HELP!! New Grad restorative RN..don't know what to do...

[hjamie0415]

Hi everyone

I am a new grad RN and have recently began working as a restorative nurse at a local SNF. I accepted this job because I could not get a job at hospitals I applied to.

The job is quite easy but I am so bored and stressed out because there's no challenges, learning opportunities, and growth as a RN. All I do all day at work is to interview residents on floor for regular head to toe assessment to document MDS. For those who are not familiar with MDS, it is a documentation on a resident's health status. Nursing homes get their money from Medicare/Medicaid depending on a resident's health status reflected on MDS. So to simply put, my work as a nurse is to do paperworks.

I feel like I am not growing as a nurse when doing the MDS. I feel like there is no learning opportunities, no room to grow, and no opportunities to gain nursing skills including critical thinking skills, nursing judgment, medical knowledge, etc. I am afraid that I would not make a good candidate if I apply to other nurse jobs since I lack so many essential nursing skills. I feel ashamed to even call myself a nurse thesedays because I do not feel like one with this job. To make thing worse, I cannot resign or find another job because my employment contract requires me to work for this facility for at least 2 years...

Is there anyone out there who are in a similar situation? Any one who is already a restorative nurse? What do I need to do to make this experience a good one? Would I be able to make a good transition to hospital later when I decide to leave the nursing home? Please help. Thanks.