ASN new grad in nursing homes/long term care

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Hi I'm a rising senior in high school and I want to be a nurse. My mom is an LPN who worked in the Boston area. This was in the early 90's and she found a job pretty quickly after graduating and getting her license. I would love to go for my BSN but financially I don't think it would work until I'm working and making a regular salary. So I want to get my ASN first. I am particularly interested in working in a nursing home but do they hire new grads and is the pay ok? My mom worked in one as an LPN in MA and was getting paid 36 an hour! But that was when she had some experience. I know I'm thinking far ahead, but I like to plan in advance!

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

$36/hr for a new grad is high in Massachusetts. Your mom must have had lots of experience. My nurse managers are making 35/hr.

I hire new grads all the time if they are willing to put the time in to learn what I think they need to know to take care of the residents.

If you want to work in a nursing home, you definitely don't need a BSN. With your ADN you have a good chance of working in any nursing home you want upon graduation. If you want to work in a hospital, you may need a BSN though. Most of the DONs I have known were ADN RNs

I'm a new grad with an ADN and I recently got hired at a long term facility. The pay and benefits are good. Many of the nursing homes I applied for seem to be more open to new grads, than the local hospitals.

Nursing pay has decreased considerably in recent years. You might want to do some research re current rates for RN's in your area. You can also research current jobs. It's a different world compared to 15-20 years ago.

I'd also suggest that you work as an STNA to ensure that you really REALLY want to work with patients of any age. I've found that some of the best nurses were nursing assistants before earning their degree. The job description between STNA and nurse may be vastly different, but the basic idea is the same, caring for the people you are responsible for.

I'm guessing that your mom is no longer working in the nursing field, as the timeline you'd mentioned was back in the 90's?

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