be surprised by how eager the new RNs are to do things correctly and earn the respect of peers. You'd be an advocate for them if you shared your expectations. And you might also make some lifelong friends. -2nd Time Around but Soon-to-Be 1st Time New Grad