Somewhere in the middle?

jnmBSNRN · Oct 25, 2016

Here is some back story. After graduating nursing school, I stayed at home with my second. About a year later, I landed a job at an outpatient endoscopy center, where I received a 3 month orientation since I was still a new grad. I stayed there for about 9 months, as a staff nurse doing admit, procedure, assisting, and recovery, until life happened and I needed to find something closer to home, and not so many days/hrs a week. I found a perfect job working 1-2 10hr days/week, at a small outpatient corrective eye surgical center. Stayed there for 9 months, during that short time frame, I became "lead nurse" (high attrition), up until we found out we were moving, at this time I was also pregnant. So now, a year later I'm looking for jobs. I'm fortunate to be in an area that seems to be hiring in just about every area, but it seems to also be my problem. I've technically worked for more than a year, but I don't think that is what most employers are referring to when they require, "1 year of experience", or are they?

When do you know what area you want to work in? I'm obviously open to everything given my previous work experience! Or is the lack of a specialty a perceived negatively? I loved the ER during my clinical rotation, but to think an employer hiring me thinking I'm totally up to snuff ready, is really intimidating. I don't feel like my experience is adequate...even more so, since its been awhile. I've been receiving multiple job offers, Is a 3 month orientation to a new unit or department out of the question, at this point? Is it hospital specific how long orientations last? Should I look at taking a refresher course, if it is possible, to make myself feel better? I REALLY want to *finally get a solid nursing foundation. The last place we lived nursing residencies were huge, but also really hard to get into. Everywhere else wanted that "1 year of experience", so I took the jobs that were offered graciously. Now, I seem to have more options, but I still feel lost :blink: . Any insight would be appreciated!