Office job for a new grad? Advice please!!!

Hi everyone!

I graduated from a BSN program and got my license about a month ago, but the job search hasn't been going well (surprising in this economy, I know ). To make a long story short, I did most of my rotations and my practicum at a local hospital, interviewed there for my dream job last week, and the four open positions all went to classmates. The nurse recruiter said it was a close call, but I don't speak Spanish where the other candidates did. sigh.

The good news is I have my second interview with a physician who runs a private practice next week, and during the first interview she indicated that I will get the job. Obviously I don't want to count on it yet, but what do you guys think of an office position as my first job? I would be so grateful to have a job, I am just concerned because:

1. As a private practice, the job pays much less than the hospitals and I have a mountain of student loans. Still, I would be so happy to have a job, and given how saturated the Denver area is, it could be months and months before I find a job.

2. The required skill sets in an office are clearly different from those in a hospital - would it be detrimental not to be acquiring those "med/surg" skills right out of school? And

3. I may end up loving primary care, but at this point I would like to end up in the ED one day. Does anyone know if this office job will count as sufficient experience so that I can apply to hospital positions down the road?

Thanks so much in advance for your opinions/advice, I really appreciate the input!!
Is there another nurse at the practice? Not that that is a deal breaker or anything. If you seem to get along with the doc then I'd give it a try. Who knows this might be the only interview you get for another year! And I am not joking. If the two of you end up working well together, you may learn a few things along the way. I have to say, that just the fact that the doc wanted to interview you personally is a plus.

Personally, I think it matters on the hospital manager and what they are willing to take. My manager will take office nurses if she thinks they have good potential. But if the office nurse is competing with a hospital trained nurse, then it would be that particular nurse chosen. The simple fact that the hospital trained nurse can be up and running sooner. If it were me, I would take the office job, because any job is better than no job and you do have to eat. It doesn't mean you can't keep looking in the mean time. I would also take ACLS and other learning opportunities to keep yourself fresh.

Take the job. I could have written your post with exception to the location...BSN grad, saturated market, etc etcMy first job was a Doctor's office/clinic, since I couldn't manage to even land an interview at the hospital. To be honest, I used very little of the skills that I learned in school, but I learned so many new ones. (and some really cool ones, like assisting minor surgery, biopsies)After almost a year, I got the itch and started to look again, expecting it to be a leisure, multi month long process.I actually received three interview requests at hospitals in the first couple of weeks looking and.....I am now working in a level 1 ER as of next week (my dream job)Chin up, it gets easier when you have anything on your resume as experience

I agree that the experience may not be what you're really looking for, but take the job. You can always keep looking, and who knows you may really like it and find your calling. Take it.

I say it is a win or lose situation. The positive would be you be doing the work of a medical assistant. The negative is going to be when a job opportunity comes up they might ask if you have experience and working in a medical office is not exactly direct patient care nursing experience.

Talk to the hospital recruiter. Be open about your intentions and ask her what she recommends and if there is anything suitable that will help you achieve your goals.Explore your options.

Experience is better than no experience.

I would take the job too. Any job is better than no job Plus, now that you will have 'experience' you can apply for PRN hospital jobs and get your foot in the door that way too.

Quote from trooperwifeyI would take the job too. Any job is better than no job Plus, now that you will have 'experience' you can apply for PRN hospital jobs and get your foot in the door that way too.

Which school did you graduate from? Did all your classmates find jobs?Quote from hulabearRNHi everyone!I graduated from a BSN program and got my license about a month ago, but the job search hasn't been going well (surprising in this economy, I know ). To make a long story short, I did most of my rotations and my practicum at a local hospital, interviewed there for my dream job last week, and the four open positions all went to classmates. The nurse recruiter said it was a close call, but I don't speak Spanish where the other candidates did. sigh. The good news is I have my second interview with a physician who runs a private practice next week, and during the first interview she indicated that I will get the job. Obviously I don't want to count on it yet, but what do you guys think of an office position as my first job? I would be so grateful to have a job, I am just concerned because: 1. As a private practice, the job pays much less than the hospitals and I have a mountain of student loans. Still, I would be so happy to have a job, and given how saturated the Denver area is, it could be months and months before I find a job.2. The required skill sets in an office are clearly different from those in a hospital - would it be detrimental not to be acquiring those "med/surg" skills right out of school? And 3. I may end up loving primary care, but at this point I would like to end up in the ED one day. Does anyone know if this office job will count as sufficient experience so that I can apply to hospital positions down the road?Thanks so much in advance for your opinions/advice, I really appreciate the input!!

Quote from LaughingRNTake the job. I could have written your post with exception to the location...BSN grad, saturated market, etc etcMy first job was a Doctor's office/clinic, since I couldn't manage to even land an interview at the hospital. To be honest, I used very little of the skills that I learned in school, but I learned so many new ones. (and some really cool ones, like assisting minor surgery, biopsies)After almost a year, I got the itch and started to look again, expecting it to be a leisure, multi month long process.I actually received three interview requests at hospitals in the first couple of weeks looking and.....I am now working in a level 1 ER as of next week (my dream job)Chin up, it gets easier when you have anything on your resume as experience