Did I make the right choice?

[Toaster]

Hello,

I recently got hired by the nursing agency for long term care facility. My experience is only in the hospitals as clinical placements and I have not yet worked as a nurse. I asked them if i could have a shadow shift to see how it is like in LTC and they said that they are working on it but a shadow shift would not be guarenteed. Instead, they would provide 2 hour on spot orientation prior to starting shift. They called me today to do the night shift, i agreed but few hours later I declined because i felt uncomfortable.

My question is, did I do the right thing? Should I try it once and see how its like or should i tell them that i will not be working with them...? The manager called me and said that it is very hard to find a shadow shift and all their staff do not have an official orientation.

Thank you

[RNfindingherway, BSN, RN]

8 minutes ago, beemrdon said:

Long story but The administrator will always choose saving his/her own skin while throwing you/me/whoever under the bus should something happen.

I totally get it. That's why I made my year and got a better job at a hospital. We must always look out for our best interests if we want to keep our license.

[caliotter3]

If you have not been able to get a job elsewhere, why not approach this manager again and ask for a direct hire job. But only if she is willing to see that you get a minimum of one to two weeks training. If she won’t agree to this, then you are no worse off than you are otherwise. I would not waste any more effort with the agency. You are not qualified for hit the ground running assignments.

[Toaster]

7 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

If you have not been able to get a job elsewhere, why not approach this manager again and ask for a direct hire job. But only if she is willing to see that you get a minimum of one to two weeks training. If she won’t agree to this, then you are no worse off than you are otherwise. I would not waste any more effort with the agency. You are not qualified for hit the ground running assignments.

I have asked HR and the manager. They said it was up to the facility whether or not I would even get a one day shadow shift because supposedly the facility has to use their staff to do the training. I don’t know if it was money issue but i assured them that I would be willing to do it unpaid.

[Toaster]

10 hours ago, RNfindingherway said:

Toaster, yes you did the right thing. No questions about that. If something happened that night and you lost your license they all was going to cover themselves and not you. I got two weeks orientation on 7:45am-3:45pm. I was thrown on 3:45pm-12:00am shift as Charge Nurse. The other CN didn't want to teach me anything until the staff started to talk and said if I was speaking her language and from her country she would help me? She started to come around. I couldn't go to administration because they was rubbing shoulder together. I used to have panic attacks going to work. Please always listen to your heart. You did the right thing.

Thank you for your input. And... that is awful. Though I did not have bad experience with nurses/staff during my clinical placements, hearing these stories about rude, selfish nurses/staff just makes me sad. I feel like in nursing, we should all be there for each other.

[RNfindingherway, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, Toaster said:

Thank you for your input. And... that is awful. Though I did not have bad experience with nurses/staff during my clinical placements, hearing these stories about rude, selfish nurses/staff just makes me sad. I feel like in nursing, we should all be there for each other.

It been a rude awakening for me but I am ok. When people treat you a certain way let goodness overflow from you. Now big hugs she gives me and told me she is having a hard time that I am leaving. Begging me not to go. I an a team player, therefore all will be well wherever I go. You will be ok too, just go with your heart.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

If you have no experience as a nurse you do NOT want to start out with agency and especially you do NOT want to start out in LTC. You won't get any training and you'll be expected to be able to take the cart and give meds all shift. No, no, no. Don't take it.

[ConnecticutMassRN]

Toaster, you did the right thing. The nature of agency nursing is to be ready to cover when and where needed, without much notice. You will not receive any orientation. You will be called to different facilities constantly. It is for well-experienced nurses.

Get out there and network. Show up at job fairs. Get in with a hospital and oriented to bedside nursing. Find your niche from there. Good luck!