Where should a new graduate nurse start working?

[Sonia B]

Hello! I am having mixed emotions on what department I would like to work at as a new graduate nurse. What department do you think a new nurse would benefit starting from and why?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Depending upon where you live, the answer likely will be: work wherever you can find a job. New grads these days cannot (for the most part) be picky about what type of position they "want" to work in. Some new grads are even moving out of their new grad-saturated area to another area of the country that is in need of nurses. Others are taking anything they can find even in facilities that they didn't plan to even apply to, such as LTC or rehab.

The most common answer to your question is that a strong med-surg background is valuable in preparing nurses for almost any other field, even psych.

[Skips, MSN, RN]

Work where you find a job! As a new graduate, I could get jobs on medical-surgical floors but not much else. Some people in my class got lucky and they were hired onto specialty units, such as ED or OR. That was due to having connections or completing their preceptorship in that area, though. If I were you, I would try to get a good clinical foundation, which often means beginning on a med/surg floor. Good luck with your job search!

[RNperdiem, RN]

I was resigned rather than excited about my first job. As a new nurse, I was happy to get a daytime hospital job that could be a stepping stone to something I liked better.

Ideally a new grad would start working in a well run unit where standards are high and new grads are welcomed and there is a strong mix of new and experienced nurses.

[elppaym, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

As roser & Skips states wherever you can depending on your location and market. Additionally RNperdiem makes a good point on a strong unit where new grads are welcome.

I started in the ED, had a job before I graduated. Networking is key to my getting my first job and would also say it helped in every job since. Alternatively some of my classmates were 8 months post-graduation with no job in sight.

Every student I precept I try to tell them the importance of networking.

Back to your original question: "What department do you think a new nurse would benefit starting from and why?"

Tough topic, many will have views on where a new grad should start, getting a foundation for a specific amount of time etc.

I even heard them when I started as a new grad and a few nurses felt that new grads shouldn't be in the ED.

I would say it depends on the new grad, other factors can be location, make up of department etc. I started as a new grad, thrived and grew in the ED, I became a preceptor to new grads, new hires, and a mentor for my organization. I became a FNP with a passion for ED/Urgent care and it's where you'll find me today. The ED experience I gained was very valuable in my graduate studies. When studying certain topics, disease states I could correlate that with my experience in the ED and even see the similar cases while at work.

I would say know what you want to do, know what your passion is and go for it, if your motivated you'll get to where you'll want.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Echoing the others- whatever department offers you a job. Most new grads cannot afford to be picky in this current job market.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I'm going to piggyback and state the same-where you can get a job.

Nursing transcend specialties; find an employer who has strong employees, a good educational and orientation process to help guide you to creating your own nursing practice.

[purplegal]

Cardiovascular Surgical Progressive Care Unit with both adult and peds.

Just kidding. I've yet to figure it out myself. At the same time, though, it probably differs from person to person. Some new grads can start at high levels of nursing, while others can't and may not ever reach some of those top levels of nursing. Think about which areas you did well in while you were in nursing school, and see if you can get a job there. It may be tough, but it's better to go into an area that you feel you have a chance at succeeding in, and have experience succeeding in.

[LDAthleteNurse, BSN, RN]

Apply where you want to work and in the specialty you want to work in. I got so much advice from this forum telling me to settle for a medsurg or telemetry position before even thinking about going into L & D. I applied for a L & D position at a very large, high risk facility and I landed the job as a new grad. Don't settle for a med surg or telemetry position ESPECIALLY IF you know it's not something you want to do. You will get burnt out and you will hate your job. Go for what you want right off the bat. Don't let anyone tell you to do something you know you don't want to do.

[LDAthleteNurse, BSN, RN]

The market isn't as bad as everyone says it is. I and MANY others landed great jobs well before graduation.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Athlete2bNurseBSN said:

Apply where you want to work and in the specialty you want to work in. I got so much advice from this forum telling me to settle for a medsurg or telemetry position before even thinking about going into L & D. I applied for a L & D position at a very large, high risk facility and I landed the job as a new grad. Don't settle for a med surg or telemetry position ESPECIALLY IF you know it's not something you want to do. You will get burnt out and you will hate your job. Go for what you want right off the bat. Don't let anyone tell you to do something you know you don't want to do.

Good advice if its an option. Again, as many posters have stated, apply for what you want, be prepared to maybe have to accept what is offered if your market is saturated with new grads

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Any department that will offer the new grad a job.

The days of being able to pick and choose are over. 50% of new grads are unemployed one year after graduation, more in some areas of the country, less in others. Apply for anything and everything, acute care and otherwise, and give serious consideration to any who show an interest in you.

Advice to be picky can be VERY bad advice depending on where you live. If you are in a saturated market you aren't going to get to be picky.