I was wondering what specialties are most likely to hire a new grad.
I am getting ready to start an accelerated nursing program and I will graduate in December 2013. I already have a BA in Communications (useless!). For the past two years, I have been doing behavioral therapy with autistic kids ages 3-10 for a public school district. I will also be doing this while I go to school. I would really like to be a NICU nurse, but I would do anything pediatric related. If I can't get into peds, I was hoping to do ER, but I really don't know if any of these are even a possibility, even though I have some pediatric-related experience. I currently have a 4.0 gpa as well. My dream job would be at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL. Right now live in St. Louis, and I am sooo ready for a BIG change.
Do I even stand a chance at finding a peds job? What about ER? If not, which specialties do you think would be most likely to hire me?
The not-so-short answer: it depends. I know of a lot of friends who got hired into their dream jobs. Granted, some had to wait a little. One of my classmates waited 7+ months to find a job, but she got hired on a pediatric unit which was what she always wanted to do. Likewise, I also know a lot of people who couldn't get hired on their dream unit and spent some time working in med-surg or LTC before finding work elsewhere.
Others may be able to hired in a unit relative to their dream job. In school, I LOVED ICU nursing as well as everything cardiac. For my preceptorship, I was on a cardiac stepdown/VICU (vascular ICU) which I really enjoyed, and I think having that precepting experience helped me land a job in progressive care. I sent in my fair share of applications, though, and I wasn't limiting myself to just ICU/telemetry positions. I was applying anywhere and everywhere I could go.
With that said, it also depends on the area. Larger cities that have larger hospitals tend to have new grad internship programs, but these are extremely competitive. These are your best chance to get into your dream job because these internships are for different specialties; however, just because you can't get into an internship doesn't mean you'll won't be able to get your dream job right off the bat. You won't know until you try.
Depends. Every place is different. I live in Mass and I work on a Pediatric unit in the hospital as a PCT. Since I already have my foot in the door once I'm a nurse they will want me. We have many PCTs who graduated this year about 40 that will be accepted to units of their choice :)
It is really subjective and honestly it really depends on whether you intend to pursue your specialty or you intend to pursue your current geographical area. Unless you are very lucky, you may have to choose between the two. I have some classmates who are married with families who applied to every type of position in their area because they couldn't relocate and they found jobs - just not the ones they wanted. I have some classmates who landed their first choice position at their first choice hospital, and I'm cussing them out in my head. However, there are also people who applied very specifically for a specialty in as many hospitals as they could find. I'm one of the latter - I applied specifically for ICU positions in four different states. I ended up landing my absolute dream job as a MSICU nurse, but I'm having to relocate nine hours away to get it. I guess it really depends on how badly you want that specialty. Honestly, there is probably some hospital somewhere in the entire US that will hire you for exactly your dream position - but are you willing to chase that hospital down?
Around me the most hired areas are telemetry and med/surg. But you only need to work in any department for a year then you can transfer to a different department :)
Wow! I wish every hospital had this type of Residency Program! Looks fantastic! I just graduated from school and wondered the entire time how come doctors have an opportunity to learn on the job through internship and residency, but nurses are essentially thrown into the job with just a few weeks of preceptor-ship. Would LOVE to work for a hospital that has a program like this.
Hi BSamson,
We are proud to be your dream job! There are jobs in peds for new grads out there. I'm a firm believer that you'll eventually get what you prepare yourself for and work towards. The best advice I can give anyone in any situation, is to keep moving forward. It sounds you are doing just that.
We have a RN Residency program designed for new RN grads. It's a very competitive admission process, but the experience is very rewarding. You can find more info here: Pediatric RN Residency Program
However, there are also people who applied very specifically for a specialty in as many hospitals as they could find. I'm one of the latter - I applied specifically for ICU positions in four different states. I ended up landing my absolute dream job as a MSICU nurse, but I'm having to relocate nine hours away to get it. I guess it really depends on how badly you want that specialty. Honestly, there is probably some hospital somewhere in the entire US that will hire you for exactly your dream position - but are you willing to chase that hospital down?
turnforthenurse, MSN, NP
3,364 Posts
The short answer: wherever they can get hired.
The not-so-short answer: it depends. I know of a lot of friends who got hired into their dream jobs. Granted, some had to wait a little. One of my classmates waited 7+ months to find a job, but she got hired on a pediatric unit which was what she always wanted to do. Likewise, I also know a lot of people who couldn't get hired on their dream unit and spent some time working in med-surg or LTC before finding work elsewhere.
Others may be able to hired in a unit relative to their dream job. In school, I LOVED ICU nursing as well as everything cardiac. For my preceptorship, I was on a cardiac stepdown/VICU (vascular ICU) which I really enjoyed, and I think having that precepting experience helped me land a job in progressive care. I sent in my fair share of applications, though, and I wasn't limiting myself to just ICU/telemetry positions. I was applying anywhere and everywhere I could go.
With that said, it also depends on the area. Larger cities that have larger hospitals tend to have new grad internship programs, but these are extremely competitive. These are your best chance to get into your dream job because these internships are for different specialties; however, just because you can't get into an internship doesn't mean you'll won't be able to get your dream job right off the bat. You won't know until you try.