New med-surg RN picking up PRN night shifts in LTC=bad idea?

suzanne4, RN · Sep 10, 2005

In a single word, should you? NO!!!!

It is your license on the line, and you can lose it just as easy. Working in an LTC is completely different from what you are doing on your med-surg unit right now. And I am sure that they are not giving you a full orientation to how they do nthings first. And realize that you may be the only RN in-house.

Luv2BAnurse · Sep 10, 2005

I did that same thing when I graduated. I worked FT in M/S and prn in a LTC facility. Being a new grad may have made it easier...I was new to ANYthing in nursing, and got a wonderful orientation, and was not the only nurse working. You just make sure if you want to do this that you will have a good orientation and that you won't be the only nurse....find out EXACTLY what you will be responsible for. It's worked for me for several years now.

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2005

I would not do that............for me....................would have been way to risky that early in my career...but I may not have recognized at the time.

renerian

suzanne4, RN · Sep 11, 2005

Most LTCs only give a few days if orientation to a PRN nurse, and this is not enough. You can easily jeopardize your license, and then would never be able to work as an RN ever again. Better to be safe than sorry.

A new grad with only two months experience has no business taking on a PRN job at another facility, especially where nothing is the same. You may have gotten lucky, but it is definitely not recommended.

sbic56, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2005

Hi, experienced LTC folks, I'd like your opinion.
I'm a brand new RN, 2 mos licensed, working the standard night 7p-7a med surg fresh-out-of-school job. That's working out okay for me except that I need more cash to make ends meet. I'm considering picking up PRN night shifts at a LTC facility, probably one 11-7 shift every other week.
Pros of the LTC position: 1. much closer to home than my full time med-surg job; 2. something different than med-surg (to broaden my nursing experience)
Cons: 1. I'm new and my nursing judgment is not strong; 2. something different than med-surg (so I'll be utterly clueless); 3. Orientation/support for PRN shifters--will they be adequate since I will only be there a few days a month?
Now, I'm smart, I pick things up quickly; I worked LTC as an aide for a year so it's not totally foreign but still, that's not much experience. Do you think it's a bad idea to try doing this? Thanks--Rebecca

It depends. If you are going to be alone in the facility, I'd say you don't have enough experience as yet and would be putting yourself/license/patients in jeopardy. Knowing you don't yet possess strong nursing judgment skills should deter you until you feel you do, unless you have another good nurse as support on shift. Follow your gut on that part. If there is another experienced RN on for you to use as a resource, perhaps. Firstly, I'd be making sure I got a good orientation. As others have mentioned, per diem nurses are expected to know their stuff, so you will have to state your orientation expectations clearly. It could be a good learning experince if the conditions are right, but jumping in blindly would be a mistake.

porterwoman · Sep 11, 2005

Thank you all. This is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for.

Suzanne4, your points are exactly what my concerns are. Naturally, I would not take a position where I was taking on more than what I can realistically handle right now. I believe I have I good grasp on my limitations as a new nurse. I completely understand that I need a lot of support as a new nurse, which I probably would not have in LTC, correct? It sounds like the chances are very good that in LTC that I would most definitely be in a situation where I had to take on more than I am prepared or able to do.

I may contact the place and set up an interview just to see what the responsibilities are, and to discuss with the DON my needs. If now isn't the right time for me to do this, I can at least get information for the future.

Again, thanks everybody. I really appreciate the information I can get here at allnurses.

-Rebecca