Staying safe or branching out in first RN job?

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Hello,

I'm a recent grad and will begin my first RN position soon. I would like opinions on which position to take in light of my experience and goals. I've been working on an adult med/surg floor as a tech for five years so I have some experience behind me, but our hospital is a satellite of the main hospital (about 150 beds). My unit does basic med/surg and a lot of the more complex things (insulin drips, chest tubes) get sent to our PCU or ICU.

I can stay at my hospital for a year as a new grad on days and learn time management and basic nursing or I can go to our main hospital, a trauma 2 center, as a float nurse on nights. They offer a relatively good orientation (12-14 weeks) and according to them, plenty of support, but it is on nights, which will be a strain. Ultimately my goal is to end up in the ER or ICU and the experience as a float would be invaluable for skills and meeting people. But I wonder if it is just TOO much, TOO soon? I go back and forth in my mind on the pro and con.

Part of me wants to stay where I work -- I know the other nurses, the doctors, the facililty and have good, supportive relationships all the way around. The other part of me wants to jump into the big stuff.

What would YOU do as a new nurse?

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I am sure others will advise you to stay to get that "golden one year of medsurg exp." But I say branch out and go for the float pool position. If your ultimate goal is ICU and er then the other job seems like the best fit. Good luck.

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Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.

On the one hand, I want to tell you to take the float position, but be careful. Make sure that there is security in the job so that you don't end up with nothing...

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Specializes in Pedi.

I've never worked anywhere where new grads could be hired into a float pool. You have to hit the ground running and be fairly confident to work float pool.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I'm in the "get experience under your belt" before a float pool position. It will be very difficult to go floor to floor with different priorities and patients and hit the ground running. Keep a home base for now....gain confidence then branch out. The first year (or so) is the hardest....do it where you know people.

As a Momma nurse of 24 years....stay where you are....one year. Then go where your heart desires.

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Specializes in FNP- Urgent Care.

Float!

I am a new grad on the float pool at my hospital and while I don't LOVE it, I don't think it's because I'm float, I think I just have the new grad blues (6months so far). I was an aide in float so that's how I got the job. I go to all floors except PCU and ICU and I will start training for those at my one year mark. It's a lot to take on, I'm not going to lie. I also asked for 3 months of orientation and got it. I think nursing is so different from school though, that no matter where you go there will be a learning curve, and if you can stick it out for a year, it will all get easier (at least this is what I keep telling myself).

I am on nights too which is new for me and not so cool for my new marriage....but the 25% diff is worth it for a year- then maybe we will have enough seniority to go onto days!

New grads on float don't come often- so take this experience and run with it!

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If you don't want to do MS - DON'T! I'd get out if I could. Don't waste your time there if you don't think it's for you.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I work for a hospital system that hires new grads into a float pool. I started in a new grad residency program. My cohort was small, with all but one of us having a "home" unit. That one person was float pool. Anytime we would come together and share our experiences on our units, she shared with us the difficulties of acclimating to different unit cultures, being with a different preceptor each time on different units, having the opportunity to see and do things on one unit but not having that same opportunity on another. She was miserable and envious she didn't have a home unit. Eventually, about 6 months later she was hired onto Ortho.

I agree with Esme and I haven't been a nurse that long. Start with building a strong foundation on one unit first then spread your wings and fly. I started in PCU, although stressful, gave me a great foundation that improved my confidence and skills. I will always be grateful for that first start as a new nurse.

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