As a new grad RN, would you take an Assisted Living position

[Nola009]

I have applied for many, many positions and haven't heard back from any hospital which was where I really wanted to work. I would be willing to work at any hospital, any unit, on any shift. I do have my preferences, but I would just be really glad to land a hospital job and never have to work LTC because that is not where my interests are.

The thing is that it's been 4 months since I passed my boards and things aren't looking so good. I haven't heard back from any of the hospitals yet and so I decided to apply at nursing homes and Assisted Living facilities and I get calls back from those places IMMEDIATELY

The pay rates are rock bottom, the hourse are crappy (one even wanted me to work 16 hr. shifts every weekend), and what's most concerning to me is that the pt. load is HUGE.

Oh yeah, and this most recent job offer I have pays $17/hr. and offers only "a couple days" of training. Sounds scary to me

But like I said, I have bills coming in. And, my husband thinks that any job is better than none... He doesn't understand how scary it can be in this field, being no, and not having enough orientation!

I DO want to get my BSN and I DO want to work asap, hopefully at a hospital.

Do you think I should take this, what I consider to be crappy job until something better comes along?? I have a feeling that I won't want to work there for more than a few mos and I don't want to completely ruin my work history.

Pleas help:)

[philliesfinest]

In my opinion I'm exactly going through the same thing. I passed my boards in July, applied to everywhere possible and only got a call from LTC. I had no choice and accepted the position. Only because to me a job is better than none, you gain experience and confidence and build up knowledge as you work your way into a better situation. I will say I hate going to work, I'm always either upset or find myself struggling bc of the short orientation, I have rude coworkers who don't like me asking for help... I have a strong family support but it's still hard overcoming these fears. I feel like if I was at a hospital it could be worse. On my days off I still think about work, so I don't even enjoy the time I get to spend with my family. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel, don't give up, take the job and get some experience IMO.

[BostonRN13]

That's sounds awful on many levels (patient load, pay and schedule). I wouldn't take it but understandably you need to pay your bills. Do you have any connections in the hospital that you could contact for a foot in the door?

[schnookimz]

I'd rather work at the mall and keep my options open than take that position. I don't care if i would be getting a few dollars less, at least there wouldn't be drama, stress, and a workload that could make me lose my license.

[sunshyne17]

I was in a similar situation. I am in LTC now but they pay much more than 17 an hour. I too had a "couple days" to train. They have me shadowing quite a bit which is nice because there is buttloads of paper work. A lot of it rework...

I will be looking forward to move on to hospital nursing tho. That's just where my heart is.

:)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Which equation sounds better? Beggars cannot be choosers in this economy. By the way, I have never worked one day at the acute care hospital in my entire career and I'm doing fine.

Nursing position at the assisted living facility = RN pay + RN experience

Waiting for the exalted hospital to call back = zero pay + zero experience

A nursing degree ages rapidly, collects dust and becomes less useful when one is not currently working in the field. If you hold out for the hospital to call back, you might turn into an 'old new grad.'

[chicagoing, ADN, RN]

I am also a new grad...passed the NCLEX in June and didn't even start applying to jobs until October. I applied for exactly three: one hospital position and two in LTC (one in my city, the other 20 miles away). I received one rejection (hospital) and one call for an interview (LTC). I chose to work for the LTC facility (the one farther away) am now in my second week of training at the LTC facility and so far, it is enjoyable. We receive 8 weeks training and the pay is nice ($33/hour). As much as I would love a hospital job, I would rather be getting experience as an employed RN than work a non-nursing job (or no job at all) when the time comes to interview at a hospital.

An employer will question why you're working a non-nursing job when there were opportunities to work as a nurse (even if the position was in LTC).

[Nonetheless]

Because you are an ADN and the market stinks for ADN's right now, yes I would take it. While working keep applying to hospitals. Do a good job at your job and try to be the stellar nurse. Once you complete your BSN do hardcore applications to hospitals.

[rubato, ASN, RN]

That's a toughie. That pay sucks. I am working as a CNA in a hospital right now while finishing school and make $13.75/hour. In my case, if I don't get hired right away in a hospital, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. But, you do have to work. If you think you can handle the stress and the pay, AND get your BSN, I'd go for it. You know you don't want to end up in LTC, so work to get past it with the next degree.

[heartsgal, ADN, RN]

I just began working at a SNF and it sounds very similar. I had 6 days of orienting before being alone with 24 pts and yes it's scary and damn hard work and not everyone is cut out for it. Nevertheless, like you I didn't have any other offers for 5 1/2 months and several others from my graduating class are working SNF's in my area, while looking for other positions. I'm getting $25/ hr but I live in Houston and that is pretty standard around here for new grad ADNs at SNF/ LTC and some places pay more. $17 is really low so check around and see is that the norm for your area, it may not be. I also did a search for "skilled nursing facility reviews" and found this government site that lists their ratings by stars and inspection details such as complaints. http://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/results.html#loc=77388&lat=30.0570946&lng=-95.4672962&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 I then looked at all the ones in my area and found some that are much higher rated and then in turn went to their website. I found a nicer one that has a day position open which is what I really want, since I'm working 2-11 and never see my husband. I'm hoping to hear from them soon. Almost no RN's want to work in this realm of nursing long term, but sometimes you have to suck it up and start somewhere (speaking for myself here My friend's who are working in the hospital do not understand the way it is at SNF's and are accustomed to hospital nursing utopia and I wouldn't either if I wasn't actually doing it. But some simply aren't so lucky and don't have the luxury of choice to turn it down if it's offered, because they have bills and student loans to pay and need a job. I'm not one of those I don't have to work, but I choose to gain experience wherever I can find it while searching for something better. Good luck to you :)