Did I make a bad new job choice?

[Leogemini]

Hello I'm new to allanurses and I didn't know where else to ask this question. My friend and I recently just graduated from LPN school and passed our boards. Before taking our boards we both attended a job fair at a LTC/Rehab facility. I have never worked in healthcare whereas she was once a CNA for about 2 years up until we graduated; anyways they offered both of us jobs and I was very excited because it would be my first job as a nurse especially considering I had no healthcare experience. Later my friend told me she took a job with a home health agency doing pediatrics; apparently she knew someone there, and I was happy for her, and I told her to tell the facility she would turn down the job offer. I forgot to mention when we went to the job fair she told me to pretend we didn't know each other, because they might not give us the jobs. So anyways after she told me about the home health job she told me to just tell the HR lady that I don't know anything about her if they ask about her, and I kept telling her just tell them you declined the job offer.Long story short ever since we both took our respective jobs I feel she has been very negative about the job I took. She is always comparing our jobs.so far I really love it, but she's always telling me I'm not going to retain any of my skills and that her job has better benefits etc. I'll admit my facility is a little under staffed because they lost people but they are trying to hire people as d

Fast as possible. So I'm just wondering did I make a bad choice in choosing LTC as my first nursing job? I do plan on going back for my RN later.

[jn9uyenn]

If you just started this position at the LTC facility, my advice is to keep your options open! You always have the option of getting casual jobs in acute care settings for a change in environment. But if you enjoy working there, then I think you made the right choice.

[needlesmcgeeRN, ASN, RN]

I'm sorry, but LTC/SNFs require you to use many of your skills! Your friend is not right.

[JKL33]

Long story short ever since we both took our respective jobs I feel she has been very negative about the job I took. She is always comparing our jobs.so far I really love it, but she's always telling me I'm not going to retain any of my skills and that her job has better benefits etc.

Classic, classic behavior of someone who is not too sure about (or isn't happy with) their own self and their own choices.

It says absolutely nothing about you or your choices. Set your mind to becoming really good at what you do and the rest will take care of itself. The only reason to worry about your choice would be if you can't practice safely in the environment or if you are being seriously targeted/treated poorly.

Water off a duck's back!!

[nursel56]

No, I don't think anyone should quit a job they are happy with because their friend told them to do that. In the past, it was always suggested to work for at least a year in med-surg to get experience in a broad range of skills, but often this isn't feasible anymore due to the current job market.

To be honest, though-- to me, as an outside observer, you and your friend seem to have a pattern of telling each other what to do instead of just figuring that out for yourself. If you had pretended not to know each other at the job fair why would anyone ask you anything about your friend in the first place?

Agreeing to lie to the HR lady at your friend's direction is another aspect of this that I can find no benefit to and a lot of potential problems. I'm not saying anything negative about your friendship except that it would be healthier if you disengaged the way you interact in relation to your nursing careers. Wishing you all the best. You're fortunate to have found a first job you are happy with!

[Aunt Slappy]

This person doesn't seem to be much of a friend.

[RheumaticRN]

I personally wouldn't give much weight to advice or opinions of someone who can't even take enough responsibility to call and turn down a job offer.

I'm guessing you are fairly young? It seems you are looking for guidance/validation from her and the posters here. We all need guidance and validation, but it should come second to what we think and feel personally.

What do you think about the situation?

Do you enjoy your job?

Do the benefits work for you for where you are in your life right now?

How do you feel about your friend being so irresponsible and asking you to lie for her?

You have a right to think for yourself, trust your gut feeling and ideas, and to say what you are thinking in a kind but firm manner.

[T-Bird78]

You took the job that best suits YOUR needs, not your friend's.

[Emergent, RN]

Your friend sounds very immature.

[Lipoma, BSN, RN]

If you're happy in your new position, then by all means, this is not a bad choice for you.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

SOunds like you like your job. That is always a plus. There are always people who think something else is better.

Keep up your great work, enojy your job and learn a lotl I would really ignore the negative comments by your friend.

Both of you are new nurses any experience as a new nurse is good experience. It sounds like you have a good work environment. Your friend may not and be tring to bring others down with her. Don't fall for it. Stay with your job, get some experience, like 2 years, then begin t consider if you want other options.