What are the Best New Grad Nurse Jobs

No matter where you are in your nursing career, it’s essential to consider the best jobs for new grad nurses. As a new graduate nurse, you may be overwhelmed by the many available job opportunities. Depending on your interests and goals, there are a variety of specialties that can help you achieve success.

Best New Grad Nurse Jobs

Whether you’re looking for a position in an acute care hospital, a permanent doctor’s office job, or even a cruise ship nursing opportunity, there are plenty of options. Here are some of the best jobs for new grad nurses:

1. Emergency Room Nurse

Working as an emergency room nurse can be challenging and requires much knowledge and experience. This job is perfect for those who thrive on problem-solving and quick thinking, as you’ll need to make quick decisions about patient care in high-pressure situations.

Pros:

• High Payouts: ER nurses generally earn a higher salary than other nurses.
• Varied Shifts: Many ER nurses can work flexible shifts, allowing for more time off during the week.
• Varied Duties: From diagnosing and treating illnesses to operating medical equipment, you’ll gain experience in many different areas of nursing.

Cons:

• High Stress: Working as an ER nurse can be very stressful, as you often have to think quickly and make decisions.

Overall- If you’re looking for a rewarding and exciting way to use your nursing degree, becoming an ER nurse is one of the best jobs for new grad nurses.

2. Critical Care Nurse

Working in the ICU is one of the best jobs for new grad nurses due to its high level of responsibility and rewarding outcomes. As a critical care nurse, you will be responsible for providing detailed patient

Pros:

• Care: This job requires a deep understanding of medical procedures and processes and staying calm in highly stressful situations.
• Rewarding Outcomes: By working in critical care, you will have the chance to witness life-saving moments and be part of a gratifying profession.
• Highly Respected: Critical care nurses are highly respected in the medical community and often form close relationships with their patients.

Cons:

High-Stress Levels: Working in critical care can be incredibly stressful, as you will be dealing with very ill patients daily. It is important to remember to take time off and practice self-care.

Long Hours: Critical care nurses are often required to work long shifts and may miss out on time with family and friends.

Physical Demands: As a critical care nurse, you will need to be physically strong to handle the job’s demands. You should be prepared for a high level of physical activity.

Being a Critical Care Nurse can be one of the best jobs for new-grad nurses looking for a gratifying and challenging profession. The job requires dedication, hard work, and a strong understanding of medical procedures and processes. While it might be stressful and require long hours, the outcomes can often be life-saving and highly rewarding. It is important to note that being a critical care nurse does come with physical demands as well as emotional ones – so make

3. Home Health Care Nurse

As a home health care nurse, you provide direct medical services to patients in their homes. You’ll be responsible for monitoring and assessing patients and providing treatment, education, and other services.

Pros:

• Flexible Hours: Home health care nursing jobs often allow for flexible hours and scheduling, which can be helpful if you have a family or other commitments.
• Personal Connections: Working one-on-one with patients in their homes can allow you to form strong connections with those you are caring for.
• Variety of Patients: Home health care nurses can work with a wide variety of patients, from children to elderly individuals.

Cons:

• Lonely Work: Working alone in patients’ homes can be isolating for some nurses and lead to feelings of loneliness or burnout.
• Time Management: Home health care nurses need to manage their time effectively to ensure they are providing the highest quality of care.
• Safety Concerns: Since you will be working alone, it is essential to take safety precautions when visiting patients’ homes.

Overall, being a home health care nurse can be a gratifying job for new grad nurses looking for flexible hours and the chance to make personal connections with patients. While there may be safety concerns and potential loneliness, these can often be managed by taking necessary precautions and seeking out support from colleagues. Home health care nursing is excellent for those who want to provide quality care in the comfort of patients’ homes.

4. Intensive Care Unit Nurse

As an ICU nurse, you’ll care for the most critically ill patients in high-acuity settings. This job requires a great deal of skill and knowledge and is an excellent choice for those looking for a challenging and rewarding career.

Pros:

• Reap the rewards: Working as an ICU nurse can be incredibly rewarding due to the life-saving care you’ll provide. You will have the chance to see first-hand how your care makes a difference in patients’ lives.
• Highly Regarded – ICU nurses are held in the highest regard due to the level of care they provide. This can be a great source of pride and motivation for those seeking a challenging career.
• Variety of Patients: ICU nurses have the opportunity to work with all kinds of patients, from accident victims to burn patients, providing them with quality care in a high-stakes environment.

Cons:

• High Stress: ICU nursing can be incredibly stressful due to the high-stakes environment and long hours. It is important to practice self-care and seek support from colleagues to manage stress levels.
• Emotional Demands: Caring for critically ill patients requires much emotional energy and can be draining. It is important to practice self-care and find ways to manage the emotional demands of the job.
• Physical Demands: ICU nursing requires long hours and often involves lifting, turning, or transferring patients, which can be physically demanding.

Overall, being an ICU nurse is a great career choice for new-grad nurses looking for a challenging and rewarding job. While it can be emotionally and physically demanding, the rewards of making a difference in patients’ lives are unparalleled. ICU nursing provides an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and experience while delivering life-saving care to critically ill patients.

5. Operating Room Nurse

As an operating room nurse, you’ll provide direct care to patients in the surgical setting. You’ll be responsible for pre-operative assessments, organizing supplies, monitoring vital signs, and providing post-operative care.

Pros:

• Highly Specialized: Operating room nurses are highly specialized and receive extensive training to ensure they provide the best possible care. This can lead to job satisfaction and career advancement opportunities.
• Focus on Quality Care: Since operating rooms have strict safety protocols, nurses can focus on quality care and prevent potential complications.
• Variety of Patients: Operating room nurses have the chance to work with various patients and surgical specialties, providing them with an exciting and diverse career.

Cons:

• High Stress: Working in the operating room can be incredibly stressful due to the high-stakes environment and long hours. It is important to practice self-care and seek support from colleagues to manage stress levels.
• Fast Pace: Operating room nurses must be able to think quickly and make decisions on the fly, which can lead to burnout if not appropriately managed.

Overall, being an operating room nurse is a great career choice for new-grad nurses looking for a challenging and rewarding job. While it can be stressful, the rewards of providing quality care in a fast-paced environment are unparalleled. Operating room nurses have the opportunity to work with various patients and surgical specialties, providing them with an exciting and diverse career.

6. Pediatrics Nurse

If you’re looking for a career in pediatrics, this is the job for you. As a pediatric nurse, you’ll be responsible for providing care to children of all ages and their families. You’ll need excellent communication skills and an understanding of caring for growing young minds.

Pros:

• Opportunity to Work with Children: Pediatrics nurses can work directly with children and their families, providing quality care.
• Focus on Child Development: By working in pediatrics, you’ll be able to focus on a child’s development and help nurture young minds.
• Rewarding Career: Pediatrics nurses often report feeling great satisfaction from their work, making it a rewarding career choice.

Cons:

• Stressful Environment: Working in pediatrics can be stressful due to the unpredictable nature of caring for young patients and their families. It is important to practice self-care and seek support from colleagues to manage stress levels.
• Emotional Demands: Working with children can be emotionally demanding as nurses must build trust and provide comfort and care for their patients. It is important to practice self-care and find ways to manage the emotional demands of the job.

Overall, being a pediatric nurse is an excellent career choice for new-grad nurses looking to work with children and their families. It can be emotionally demanding, but the rewards of making a difference in young lives are unparalleled. Pediatrics nurses can focus on a child’s development while providing quality care, making this a rewarding and satisfying career.

7. Nurse Educator

As a nurse educator, you’ll be responsible for teaching nursing students and other health professionals in the classroom or clinical setting. You’ll need to have a strong understanding of your specialty area and excellent communication and organizational skills. No matter which job you pursue, it’s essential to understand that becoming a successful nurse takes hard work and dedication. With the proper education and experience, you can make a difference in the lives of others.

Pros:

• Opportunity to Guide Patients: Labor and delivery nurses can provide emotional support and guidance to patients during childbirth.
• Rewarding Career: Labor and delivery nurses often report great job satisfaction, making it a rewarding career choice.
• Varied Responsibilities: Labor and delivery nurses are involved in various activities, providing them with an exciting and diverse career.

Cons:

• Stressful Environment: Working in labor and delivery can be stressful due to the unpredictable nature of childbirth. It is important to practice self-care and seek support from colleagues to manage stress levels.
• Emotional Demands: Working with mothers and newborns can be emotionally demanding as nurses must build trust and provide comfort and care for their patients. It is important to practice self-care and find ways to manage the emotional demands of the job.

Being a labor and delivery nurse is an excellent career choice for new-grad nurses looking to work with mothers and babies during childbirth. It can be emotionally demanding, but the rewards of being able to support families as they welcome a new life into the world are unparalleled. Labor and delivery nurses have the opportunity to provide guidance and care throughout labor and delivery, making this a rewarding and satisfying career.

8. Medical Surgical Nursing

Medical surgical nursing is the foundation of patient care. In this med-Surg nursing, you have to deal with patients in a pre and post-surgery setting. You must coordinate with other departments like pharmacy, lab, radiology, and specialists to provide high-quality patient care. It’s an excellent career choice for new grad nurses who want to gain experience in various specialties and are looking for the opportunity to develop their clinical skills.

Pros:

• Opportunity to Care for Patients: Medical surgical nursing allows you to care for patients before, during, and after surgery.
• Excellent Training: Medical-surgical nurses receive extensive training in various areas, from patient assessment to managing complex cases. This makes it a perfect way for new grads to gain experience and develop skills.
• Varied Responsibilities: Medical-surgical nurses work with patients in a pre-operative setting, provide post-operative care, and perform diagnostic tests. This provides a great variety of work for new grads looking to gain experience in multiple areas.

Cons:

• Stressful Environment: Medical surgical nursing can be stressful due to the unpredictable nature of patient cases. It is important to practice self-care and seek support from colleagues to manage stress levels.
• Workload and Hours: Medical-surgical nurses often have to work long hours, which can be physically and emotionally draining. Finding ways to balance your workload and make time for self-care is essential.

Medical-surgical nursing is a great career path for new grads looking to gain experience in various specialties and develop their clinical skills. While it can be stressful and time-consuming, the rewards of providing quality care for patients are unparalleled. Medical surgical nurses have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their patients, making this a good and satisfying career choice.

9. Hospice Nurse

This is an excellent opportunity for any nurse passionate about providing compassionate care to those at the end of life. As a hospice nurse, you will provide comfort care to the terminally ill and their families, helping them through their final days. No matter which job you pursue, it’s essential to understand that becoming a successful nurse takes hard work and dedication. With these tips in mind, you can be sure you’re picking the best jobs for new grad nurses.

Pros:

• Opportunity to Help Others: Hospice nurses can make a difference in their patients’ and families’ lives. The care and compassion hospice nurses provide can help bring peace and comfort during difficult times.
• Flexible Schedule: Hospice nursing is often done on a flexible schedule, allowing nurses to have a better work/life balance.
• Rewarding Career: Working as a hospice nurse allows you to make a meaningful impact on the lives of terminally ill and their families.

Cons:

• Emotional Toll: Caring for terminally ill patients and their families can take an emotional toll. It is important to practice self-care and seek out support from colleagues.
• Time Management: Hospice nurses often have to manage a large workload in a short amount of time, which can be challenging. Learning effective time management skills is important to provide the best care possible for your patients.

Overall, hospice nursing is a good and satisfying career choice for new grad nurses. While the job may come with some challenges, it offers an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those at the end of life. Hospice nursing can be a fulfilling and meaningful experience with proper self-care and support from colleagues.

10. Travel Nurse

Travel nursing is an attractive career path for nurses looking for adventure and a change of scenery. As a travel nurse, you can experience different cities and cultures while providing quality patient care.

Pros:

• Variety: Travel nurses experience different workplaces and types of healthcare facilities, providing them with a unique variety of experiences.
• Flexibility: Travel nurses can choose their assignments and locations. This allows them to experience different parts of the country while having more control over their schedule.
• Rewards: Aside from the financial benefits, travel nursing provides an opportunity to provide quality healthcare in various locations across the world.

Cons:

Stressful Environment: Travel nurses often work in high-stress environments with limited resources and support. It is important to practice self-care and seek out help when needed.

Lack of Routine: Traveling from place to place can be tiring, as it requires constantly adjusting to new situations and surroundings. This can make it difficult for travel nurses to establish a routine.

Travel nursing is an exciting and rewarding experience for new grad nurses. With the opportunity to explore different cities and healthcare facilities, travel nurses can gain valuable experiences that can help shape their future careers. While the job may come with some challenges, it offers a unique adventure for those looking for something different out of their nursing career.

11. Long-Term Care Nurse

Long-term care nurses provide nursing and medical care to individuals who require more intensive and ongoing treatment due to chronic conditions or disabilities. These nurses offer various services, from administering medications to providing emotional support for patients and their families.

Pros:

• Autonomy – Long-term care nurses often work independently and have more autonomy over their day-to-day tasks.
• Rewarding Care: Providing long-term care to individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities is advantageous and satisfying.
• Ongoing Support: Long-term care nurses can build relationships with their patients, providing ongoing support throughout their treatment.

Cons:

• Stressful Environment: Long-term care nurses often work in high-stress environments with limited resources and support, which can be challenging to manage.
• Time Management: Long-term care nurses have to manage a large workload in a short amount of time, which can be challenging. Effective time management skills are vital to providing the best care possible for your patients.

Overall, long-term care nursing is a good and satisfying career choice for new grad nurses. While the job may come with some challenges, it offers an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those living with chronic conditions or disabilities. Long-term care nursing can be a fulfilling and meaningful experience with proper self-care and support from colleagues.

These are just a few jobs that new grad nurses can pursue. With the right education and experience, you can find the perfect job to start your career as a nurse. No matter what kind of nursing job you’re looking for, research all available options before deciding.