Yeah, the LJ pretty much feels like part of my Old Life at this point. It's so full of domestic bliss.
I didn't move to Chicago (which doesn't have many new grad opportunities either), but to Springfield, IL, where the economy is healthy and they needed nurses last year. They still have somewhat of a need, but even here they're hiring less this year.
I work on a med-surg unit, which is never ever a place I intended to be, but when I applied for the job they offered me several potential interviews--neuro? renal? ortho? and I chose two to interview that sounded the best. One was an all medical floor, but included a few beds of intermediate care--once I had training and experience there, I could leverage my way into the ICU--and the other was this one, which is general med-surg but with specialties in gynecology, plastics, and ENT. I didn't know much about the last two, but of course gynecology is right up my alley, and in the end I liked the floor atmosphere and the potential variety of patients better on this floor. I actually LOVE it! I feel like I'm so much better off here than I would have been in ER, which would have been my first choice. I have learned so much and med-surg really kicks my ass on the assessment and time management skills. In some ways I have more independence than I did in ER (where I did my year-long senior preceptorship), because in the ER the doctors are ALWAYS there. Here we have to rely on our nursing judgment to an even greater extent, I think.
After ER, I was interested in peds and NICU and oncology, and I'm sure I would have been happy in those places too, but I really feel lucky to have landed where I did, in such a good fit. In fact--since I'm not planning to stay here forever, probably just another year--I was browsing about a little for jobs (in Seattle) and found myself disappointed to realize that I'm probably never again going to find a combination of gyne, plastics, and ENT. I don't want to give any of them up! But I'm sure I'll find another situation where I can learn and be happy.
I wonder if it helps any that you knew through me that the job market would be difficult? And I'd think your school would have prepared you for it, too. We were all just blindsided.
My advice, not that you've asked for it, is to emphasize whenever possible that you are ALREADY planning to move to the Reno area, and won't just be moving for a job that you'll then leave. They didn't take me seriously as an applicant here until I explained that my brother and his family live in Chicago. (Of course, I knew they were leaving IL soon, but it served its purpose.)
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-04-30 04:14 am (UTC)I didn't move to Chicago (which doesn't have many new grad opportunities either), but to Springfield, IL, where the economy is healthy and they needed nurses last year. They still have somewhat of a need, but even here they're hiring less this year.
I work on a med-surg unit, which is never ever a place I intended to be, but when I applied for the job they offered me several potential interviews--neuro? renal? ortho? and I chose two to interview that sounded the best. One was an all medical floor, but included a few beds of intermediate care--once I had training and experience there, I could leverage my way into the ICU--and the other was this one, which is general med-surg but with specialties in gynecology, plastics, and ENT. I didn't know much about the last two, but of course gynecology is right up my alley, and in the end I liked the floor atmosphere and the potential variety of patients better on this floor. I actually LOVE it! I feel like I'm so much better off here than I would have been in ER, which would have been my first choice. I have learned so much and med-surg really kicks my ass on the assessment and time management skills. In some ways I have more independence than I did in ER (where I did my year-long senior preceptorship), because in the ER the doctors are ALWAYS there. Here we have to rely on our nursing judgment to an even greater extent, I think.
After ER, I was interested in peds and NICU and oncology, and I'm sure I would have been happy in those places too, but I really feel lucky to have landed where I did, in such a good fit. In fact--since I'm not planning to stay here forever, probably just another year--I was browsing about a little for jobs (in Seattle) and found myself disappointed to realize that I'm probably never again going to find a combination of gyne, plastics, and ENT. I don't want to give any of them up! But I'm sure I'll find another situation where I can learn and be happy.
I wonder if it helps any that you knew through me that the job market would be difficult? And I'd think your school would have prepared you for it, too. We were all just blindsided.
My advice, not that you've asked for it, is to emphasize whenever possible that you are ALREADY planning to move to the Reno area, and won't just be moving for a job that you'll then leave. They didn't take me seriously as an applicant here until I explained that my brother and his family live in Chicago. (Of course, I knew they were leaving IL soon, but it served its purpose.)