What To Consider Before Taking Your First Nursing Job

 

The first job out of nursing school is an exciting but nerve-wracking time as nurses finally begin in their profession. If you’re fresh out of school and looking to start your career, make sure you consider these important points before taking your first nursing job.

Career Potential

Like anyone fresh out of school looking for their first job, nurses will want to consider the career potential of their first position. What is your career goal—continue to work as an RN, eventually move into administration, or attain a Master of Science in Nursing degree?

Perhaps you want to continue your education to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist or another specialty. Will this first job put you on the track toward your career goal and help you achieve it?

The Facility

The facility you decide to join is another crucial consideration before taking your first nursing job. Most nurses know where they want to work right out of school, but sometimes those facilities aren’t hiring, or the logistics don’t make sense to the individual.

Fortunately, nurses can work in many types of healthcare facilities with their skills and education, like:

• Clinics
• Nursing homes
• Residential care providers
• Rehabilitation centers
• Home healthcare agencies

If you can’t land your first job at your dream facility, joining a different place than you initially wanted as a stopover might be worthwhile until the position you desired opens up. Who knows, it may be just the career you were looking for!

Settling Down or Traveling

Perhaps the first decision a newly-graduated nurse must make is whether they want to find a stable position to set down roots or become a travel nurse and move around. Some nurses get drawn to the travel nurse lifestyle, especially right out of school, as it allows them to try different areas and regions until they find what they feel is an ideal fit.

But the constant moving of travel nursing isn’t for everyone. If you’re interested in trying travel nursing at some point, there’s no better time to do it than right out of school before you have any significant roots. Weigh the pros and cons of each choice and what you want for your career before taking your first job.

Malpractice Insurance

If your first job is joining a hospital or other healthcare facility with a significant staff, you’ll almost definitely join a group insurance policy that covers everyone. These group policies will cover the entire staff of a hospital at a discounted rate instead of each buying their own plan.

It’s wise to learn the basics of malpractice insurance policies before you sign anything. If you have multiple job opportunities, consider comparing the malpractice insurance policies you’d be joining and which may be better for you.