"As I went through clinical rotations, I found I liked working with adults and in geriatrics, so that's what I do today," he said. "It's hard to predict what your dream job is before you've had the chance to work in a particular setting."

Ostrow shared advice with new grads who want to come to an acute rehabilitation setting.

"We receive every diagnosis possible and our therapists need a broad knowledge base," he said. "A lot of hospitals do rotations, with therapists going through different areas like ortho, burns, hand therapy and neuro every six months. Focus on each specialty. After you've gone through these different rotations, you'll at least have baseline knowledge in each area."

Glenn Prescott, BA, BSN, RN, CRRN, professional liaison at Shepherd Center, Atlanta, acknowledged the economy has negatively impacted the demand for novice practitioners in therapy services and nursing.

"That being said, take advantage of the time you spend in any clinical setting," he said. "Impress your preceptor, supervisor and colleagues. If you want to be a rehab clinician, you may not see the marketing richness in other clinical settings. However, the reality is that you're not necessarily going to find your dream job right out of school."

Culture of Learning

Lisa Mukavitz, PT, MPT, MBA, transformational health care administrator at Renown Health, Reno, NV, has been with the health system since her undergraduate days.

"I stayed here because of the culture of continued learning that I knew would help me advance professionally," she said. "We have a very strong mentoring program and ensure that every new grad has an assigned mentor within our organization."

Mukavitz shared some advice for therapists who are attracted to outpatient therapy. "Build knowledge and skills that make you more attractive to an employer," she recommended. "While a new grad might really want a 32-hour-a-week position in an outpatient setting with no weekend or holiday work, that's not always possible. But if the therapist spends time in another position within our network, we'll invest a lot in training and team-building that puts the therapist in a good position to move into outpatient care when a job opens up."

Demonstrate Commitment

Nurse educator and stroke coordinator Kathie Daley, MPA, RN, shared some hints for new grads who want to work at facilities like her nationally renowned Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in northern New Jersey.

"I would advise them to complete at least one year in their first position, as part of their obligation to the other organization," she said.

While working in another health care facility and learning as much as they can, new graduates can hone skills they can bring to Kessler at a later date.

"As part of our Magnet journey, we've instituted a professional practice model based on collaborative practice, and we're looking for [professionals] who can function well as part of a team," Daley explained.

You May Love It

Diane Sheehan, MSN, RN, who is the RN orientation coordinator at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT, wants new graduates to heed the lesson she learned early in her career.

"When I graduated, I really wanted a job on the respiratory unit where I'd worked as a student nurse tech," she recalled. "There weren't any positions open on that unit, so I took a job on the surgical floor. I ended up working for four years on the surgical unit once I realized how much I loved that area."

Sheehan recommended staying a year or two before moving on. "It takes at least six to eight months to learn your new role, and there's not a great deal of critical thinking developing during that time," she explained.

"Come in with a positive attitude, be open to learning whenever an opportunity arises and participate in the educational programs that are available to you. If you stick with the position until you develop your skills and competencies, you may find out you really love what you're already doing."

Demonstrating Stability

As director of clinical operations, division of cytopathology, for North Shore-LIJ Laboratories in Lake Success, NY, Chiara Sugrue, MBA, MS, SCT (ASCP), CMIAC, knows exactly what she wants to see in potential employees.

"We're in a super-specialized era and that can be a drawback to an individual from a particular setting," she said. "I'm looking for those who have a holistic view of what they're doing, can communicate effectively and are willing to be flexible within our organization."

Sugrue shared some advice for novice health care professionals. "For those who are in jobs they don't like, I would imagine it's best to stay there for a couple of years," she said. "It takes one year for adjustment and another to clarify their point of view. Jumping from one place to another will not show stability in a career path."

Ostrow agreed, but with a caveat. "The answer lies in whether there are learning opportunities," he said.

"If you're in a teaching facility with more senior therapists who can teach and guide you, plan on staying for a year. Learn everything you can during that time so your skills are one level up when you decide to move on. On the other hand, if you hate going to work in the morning, you should in fairness to your patients and facility, leave sooner." 

Sandy Keefe is a frequent contributor to ADVANCE.