Q. I have been a bedside nurse for over 25 years and love my career. Both of my daughters have also gone into nursing. What are the career options for us? I don’t think I’ll be bedside much longer. What do recent grads have to look forward to?
A. The outlook for all health care professionals is very good as long as you are open to working in many environments. Hospitals, nursing homes, home health care agencies, and insurance companies are among those interested in speaking to nursing professionals and other health service providers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Labor Department, projects 19 percent growth in nursing positions between 2012 and 2022.
I consulted Kathy Lind, staffing manager at Boston Children’s Hospital, on options for experienced nurses who may not want to stay bedside. “Nurses with significant experience who are ready to leave the bedside have several options. There are roles that focus on care coordination or clinical documentation. These positions require the expertise of a seasoned nurse and can be great options for nurses looking to transition.”
The market for new nursing graduates looking to work in hospitals is highly competitive. Experienced nurses are working longer, and the number of recent graduates getting hired has decreased.
Networking continues to be one of the best ways to connect with a hospital. Recent graduates should talk to faculty and alumni of their nursing programs to build a network.
“For recent graduates, it’s important to remember that you may not land your first choice as your first job,” Lind says. “The best thing you can do is keep your options open and maintain a positive attitude.”
Your first job will most likely not be your last job. “You may need to consider extending your job search beyond your initial clinical specialty and geographic preferences,” Lind says. “The best thing you can do as a new graduate RN is to secure a position and gain one to two years of valuable experience.”
Elaine Varelas is managing partner at Keystone Partners, a career management firm in Boston and serves on the board of Career Partners International.