Dear new grad...

Nurses Relations

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Specializes in peds palliative care and hospice.

Dear new grad,

I am sorry (sort of) that you did not get your dream job in a hospital and you are here instead. I know it may come as a shock, but not everyone starts in the ICU/ER...nor does everyone want to. Just because I don't work in a hospital doesn't make me any less of a nurse. I have different skill sets and while they don't include running a code and titrating vasopressors, I am okay with that. Long term care is not "below" you. You will be thankful to those "lower species" when your mom/dad/Grandma/Grandpa need care that you are not able/willing to provide.

Sincerely,

A home health/former SNF nurse.

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Specializes in Critical Care (ICU/CVICU).

I agree! I know one new grad who turned down 2 great jobs in Houston because it wasn't her "dream". It took a lot not to call her an idiot. Houston is SUPER competitive and instead of getting her foot in the door (to possibly have the chance to move where she wanted eventually), she is still looking for jobs now. (she graduated in May). I NEVER wanted to work ICU....but when I was a new grad, that was the only position that I was offered. Did I say no? Heck no! But I realized that without ANY RN experience, I was really not in any position to be too selective. I just took it to get my foot in the door and try it out. Guess what? I LOVE the ICU now! Glad I was not too close minded to not even want to give it a try. I will never understand why some new grads feel so entitled.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Great post! When I graduated, I started in homecare. Not by choice. The hospitals were saturated, and I had an "in" in home care. I did it for 3 years, and every day, I thought to myself, "I am not a real nurse" because I didn't work in the hospital. How stupid was I? But the reality was, whenever I told someone I was a nurse, they asked me what hospital I worked in (I still get that now, working in a college).

My first job/specialty in nursing made me who I am today. I have a tremendous appreciation for nurses in the community, regardless of whee they work. People everywhere need nurses, not just people in the hospital.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
I agree! I know one new grad who turned down 2 great jobs in Houston because it wasn't her "dream". It took a lot not to call her an idiot. Houston is SUPER competitive and instead of getting her foot in the door (to possibly have the chance to move where she wanted eventually), she is still looking for jobs now. (she graduated in May). I NEVER wanted to work ICU....but when I was a new grad, that was the only position that I was offered. Did I say no? Heck no! But I realized that without ANY RN experience, I was really not in any position to be too selective. I just took it to get my foot in the door and try it out. Guess what? I LOVE the ICU now! Glad I was not too close minded to not even want to give it a try. I will never understand why some new grads feel so entitled.

I chose to leave one LTC place to go to another LTC place. This was because the second place was part of a hospital network and I could transfer after a while. I got lucky and was able to transfer much sooner than I thought. Worked out nicely for me although it was med surg instead of L & D which is MY dream. Did I want to trade one LTC for another? No. But it's better than not having a job at all. And eventually I'll be able to transfer once I put my dues in. What is your friend thinking?? I think she took it for granted she'd get her dream job since she was offered those 2 jobs. Is she regretting it now? She could have been getting experience this whole time while waiting for a position with her dream job to open. :facepalm:

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Specializes in LTC and School Health.
I agree! I know one new grad who turned down 2 great jobs in Houston because it wasn't her "dream". It took a lot not to call her an idiot. Houston is SUPER competitive and instead of getting her foot in the door (to possibly have the chance to move where she wanted eventually), she is still looking for jobs now. (she graduated in May). I NEVER wanted to work ICU....but when I was a new grad, that was the only position that I was offered. Did I say no? Heck no! But I realized that without ANY RN experience, I was really not in any position to be too selective. I just took it to get my foot in the door and try it out. Guess what? I LOVE the ICU now! Glad I was not too close minded to not even want to give it a try. I will never understand why some new grads feel so entitled.

I could have written this post. I worked in LTC for three years and had to put up with some of the same attitudes. LTC are frowned upon. I accepted an ICU position out of nursing school because I had no other offers. I took it, but needless to say I strongly disliked ICU. Sometimes it felt like a glorified nursing home, I didn't mind ofcourse because I LOVE geriatrics but some of the nurses threw a complete hissy fit!

I have a friend that is jobless now and would never look into LTC, it is a real shame. I'm glad for my experience in LTC and would go back in a heart beat if I had too. I actually applied for one last week.

People really need to get over themselves.....I admire all of us LTC nurses out there. We do make a difference!!!!

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Heck, try working in an office--you're really a "nobody"! There's a thread now asking if working in an office will lessen someone's chances of getting into NP school because she won't have any experience! No form of nursing, no location of nursing, is below us and we need to be respectful of each other.

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Speaking as a new grad that actually did start in the ICU...get other experience first!! You'll be much better off ;)

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Specializes in Urology, ENT.

People think I'm weird when I say I want to work MedSurg before going to ICU. A lot of nurses have told me "no no, go to ICU first! You want to work there anyway! You'll burn out on the floor." I already know where I'm weak, and before I start going into critical care, I want some of my basic skills like assessment and gathering my meds in order. I guess I'll find out after next week, after graduation, so I hope I'm not that picky new grad people complain about.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
"I am not a real nurse" because I didn't work in the hospital. How stupid was I? But the reality was, whenever I told someone I was a nurse, they asked me what hospital I worked in

I know is this not crazy? I get this all the time too. I have come to the conclusion it is just because when someone hears the word nurse they just assume hospital...maybe it is an unconscious thing?

I have been an LPN for nearing 3 years, worked LTC and now Homecare. I just completed my RN Program and although I will never say never, I am not actually looking for positions in the hospital, I love Homehealth nursing!

I work with trachs, vents, suctioning, central lines, IV therapy,TPN, Feeding tubes, medications, wound care, straight caths, pt education, and so much more... yes people there are MANY nursing skills used in HomeCare!

Heck LTC taught me priority and time management! Those skills are priceless!

Oh... and the paycheck doesn't hurt either.

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Part of the blame for this needs to go to nursing schools for hammering into students brains that "real" nursing = hospital nursing. There's no legitimate reason 90% of nursing school clinicals need to be in the hospital. Students should spend at least 50% of their time in settings like home health, LTC and subacute. That's where the future of nursing is and where the majority of these students will end up working.

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

Amen to that OP!

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Specializes in Sleep medicine,Floor nursing, OR, Trauma.

Dear, dear SNF nurse--

No, you are right. You are not just a nurse. You are a councilor, a guardian, and someone who shoulders burdens for those that just cannot anymore.

I wish I could find the words to thank you for what you do--to tell you the level of deep regard that I hold for you. When my grandfather was lost in his own mind, it was nurses such as yourself that guided him back, coaxed him to eat, bathed him, and learned who he was to calm him with but a word or a gesture. Thank you for being forward thinkers, brilliant and clever to come up with a way to get medication into an elderly man who sustained himself on nothing but cheese balls and chocolate milk and flat out refused his pills. Thank you for making him comfortable until Alzheimer's took him from us. Thank you for holding my mother when she would cry with heartache at her father failing to recognize her and I was too far away to get to her.

No, SNF nursing may be all the flash and bang of an ICU or a trauma center, but it is its own entity of sophistication layered with emotional and psychological challenges.

Just....thank you.

Thank you.

~~CheesePotato~~

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