Would it be hard to work as a new grad (with 4 months peds inpatient experience) in an outpatient setting (like a surgery center/pre-op) and then go BACK to inpatient IF I ever wanted to?
You should put in more time in in-patient to solidify your skills and clinical judgement - a year would be good. With only 4 months, you've barely scratched the surface. It's certainly fine to transfer to different areas of interest throughout your professional practice, but you have to show you have the experience to back you up if you are returning to a former area. The situations you ask about demand very different skill sets. Master one, then go learn the other. Once the ability and knowledge of one kind of nursing is "under your belt" (cap?), it can come back with some refreshing. If it's not really there by adequate work experience, it's not going to be easy to shift back to it. You would be viewed like a new graduate with no solid skills in in-patient care..
We’ve all been new RN grads and wondered if we were making the right choice for our first nursing job. The only way you’ll find out if this job is right for you, is to follow your heart and TAKE THE JOB!!!
It seems you already pretty much answered your own question as you can always go back to inpatient care if you don’t like your new job.
My first job as a new grad was a position in a pediatric ER and I LOVED IT, I really liked pediatrics and after a year moved on to accept a pediatric,. hospital wide job working with kids newly diagnosed with cancer. I followed them through surgery and taught them about their cancer treatments…be it a bone marrow transplant, radiation and/or a chemo regimen.
There are SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES in nursing, so if one doesn't work out after giving it a good try for several months, there are so many choices out there.
Just remember, we ALL had to start somewhere. so start with listening to your heart…. Remember, you can always move to something else if it doesn’t feel right for you.
As a new nurse, I worked in an ER and ICU before finally finding my true nursing career…... working with kids with cancer!! I LOVED THOSE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS and always knew I made a difference in their lives…..
Best of luck to you in your nursing career…and I hope your first job will work out. The nice thing is, if it doesn't feel “right” there’s a plethora of nursing opportunities out there.
Believe in your education and nursing skills, and follow your hear!!!
