should a new grad be a charge nurse

1. I am a new grad RN and was offered a charge nurse position at a LTC. I was told to expect about three weeks of orientation and then I would be responsible for 60 residents, 6 CNAs, and 2 LPN',.. I had worked in LTC previously as an LPN before returning to school. I have also been offered a position at a local hospital. Which job offer should I accept?

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2. 12 Comments

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3. 
   Jul 30, '12

   I am a new grad RN and was offered a charge nurse position in LTC...I would receive three weeks of orientation and then be the nurse on 3-11 shift...60 residents, 6 CNA's, and 2LPN's.. I was an LPN and have previous experience as far as working in LTC. I have also received a job offer at local hospital. Which job offer should I accept?
4. 
   Jul 30, '12

   Depends on your preference. Seeing as you previously worked in a LTC, you have an idea of how the facility runs and the demands of the job. But only 3 weeks orientation, responsibility for 60 residents with only 2 LPNs?... Would honestly send me running in the opposite direction. I am a soon to be new grad, and that's just my personal opinion. I think you need to decide if you like the hospital setting or LTC setting, seeing as how much they differ. Congrats on the offers!
5. 
   Jul 30, '12

   You've BTDT in long term care. Unless LTC is your passion, I would accept the acute care position.
6. 
   Jul 30, '12

   LTC is truely were my heart is but I feel that acute care will help me gain the experience needed...
7. 
   Jul 30, '12

   @all517.. congrats on you on your upcoming graduation.. ltc is truely were I one day want to be, but its seems overwhelming...
8. 
   Jul 31, '12

   Since there seems to be some difficulty for new RNs in getting jobs in hospitals you might want to take that while given the chance. But remember, every place has it's good and bad spots. Good Luck to you either way.
9. 
   Jul 31, '12

   Kudos to you for scoring a position where you want to be, that is tough these days! Good luck to whatever you choose! You will be great.
10. 
    Jul 31, '12

    Merged threads.
11. 
    Jul 31, '12

    What is the hospital position and what are your duties ,exactly, @ the LTC?
12. 
    Jul 31, '12

    Get the acute care experience. You can always go back to LTC if you want with your background and it is much harder to go from LTC to acute.
13. 
    Jul 31, '12

    I don't think someone who's been a LPN for years should be considered a "new nurse" once they get their RN. I know plenty of facilities do just that, but it makes no sense. There's no comparison between a new RN who was a LPN and a new RN who wasn't.
    
    To the OP, if your passion is LTC,
    why leave? Despite what people seem to think, the hospital is not the end-all be-all of nursing. I worked in a hospital, and I know it's not for me. Way too much butt-kissing. Way too many emotional, demanding family members. And you actually have more autonomy in LTC. LTC is ran by NURSES and is all about NURSING. Hospitals, by necessity, are all about the medical side of it. It seems like hospitals RNs function mainly as extensions of the doctor, their entire job revolving around performing the doctors plan in his absence. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what it seemed like to me....
14. 
    Jul 31, '12

    If your heart is in LTC, stay in LTC. No use running off to do something else, when all you may be doing is interrupting your eventual career path, anyway.
    I think the charge nurse issue is in LTC is a bit different than in an acute setting, especially since you're experienced as an LPN - I don't think there's anything wrong with starting as a charge nurse in that case.

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