What's a good starting career for a new nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Hi there,

I've had a series of jobs (telemedicine, clinic nurse, infusion nurse), but never a job in a hospital. What would be a good/recommendable start for me in the world of the hospital? I want to become a skilled nurse, immersed in tasks like catheterizations, wound care, all of that good stuff but don't know what would be a good kick for it. Any recommendations would help greatly. Thank you.

Specializes in Nursery.
24 minutes ago, DextersDisciple said:

No I work in a procedural unit in a hospital with outpatient hours and I take call for after hours, urgent, in-house cases. We see outpatients and inpatients.

What procedures do you do? ☺️

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
51 minutes ago, VRS82 said:

What procedures do you do? ☺️

Interventional radiology. Lines, drains, arteriograms etc

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursery.
3 minutes ago, DextersDisciple said:

Interventional radiology. Lines, drains, arteriograms etc

Thanks! I enjoy learning about all the different avenues of nursing!

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

Definitely acute care and try to get into critical care ASAP. That will open up the most doors for your future career and opportunities in advanced practice.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/HD/Psych.

As part of a long-term career strategy, medical surgical is tough to beat.

When I first got out of school, my gut told me to do med-surg, even though I was afraid and wondering if I could handle it. I believe in running toward our fears, rather than away from them.

That is the only way we will overcome those fears and grow.

Regarding the best move to make after nursing school, I would argue for med-surg. You will have the opportunity to practice all the skills you brought up and much more.

In a lot of cases, it is difficult to get into a specialty area right out of school, unless it is an area that has major staffing challenges.

Not only that, but if you do go into a specialty, it will be harder to transition from that to med-surg than it will be to transfer from med-surg to a specialty.

If you can do med-surg, you can do pretty much anything in nursing. It is hectic, stressful, and challenging. You will grow as a nurse faster than most other areas.

I am happy I made the decision to go into med-surg out of school. Ultimately, each individual has to make this decision for themselves. Noone knows you better than you do.

However, med-surg deserves some serious consideration.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR/NP/RNFA.

I always encourage my students and new nurses to go the the ER for a year if you can. You learn all your skills (IVs, NGs, foleys, etc.), your time management, and critical thinking skills quickly. I wasn't cut out for Med-Surg (I loathed doing clinicals there) but I really thrived in the ER - it can be a sink or swim sort of situation but I worked with some great staff and great doctors that were more than willing to teach. You'll get a lot of variety - one room can be a STEMI and next door can be a hot appendix with a gunshot or laboring person in the waiting room. I wouldn't have traded my time in the ER for anything!

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oceanfront Living.
31 minutes ago, RNFANP said:

I wasn't cut out for Med-Surg (I loathed doing clinicals there) but I really thrived in the ER -

absolutely. totally agree with this statement

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in not really.

@Beau Salts how does one get into a specialty area without any experience? ?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in not really.

@RNFANP you're telling me ER was better for than you med-surg? isn't ER harder? but congrats to you on your experience!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/HD/Psych.
4 hours ago, Marythenurse1994 said:

@Beau Salts how does one get into a specialty area without any experience? ?

I would say it varies depending on your geographic location. For instance, in my area, outpatient hemodialysis is a specialty area that hires new grads.

ED jobs in my area are also often advertised for new grads.

Your nursing instructors will be a good source of information for your specific area.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR/NP/RNFA.
5 hours ago, Marythenurse1994 said:

@RNFANP you're telling me ER was better for than you med-surg? isn't ER harder? but congrats to you on your experience!

Absolutely it was better for me. I did clinicals on the floor/rehab and it was miserable. When I precepted in the ER for my final semester, I had zero skills other than taking blood sugars and giving PO meds. My time management was terrible and I wasn't really pushed to think critically during my previous clinical assignments. The ER brought me up to speed quickly - I learned IVs, how to access ports, codes, vent patients. I learned to figure out who needed my attention first and who could wait. I learned to think what my next step was going to be before I made it - chest pain is going to get an automatic ekg, 20g IV, troponins, etc and if they haven't had an aspirin they're gonna get one now if not contraindicated. I learned not to wait on the doctor to put in orders because I knew what they were gonna put in so I could go ahead and do it (with the exception of giving medicines without orders but I could go ahead and tell that Dr. "hey, they haven't had an aspirin. You want me to give them one?" or "hey, bed so and so is throwing up real bad. Can we get some zofran?"). I learned great communication skills.

Now, someone on here who worked the floor might have had those same experiences and I'm sure that the floor would be hard for me in a lot of different ways that the ER wasn't but I'm just sharing in my experience. I think if you can make in the ER, you can make it anywhere.

I got a lot of tough love in the ER and it's not meant for everyone with the variety of acuity and patients. But I loved never knowing what I was gonna get - kept things interesting.

My advice is, if you can, shadow a day or two in different units. If you're looking to build your skills, go to the ER. You will do EVERYTHING! I got to help put in chest tubes one morning and it was awesome to see this guy's sats go from 60s/70s to 100s.

Once again, I'm in no way, shape, or form saying that Med-Surg should never be considered as an option. It just wasn't my cup of tea. You'll find yours - just keep looking and ask to shadow in places you might find interesting to see if it's really worth going into

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in not really.

@RNFANP thank you so much for his honest, encouraging response. I dont have a lot of skills either, only injections, phlebotomy and IVs thus far. still struggling with complex wound care, catheterizations (never had the chance) and the list goes on (nursing school kinda sucks). but this gave me a glimmer of hope! thanks dude, you're an inspiration ?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment