advice for a new grad applying for ECF RN position....

MamaT · Aug 6, 2007

I am a new grad and have been working in an ECF for three weeks. God help me! I hope the facility where you are interviewing does things better than mine! MAKE SURE you have AT LEAST a MONTH of orientation with another nurse so you can get the routine down (I had three days). To think I used to get freaked out because they would give us four patients in clinicals...now I have 28. That means passing their meds, accu-checks & insulin, charting, orders, charting, addressing any issues that come up, and more charting. I'm in over my head because of inadequate training, and that's not fair to the patients.

MamaT · Aug 6, 2007

P.S....CONGRATS on passing boards! YAY! Thank GOD we don't have to do that again, huh?! And to anyone who is wondering (since I didn't mention it because I was ranting), I am working on solving my problem.

RNmaria · Aug 6, 2007

So have you always wanted to work in LTC?

Origionally I wanted to get into very large local hosp that had a NRP etc...I didn't get in :-(.... the place I applied is also a hosp...smaller, but they hire new grads w/ot a "official NRP".

I did my clinical rotaion there my Freshman year...It is a nice facility.

I guess I really din't chose LTC as my first choice. But after thinking more about things I think it would be a good match for me for the first few years...and maybe longer if I really like it. I'm sure I will know my meds really well. I remember doing all my meds pre clinical.!

Pasha

MamaT · Aug 6, 2007

Actually, I've never wanted to do LTC as far as working in a nursing home. I started my nursing career kinda late...I'm 41...and after ten years or so I plan to transition into hospice. That's my true calling. I took this job because it was available immediately, is two minutes from my house and pays $4 an hour more than other facilities. My passion right now is acute care...I absolutely love the ER...but I imagine I'll have to do some med/surg for a while first. But that's OK. I did go to the hospital last week...same place I did a lot of my clinicals (I've applied on-line for several positions, but they are VERY slow). One of my clinical instructors introduced me to all the department managers & I handed out resumes like candy. One of them called personnel while I was there and told them to pull my apps & get me in for an interview. I am totally not using my skills right now. I precepted in an ER...150 hours my last quarter of school...and there were several days when I was doing an IV every time I turned around! LUV IT! And catheters & suture/staple removals, cleaning out wounds, and on and on. When I get my BSN my minor will be in psych. I don't want to do psych nursing, but I am intrigued with talking with the patients, figuring out how their minds tick & why they are acting a certain way...or whatever. Sorry...I'm rambling. I'm just very excited about the prospect of finally getting into the hospital scene! YAY! :monkeydance: I have a lot of respect for nurses who choose LTC. I wish you the best of luck! :nurse:

RNmaria · Aug 7, 2007

Nursing is a second career for me. I am 44!

Thanks for your insight!

Where in Ohio are you from? We relocated to New Hampshire from Ohio 10 years ago.

Pasha

MamaT · Aug 11, 2007

Sorry for the late reply...horrible days at work (I actually quit).

I'm in Greenfield...about 60 miles south of Columbus, close to Washington CH. And you?

RNmaria · Aug 11, 2007

You quit? That bad huh?

I gerw-up in Columbus (Bexley) and befoire we came to New Hampshire lived in Centerville, just south of Dayton. I know where WCH is...haven't been through there in many moons!

I am hoping to hear about an interview next week fromt he ECF...

So what are your plans for work now?

Pasha :-)

ClinicalJunkie · Aug 21, 2007

Once again, sorry for late reply! I started last week at a new facility. Once I'm trained I'll just be PRN (by choice)...had a hospital interview last week that went very well. However, they imposed a short-term hiring freeze due to restructuring their urgent care centers (so the RNs & LPNs at those centers can find new jobs within the health system...that's cool...I'd want them to do that for me). So, my hope is that I'll be in the hospital 60-80% and ECF prn. And this ECF is the COMPLETE opposite of the one I left...oh my goodness! It's amazing. You know the other place was bad when the best thing I had to say about it was that it smelled so bad I could fart any time I wanted and nobody would notice. :rotfl:

Anyway...we lived at Rickenbacker when we were in Cols & I worked downtown for attorneys for about six years. Ick. I know exactly where Centerville is...my aunt has lived there for years. Quail Run, over off of Nutt Rd.

Have you heard from the ECF yet? Hope all goes well!

Til next time...

~T

RNmaria · Aug 22, 2007

Small world!

Well where we are living now is NOTHING like Centerville! Not that I expected it to be. It is a wonderful place to rise a family. The heart of New England and very homogenous...but very beautiful!

I am a bit limited on jobs..is there a nursing shortage? There is one MAJOR hospital thaqt I would love to work at, in fact I have an interview there on Thursday for ISCU...I am hoping to get that. I have already had a interview with HR and now it is the unit uinterview.

I really should have applied to every single place in February, but I wanted to take the summer off. School took alot out of me. I have two children 8,9 and also a husband who travels. Last summer I took micro...and any other break I have had it was filled with visitors or something...I just wanted to stdy for the NCLEX and then work in the Fall.

Anyway, it has been since Aug 13 since HR at the ECF has fowarded my resume to the ECF. I called again thsi week and tehy were going to e-mail ECF and tell them I am still intrested. So I am not rulling them out.

The new restructuring soounds good for you! I hope it works oout!

until later..pasha