mscor22

A lot of times you can "shadow" nurses in different areas. I'm in nursing school now and have shadowed in infection control, cardiac cath lab, and am working on setting up with a CRNA. These are nice because you aren't there as a "student nurse" you're there as an observer, so you don't have to go through your school/program to get them set up. I did have help of my instructors to get some information as who specifically to contact, but since you aren't in that situation just yet, you can call the hospital/facility and ask for whatever department, then ask whoever answers that you are interested in setting up an observation/job shadow and ask who you would need to talk to about that. Good Luck! :)

Hi All, Hopefully this subject hasn't been beat to death, I've looked but haven't found any existing threads pertaining... I'm starting my third semester (4 semester program) of my BSN. The last 5 weeks of our fourth semester we have "transition". During this time we "transition" from a student nurse. We just have clinical during that time in one setting, following an RN. I've heard from grads from this program that a lot of times you can get hired where you've done your transistion. Today I received an email from an instructor that they were soon starting on working on the transition assignments, what area do we want to work in after graduation... BUT, I don't know what area I'd like to work in! I don't think I've had the clinical experience to decide! I've had clinicals on Transitional Care Unit(This is basically a LTC facility connected to the hospital), and LD-but we only got to care for a postpartum mom, so I don't feel like I really know what it would be like to work in this area. I did an externship on a step-down unit and really liked that. I worked with my preceptor and by the end was taking on a full patient load (4:1) I did really like working on that unit but worry that once I'm more confident and comfortable in my skills it wouldn't be as challenging. Long term I have thoughts of possibly going back to get my CRNA so have been thinking of ICU, since you have to have experience there before getting into a school. I'm worried though about ICU being too intense/overwhelming for a new grad. Any thoughts/insight/advice about a first job for a new grad would really be so so appreciated! :)