Changing units - need advice

[Fluffy1turbo]

I'm a new nurse at the end of my orientation and after much consideration I will not be staying on the telemetry unit I had my orientation on. But after talking with my leaders they all say the other units are just as crazy and the pt loads are larger since the pts are as acutely ill. They recommended to me to go to home care nursing or skilled. I'm just not sure if either one is right for me. I've heard home care you do nothing but paperwork once you are done seeing pts. Can y'all list the pros and cons of both home care and skilled? I'd like to go back to acute care nursing after a year and I'm afraid if I go to either home care or skilled I won't be able to get a job as an acute care RN.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

It used to be that Home Health agencies refused to hire new grads, for a simple reason: It is unsafe to be a new grad in a home setting without back-up. I have learned recently that some agencies will now hire new grads but I continue to believe that new grads do not belong in unsupported situations. Home care patients can be quite acutely ill these days and if you're uncomfortable on a unit with co-workers to back you up, imagine how you'd feel in an emergent situation on your own.

I hope you have given much thought to this situation. It is extremely common as a new grad to feel overwhelmed during & after orientation. Please be aware that some new grads are finding it difficult to even find a job, let alone find that perfect job.

[thecrossfitrn, BSN, RN]

I think I need a little more background on what the real problem with your current unit is. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you concerned about the nurse to patient ratio? Are you floundering?

[nurseinthezoo]

Wow, sounds like you're bailing out before your get started. Every area of nursing has its difficult moments. It's hard work. Paperwork or entering data into a computer, it's all the same. Try to stick it out for a year and then reevaluate. The knowledge you will learn on a telemetry unit will serve you well on any unit in the future.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Were you unsuccessful with your orientation?

Either way, your "leaders" don't know what's going on in the real world. Home health requires much experience, as you are the only one laying eyes on the patient.

SNF requires you to lay eyes on a boatload .

Give telemetry a chance.... an excellent place to learn your skills.

[EmRN14]

I would stay where you are to get some experience and then move on to another unit. Home care and SNF's can be very difficult. Home care you have ill patients but no other nurses will be around you if you are unsure of something. SNF's can be very stressful because you are responsible for a lot of patients. I found that working in a SNF was awful. Telemetry would give you great experience and would help you move to an even better unit that interests you more once you get your experience in. Good luck!