Published
If you do go straight to long term care, be prepared for difficulty if you decide to leave that setting. You do not get your med-surg skills cemented in while they're still fresh in your head.
And, you have not yet had a chance to hone your assessment skills. Your DON saying "you won't have anyone to hold your hand" is just a euphemism for "we're going to shove you into a position you're not ready for and you'll probably be charge nurse your first night on the job." Beware. Sadly, there is a school of thought that it's ok to put brand new nurses in positions of authority in long term care. It's inappropriate to have anyone "cut their teeth" without a mentor in a job where lives are at stake.
Good luck to you, and watch your back.
enita
6 Posts
What do you think of graduate nurses working in long term care centers so soon after graduation? Do you feel it impedes on continuing their education?