Public health/outreach or med-surg/skills job?

[AshleyPCA]

I am about to graduate with my BSN in August and plan to take my NCLEX in September. Then obviously, get a job! I am really into public health and community outreach, but this doesn't always involve things like med-surg nursing skills. I have heard from some nurses saying that it's a good idea to have some sort of hospital or med-surg experience so you can perfect your nursing skills (IVs, caths, trach care, etc.) and experience having a patient load, but I've also heard from other nurses that this is not a requirement for some advanced nursing positions if I go to graduate school. I just fear not being respected as an advanced practice nurse, or possible future nursing faculty, without this type of experience. However, I am all about the "nurses do not always have to be at the bedside" movement (nurses are useful just about anywhere and in many other fields other than just at the hospital or clinic).

If it's a good idea to get some real bedside nursing experience, and perfect my learned nursing skills I also fear not finding a job right away. Hospital jobs are difficult to find and are not easy to land as a new grad . However, I heard it may be easier to apply for lower - key position such as a public health nurse or home health (but will provide less nursing- skill experience).

What should I do? Any suggestions and shared experience would be wonderful :)

[iPink, BSN, RN]

If Public Health is where you want to be then I would pursue that path. I had such a great experience in my PH clinical, I thought that's where I wanted to be, but I'm happy where I am now. On the other hand, if you get into PH and later you want to work at a hospital, it may be tough for you.

Public/community health does pay much lower than hospitals but the reward is great.

[RunBabyRN]

If you want to go into public health, then GO into public health! There are jobs there (at least where I am), and new grads CAN get in there. If that's what you want to do with your master's, by all means!!! Do what makes you happy! :)

[Nonetheless]

YOU SOUND LIKE ME!!!

I have been applying to acute care positions, but public health is where my heart lays, and I plan to apply to PHN jobs when I get my license (the county won't consider me without it).

i say this: if you are uncertain about whether or not public health is right for you, go for the med/Surg job, then work for PH after you get 2-3 years of experience. That way, if it turns out you dislike public health, getting another job is relatively easy.

but if you know you are meant to work in public health, and you know hospitals are not for you (and you are ok with not working for one in your life as a bedside nurse) , go for public health!!!!!!! The opportunities it will afford are different from med/Surg but your unique PHN experiences will set you up to find things in the PHN realm that you enjoy! I fall into this category.