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When I took my first hospital job, I'd forgotten that I'd been given a script for a low-dose narcotic (I don't remember which one - this was before nursing school). I remembered when they handed me a cup that I'd taken one of the pills a couple days before (didn't continue them, didn't need them). I told the person that I'd taken one such pill and had a script, but forgot it at home. We went ahead and did the test. It didn't show. Had it shown, I would have just had to return with the prescription.

I live in the third largest city in the country. Still a small world here.

My ex did this at his jobs. "No call, no show" was his policy. He was a psych nurse. Somehow, he managed to get hired as a travel nurse, and that was the end of that. Some people do this and manage to keep a job. I can't imagine how. I had enough trouble getting hired with great references. It's a horrible thing to do to the people you work with.

Keep licenses current for all the states you think you might work in. That's what a lot of nurses do in Chicago, where many people live/work in one state and another. I'm currently licensed in Illinois and Indiana. My boyfriend is licensed in Illinois and Michigan. Another friend is licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin. Another in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Illinois is one of the hardest to get, so once you've got it there, all you really need in the other states is to get finger-printed and maybe another document or two. If you're moving to New York, that's another special circumstance, though I don't know the details. And California - you know California likes to do everything different from the rest of us. Without knowing the state you're in or moving to, it's hard to give advice specific to your situation. Hope this helps some.

Bit of background info: Graduated in May through a direct entry MSN program, passed the NCLEX in May, worked as a camp nurse over the summer, started applying in June, and finally took a job offer this month. I start in 2 weeks. My research and interest areas are maternal/infant health. No such luck for this new grad getting hired in that field. One of the HRs took my resume and figured I might be a good fit for the derm clinic. So here I am! Dermatology, ambulatory care. I don't know much about dermatology (I've been reviewing those chapters in my books, and went through a packet the clinic gave me, and will continue to review as I start work). I can't complain about this job - it's as cushy a job as a new grad could wish for! No nights, weekends, or holidays. Regular business hours. And a clinic full of incredibly kind and welcoming people. Techs, nurses, and doctors - all really seem to have each other's backs and function beautifully. I've been in a lot of clinics and on a lot of hospital floors, and the way the people in this clinic respond to each other is really something special. I'm nervous about a couple things. I want to really be an asset to this team. The day schedule has never been a favorite of mine (almost all the jobs I applied for were night shift). Caffeine causes terrible reactions in me (seriously, I drink a cup of tea, and act drunk, hyper, and crazy - this stuff affects me far worse than alcohol). I'm hoping I'll be able to adjust to the day schedule well-enough. But I've never been a go-getter in the morning. How can I fit in with this team when my energy might not be where theirs is? I'm planning to move on to a hospital job within three years. That's my career goal, and I don't think it's changing. How can I be good for this clinic while not diminishing my own career goals? Basically - this isn't the job I would have chosen, but I still want to do well. I owe it to the people who welcomed me into their workplace. Sorry my thoughts are a bit all over the place. Hopefully talking through this on here can help me feel more prepared.

I sure hope not! I just got hired in a clinic as a new grad and my goal is to be back in the hospital in under 3 years. Thankfully, my workplace is on-board with allowing me time for training and certifications that go beyond the needs of my clinic. I can get ACLS training even though it's unlikely I'll need those skills in the dermatology clinic. My plan is to keep up contacts in HR, so they know my career goals. I'll be looking at an internal transfer in a couple years, hopefully.

I graduated this past spring. Applied to 100+ positions, mostly in hospitals in maternal/infant health - my research area and area of interest. Instead, one of the hospital's HRs pointed me toward one of their dermatology clinics. I know very little about dermatology. I went, interviewed, figured nothing would come of it, and landed the job. I did shadow for 2 hours. Nothing about the clinic was "slow-paced." That said, I still figure this is as cushy a job as a new grad could get. No weekends or holidays. The culture was very much "got your back" - techs or nurses didn't even have to ask for help. If someone had a free moment and saw a job needed doing, they did it, even if it's not their room or their patient. There wasn't much sitting, except to frantically chart, and most of that was done while still standing. So if you're looking for a slow-paced environment.... I have no idea where nurses work at a slow pace. Not in my clinic.