What was your 1st job as a new grad? And where are you now?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm just curious where you had to start off? Did it help you get to where you are at now? :nurse:

Specializes in ED.

Started in ED, still in ED (though it hasn't been that long). I still can't imagine working anywhere else. Maybe in a few years my mind will change.

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Specializes in ER/PDN.

I worked my first year on a med surg unit at a little hospital. this floor took everything from itty bitty babies to the hospice pt. I worked there for a year then went to a neuro-trauma step down unit )hated it) then on to the level 1 ER for 4 years and now back to the little hospital where I started only this time in the ER. I think I have my calling.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

As a new grad, I worked on a progressive care unit, very sick patients. Now, almost three years later, I am working in SICU.

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

First job postpartum, 21 years later, Home Hospice with inpatient/hospital surgical oncology on the side.

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Specializes in Organ Transplant Unit, SICU, Surgery.

Student nurse grad in surgery. Failed boards. Bumped down to Student Nurse Extern. Failed boards again. Bumped down to instrument room. Debating on whether to move into account management within the hospital b/c my prior career is in banking, finance comes naturally to me, I want to get an MBA down the road. I really like surgery & but the lateral move would limit my clinical experience. Anyone have an opinion or advice on what they think I should do? I'm 50/50 on staying & going.

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Specializes in ICU, Cardiac.

My very first job as a RN was in a community hospital's FLOAT POOL - Part time nights!!!

Although I enjoyed it because it was different every night, I needed more stability in one area to learn. In 1993 in our area, it was hard to find a full time job as a new grad.

After 9 months in the float pool, I got a full time position on a Medical Telemetry Floor - lots of Cath's, PCI's, PreOp CABG's, CHF. From there I went on to Med/Surg ICU for 5 years.

After doing Open Heart Recovery for a year and getting burnt out due to horrible surgeon's/atmosphere - I went to L&D for 2 years (quite the switch huh?). I was just sick of taking care of sick people.....

For the past 8 years, I am back in the Cardiac medical/surgical ICU area, which I do enjoy......so almost full circle!!!!

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.
Student nurse grad in surgery. Failed boards. Bumped down to Student Nurse Extern. Failed boards again. Bumped down to instrument room. Debating on whether to move into account management within the hospital b/c my prior career is in banking, finance comes naturally to me, I want to get an MBA down the road. I really like surgery & but the lateral move would limit my clinical experience. Anyone have an opinion or advice on what they think I should do? I'm 50/50 on staying & going.

Do you have trouble taking tests b/c with all that experience I have trouble thinking that you don't know the content. If so take prep courses on more successful test taking until it hardly bothers you,prepare well and go for it.

If not I think you would know the answer here,it sounds like you have other talents to bring to the table

Good luck whatever you choose.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

A couple of false starts: OR, Headstart, Voc. Rehab, Oncology, then my true love entered my life. Orthopaedics. 30+ years there. Ya gotta love a specialty where the patients get better 99.9% of the time. The docs are all 4.0 grads of med school just to get into the residency program and no floating to other units. Them Bones be the best!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I started in the ICU and work in the same ICU today. I can't imagine starting out elsewhere-it worked out for me. I may try other things, but ICU will always be my gig.

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.
Wow! I love these answers! :bow: It sure sounds like most of you knew from the start where your interest was. That's great to still be happy with your job...years later! I suppose you have more good days then bad, I'm assuming.

Was your experience as a new grad what you expected?

Yes,it was an incredible learning experience for me,it was very physically taxing,emotionally draining but I learned so much. My preceptor was fantastic,she guided me along at my pace(I had taken most of my clinicals there so I was very familiar w/ how mostly everything was done.) I can honestly say everyone was helpful to a point,we worked with a lot of LPNs who were really working at an RN level,they were incredible. This was in the 80's so staffing was decent,if someone called in they had coverage,we didn't work w/ too many agency nurses because it was such a heavy floor. I started out very shy but I got my confidence in my nursing skills and communicating with the rest of the health care team. The residents were appreciative and so were the pts. I'm really glad I had that experince,could I do it now? NO,physically I couldn't do it but I'd like to think that I would be capable otherwise.:nurse:

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1st year = med surg. Back when there was no nursing shortage, most specialties were not hiring new grads. I gave it my best effort for one year and moved to SICU where I have been for the past 9 years.

I wouldn't mind changing specialties, but I can't until I am willing and able to work full time again. Right now I work per diem.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, ICU, OR, PACU.

I started out in a 30 bed SICU in Denver. I spent the next 8 years working in open-heart and trauma ICUs all over the West. I also worked as a circulator in the OR for about 3 years.

Currently, I am a DON of a 120 bed SNF. ICU/OR were great experience for what I do now, because you learn to multitask and juggle balls like a pro. Those skills are definitely needed as a DON. I also spent a lot of time as an ICU nurse with families, and that also is a great experience for being a DON.

I don't miss hospital nursing at all, but I'm glad I had the great experiences that I did :)

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