Typical unit/area for new grads

iHeartNICU · Mar 20, 2008

I don't think there is a typical unit that new grads start at anymore....at least in my class. I know lots of people say that you should always start out in med sug but I don't think that's neccessarily true. I think you need to start out where you feel you will be most happy. That's the great thing about us...we all are passionate about different things and therefore work better in different situations. In my class we had about 5 of us go to NICU, 3 L&D, a ton of MICU, SICU, STICU, and CICU, a few in oncology, a lot in peds, and a few in OR, and a few in med surg.

About the pay....I'm not sure (at least as brand new RNs) that there is a difference in pay. I think that mainly comes with years of experience and different certifications and things like that....not necessarily what type of nursing. That being said, I have only been a RN since January so I'm still at the bottom of the totem pole and am not making that much compared to what I have heard others are making and so I don't really know how the pay changes yet once we are out of orientation, out a year, and so on.

Also, I know money is important and all but it is not everything. We had a few people from our class take a job at one hospital specifically because it was higer pay and they are very unhappy while we who work at a different hospital for less pay are having an awesome experience.

Best of luck finding the area you are truly happy in. I was lucky and found my place with my first job and am extremely happy.

SweetNSassyRN2B · Mar 26, 2008

thanks for your reply! i had always heard from people that you should start out in med/surg, but i wasn't sure if that was just hearsay or not. don't worry, i'm not going to choose my specialty or hospital based on pay, i was just curious about all the different areas of nursing. i'm just starting out and trying to learn all i can. i'm glad you're very happy with your first job! thanks again!

amanda