Job Opps for New Grads

[Rivka P]

As a new grad, I have to admit feeling quite forced into a Med-Surg job. This greatly upset me because one of the best things about nursing is the versatility of the field. The other places that would have hired me straight out were:

Pediatric home care-- I ran away from that arms flailing. It was not my thing at all (8 hour shift with one kid, not short visits like you might think)

Kids Peace- A center for children and teens with behavioral health and mental health issues. Also kinda scarey.

Can anyone suggest other places for a new grad/ nurse with less than one year's experience to look for a job?

[psyched]

...which is exactly how I ended up as a psych nurse. I'm in the process of running away with my arms flailing. I'm thinking of med surge next. How ironic.

[Rivka P]

Can you tell me more about your experience as a psych nurse? What kind of facility are you working in?

[psyched]

I've been there almost a yr, though I did take a 6 - 8 week maternity leave in the middle, so it hasn't even been that long. It's a psychiatric hospital, and I float around- mostly with the adolescents, but otherwise with the little kids, and, less often, with the adults and the geris. I thought it would be interesting, and I suppose in some ways it is, but it also can get quite dangerous/out of hand at times. I guess psych isn't in such high demand, and thus I've been made charge nurse. When something goes wrong, I"m always terrified bec I'll be held responsible.
I have to admit that I'm having a hard time with the population- both the patients and staff. I'm just a born and bred BY girl, and suddenly I have hardly a single frum person to talk to. It's quite a culture shock and when there is no G-d to answer back to about Lashon Harah, -- these ppl talk behind your back at every chance they get. It's terrible!
But I'm off topic... anything else you want to know?

[Rivka P]

I am going to comment on the loshon harah thing. I bought a book called "your first year as a nurse" and they warned me not to get into the rumor mill. It really is a phenomenon with nurses! I think it's because we are so used to assessing and reporting off details at change of shift that we forget that we don't need to shmooze incessantly about each other as well. I was never charge nurse, but I know people talked about me and without noticing it, I guess I talked about other people as well. Once I realized, I tried to cut down, but my goodness...

[Rivka P]

Also, I thought about getting into psych, especially in the area of eating disorders. What kind of person do you think would like working in psych?
I thought I might like the ER because I have a first aid, EMT background, but I realized that med-surg is fast paced and stressful enough for me. I love the patient education part of nursing, when I get to teach the patients about ways they can help themselves maintain better health.
How were your hours in psych? Did you get any better hours as a charge nurse?

[psyched]

I work 8-4 that's the day shift.

[dslater686]

i know many people who have been nurses for a while can not believe it, but getting a job as a new grad is not what it used to be. Many hospitals in the ny/nj area are not hiring new grads. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to go about securing that first job? what can i do that will make me stand out from other new nurses!

[chavamom]

Do any of the hospitals have "nursing fellowship" programs? That is what most new grads where I live do if they want to go into a specialty area.

[chaylizi]

in my area, I only know of one hospital that does a "nursing residency". it's the state Children's hospital.

[iriska]

I would like to tell all new nurses and students out there: please don't be scared of med-surg. I am doing neurology/medicine/geriatrics right now. The one thing it is not is boring. It will also give you a great experience and skills base to go into any other nursing field later on.