After graduating my RN, I’ve been working in nursing home for 2 years now. What unit would you recommend I should start or apply? I’m planning to go work at the hospital but I’m not sure what type of nurse I’d like to be or where to start.
Med-Surge is a good place to start.
You have several choices here: You can capitalize on your geriatric experience and work in areas like telemetry, ICU, or even in-patient palliative care or hospice. Or you can switch to something you enjoyed in school. Where did you see yourself in 5 years back when you were still a student? Remember being hired for a particular unit depends on the staffing needs of the unit. If there is no opening int he area you hope to be hired for, ask what is similar and go there. The best thing about nursing is that we can work in a variety of areas and gain great ad broad expertise and skills by doing so.
Hello go into clinical nursing it's so nice and not as taxing on your mind, body and spirit.. Good luck.
Hello and congratulations on obtaining your RN! LTACs are paying well these days. They would provide the opportunity to step up the assessment and time skills to help improve your experience on a hospital unit. LTACs also provide opportunities to care for a more stable, chronically ill patient who have advanced interventions like trachs, PEG tubes, etc.
If your goal is to work on an inpatient unit, Med-Surg is in high demand and currently paying well. In many hospitals, Med Surg is paying better than most other units. These units provide growth opportunities. Patients are quite sick. They need your assessment skills because they can have complications. Either pathway offers unique opportunities! Interview with multiple units. Each place has a work culture. Benefits differ from facility to facility. Check them out with an open heart and mind. Choices are yours!! Enjoy the process!!
Best of Luck!!!
I will say, medsurg
Hello colleague!
1) What type of patients do you love to be around?
2) Do you want an intense position, e.g. ICU? I would never recommend going into a peds ICU unless they have a thorough training program. That was my first mistake, taking that job as my first job, despite going through an intensive training program. There were things that I thought I knew but didn't.
Ultimately pick something that you're passionate about.
Never stop learning and try to always ask yourself... What is this happening or changing with your patient, never ask questions of your colleagues, don't be afraid to ask why is this happening and try to realize that we only know only what we think we do; After 30 years, I am always learning. REMEMBER, there's never a suit question. We do not know what we don't know! I was too arrogant after getting out of school! Please don't go down that road because our profession is one of the best!
Good luck on your endeavors! You can do it!!
Suzanne MSN, PNP-PC/FNP
The straightforward answer is MedSurg, as they are typical case you will encounter. Protocols vary from hospital to hospital and your practice will have to adapt to meet that standard.
Honestly, your SNF experience is relevant to hospital operations with different systems in place. If your heart is set on a specific department, then by all means choose the department you want. I have had new grads join start at the SNF and then end up working in an emergency department at a magnet hospital.
i went from a nursing home to ICU and part time teaching paramedics. becoming the EMS coordinator for my county gave me the most challenge and excitement as emts and paramedics are special people and they really want to learn and they are good at their jobs. i miss it !
Did you have something your good at or like to do? Babies/peds, vents/respiratory, ekg/cardiac, surgery, fast pace like ER. Decide what you like then take the steps to get there
Since you have experience working in nursing homes, you can apply to hospitals with an acute rehab department with acute patient but slightly slower than a medsurg unit, from there you will figure out if you want to domedsurg, telemetry, outpatient clinics or other more advance care nursing.
After working LTC for 15 years and being with them at the end of life I wanted to be at the beginning of life. After getting my RN. Went into Mother/Baby (Couplet Care). Did it until I retired. Enjoyed it very much. Many women like me either did that or L & D. Good luck
Steph
I would say a county hospital, med-surg or ER. The experience u will get there will carry u throughout your career
The most important thing is to land a job in the healthcare industry. Once you secure a job at a hospital, you can inquire about shadowing opportunities in different units. For instance, when I was in nursing school, I worked as a Medsurg PCT and asked to shadow in the OR a few months before I graduated. I have been working there ever since.
Do you want something similar to what you’re doing now or is there something you loved in school?
My dream job would be the OR. I love it there. However right now I’m living a great job well 2 jobs doing labor and delivery and Nicu/peds.
Was there something you were more inclined to while in nursing school? Apply to something you found the most interesting or intrigued by in nursing school. You’ll find out whether or not it’s something you want to keep doing. If you don’t like it you have the experience to transfer to another unit. Nursing is so diverse.
