Need opinions on my plan..am I making the right choice?

Nurses Job Hunt

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I am an ADN and graduated in May. After waiting for about a month for my ATT, I finally received it in June and took NCLEX the first week of July. During that time I had declined 2 RN positions because I was so convinced I was going to fail the exam. I ended up passing NCLEX on the first try.

There are currently very few to no hospital openings in my area. There are 3 hospitals in my city. One is currently on a hiring freeze and has rescinded on some offers. Their new grad hires start dates have been pushed back indefinitely. The other hospital is choosing to hire BSNs (which I completely understand). Needless to say, I have sort of given up on getting hired in any of the hospitals.

I just accepted my first position at a SNF and I am extremely underwhelmed by my decision. Part of me is a little happy to be starting a new job and the other part is very unhappy as this is not where I want to be. I almost feel like I'm making a huge mistake. I'm trying, though, to make the most of it and get at least a year's worth of experience under my belt (without feeling like I'm ruining my life).

Next month I am taking ACLS and October I will be taking PALS as well as starting the RN-BSN program. I am hoping to be able to make it through the next year without becoming depressed about this whole situation. I know that I am lucky to have a job with many new grads looking for months but I still feel so unhappy.

So, with all this said, what do you guys think? Should I just suck it up? Or should I keep looking for jobs since I am so distressed about this decision?

Thanks for all your help!

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I think the most important thing to do is to get your BSN done. All the hospitals in my area are all going to eventually require a BSN of all their nurses. I think they are saying by 2020. IMO, eventually ADN nurses will end up in more LPN type roles, like at SNF, offices, etc.

As for your job, I know it is not what you want. I promise it is not forever. You are going to develop a lot of skills that just can't be taught in nursing school. I would go ahead and keep looking for something that might be a better fit for you but take advantage of the things you can learn from this job while you are there. Just think, after you get your BSN and are interviewing for jobs you are going to look like so much of a better candidate for hire with that experience under your belt. Remember this is only temporary. Hang in there. :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

PP has offered great advice. Your job will provide you with an opportunity to develop many essential competencies such as physical assessment, delegation, time management, communication, documentation, etc. All of these are "portable" - to any clinical role.

I can see the utility of ACLS in your new job, but I don't see that PALS would add any value unless your employer has pediatric patients. So this may be a waste of your time. In the meantime, focus on developing those top-notch skills. Excellence should not be limited to acute care only.

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Thank you to both. I think part of my uneasiness is due to starting a new position in a new career. I dont handle it well when I am in the position of not knowing what I'm doing. I plan on getting as much as I can out of this job and just growing as a new nurse.

As for the PALS, we do not have pediatric patients but I chose to take it just as a learning opportunity. My fiance paid for both so I cant really turn down free certifications. Lol. Although I wont have any pediatric patients right now it could change later in the future.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Precepting, Education.

Stick with it! It sounds like you are going to be pretty busy. One year will fly by and then you can re-evaluate.

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I would not work in a SNF as a new grad. There are so many other options out there for you, unless you love working with geriatrics.

What is your passion? What is it that you really want to do? Then go for that. As a new grad, most hospitals are willing to train you

in the area you want to work in. If you are having to work, and willing to do anything to get experience, work for a doctor, a clinic, or

if even an outpatient facility if you can't find work in a hospital.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Take the job. It's experience and if you're not happy at the SNF, nothing says you can't continue to look for other jobs in the meantime. Plus, you will look a lot better to hospitals with nursing experience on the resume, than you would with no experience because you were too finicky. SNF may not be your dream job, but you WILL learn a lot of valuable knowledge from it.

And the lesson to be learned from this for other new grads: while you don't have to jump at the first job offer that you receive, do think long and hard before turning any job offer down, as you never know when and where the next one will come from...especially in this job market.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Really????ADN nurses will end up in LPN type roles like in SNFs? I hire almost ALL RNs for my SNF. A nurse with good skills is invaluable degree or no degree. I hire new grads and the ones who graduated from a hospital based program(which also carries an associates degree) are FAR SUPERIOR to new BSN grads who freak out at the thought of taking care of a real person.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I worked SNF/rehab for 8 months before I got the job I have now. I didn't think I would get the job I got, but I did, in part to my experience. The experiences I had and things that I learned were invaluable. Time management, the geriatric population and their special needs, cardiac meds, anti-psychotic meds. Don't look at it as settling at all! It will benefit you in the long run, especially since you are starting your BSN. When you are done, the experience will give you a leg up at the job you want.

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MKPRN, really? If I didn't know any better, I would think you must be Dr. Oz by that comment you made about "All the hospitals in my area are all going to eventually require a BSN of all their nurses. I think they are saying by 2020. IMO, eventually ADN nurses will end up in more LPN type roles, like at SNF, offices, etc." How do I even respond to you politely?? I'll take a crack at it....

I completely agree with CapeCodMermaid. Some of the smartest people I know don't have a diploma on their wall, and others I wonder how they got through college. I have a bachelors degree from University of Texas at Austin. I originally was accepted into the nursing program, but was young, and unfortunately changed my major. I'm going back and getting my ADN. Yes, I could go back to get my BSN, but that will take longer and I'm ready to get out there and start learning. I will still be an RN. I don't know where you work, but does your badge say BSN with your GPA on it? Ya, I didn't think so!

I think it is ridiculous to say that ADN's are going to be more like LVN's??? I don't know about you, but we are all taking the same classes here, micro, Anatomy, med terminology and our clinicals. It's about passion, personality and willingness to work hard that makes the difference between a good nurse and an outstanding nurse, not about a title! I agree to always advance yourself, keep learning, but to stoop that low and actually think that someone who holds their BSN is a better nurse??? That is ignorant on your part.

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MKPRN, really? If I didn't know any better, I would think you must be Dr. Oz by that comment you made about "All the hospitals in my area are all going to eventually require a BSN of all their nurses. I think they are saying by 2020. IMO, eventually ADN nurses will end up in more LPN type roles, like at SNF, offices, etc." How do I even respond to you politely?? I'll take a crack at it....

I completely agree with CapeCodMermaid. Some of the smartest people I know don't have a diploma on their wall, and others I wonder how they got through college. I have a bachelors degree from University of Texas at Austin. I originally was accepted into the nursing program, but was young, and unfortunately changed my major. I'm going back and getting my ADN. Yes, I could go back to get my BSN, but that will take longer and I'm ready to get out there and start learning. I will still be an RN. I don't know where you work, but does your badge say BSN with your GPA on it? Ya, I didn't think so!

I think it is ridiculous to say that ADN's are going to be more like LVN's??? I don't know about you, but we are all taking the same classes here, micro, Anatomy, med terminology and our clinicals. It's about passion, personality and willingness to work hard that makes the difference between a good nurse and an outstanding nurse, not about a title! I agree to always advance yourself, keep learning, but to stoop that low and actually think that someone who holds their BSN is a better nurse??? That is ignorant on your part.

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What I meant was, that in specialized areas of the hospital such as OB, surgery, peds, ER, they are now expecting you to have a BSN. The Children's hospital in my area won't even give you an interview without a BSN. It is a fact that hospitals are going this route. I myself was a graduate of an ADN program. I have been a nurse for 15 years most of them working in L&D. I am currently working on my BSN because I am feeling the squeeze. And yes, I can run circles around a new BSN grad but hospitals don't care about that. They want that piece of paper. There is nothing wrong with being an ADN grad but be prepared that it may limit your job options.

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