I'm a new grad nurse, graduated with my ADN (am currently taking courses for my BSN) and have been looking for jobs for approximately 1 month. I applied for a job at a plastic surgeons office, interviewed, and got offered a second interview to shadow for a full days work (basically stating I got the job).
Here's my problem. I would be working a full time 9-5 job with no benefits and if something were to happen (this is Los Angeles, people are sue happy) the job doesn't protect me or my license. In order to protect myself I would be having to invest in liability coverage and medical insurance which is quite expensive. I also would have to move to LA where cost of living is much more and the pay being offered is not as great as I would have liked, so I know I would be stuck counting pennies especially with all other expenses.
Being a a new grad and only having an ADN the experience would be amazing. I would be not only doing procedures I would be helping in the OR and pre and post op gaining experience. But also working for this job, I know if other opportunities were to arise I wouldn't be able to pursue them because I would be working during normal business hours and wouldn't be able to interview.
I'm really confused on what to do, I never realized how important benefits were, but at the same time the experience is great. I don't know if I should turn the position down and just look for a job in a nursing home instead where the pay is equal if not more plus benefits until I am able to find a position in the hospital, but who knows how long that will be?
Being a a new grad and only having an ADN the experience would be amazing. I would be not only doing procedures I would be helping in the OR and pre and post op gaining experience.
It's not that I'm worried I'd be sued for money, it's that I'm worried if they did sue, and if I did make an error, I could lose my license. The dr told me after training, I would be on my own. So it would just be me in the OR.
What do you mean when you say that you’ll be allalone in the OR? What type of procedures are you going to be performing? I assume this is something well within a nurse’s scope? What kind of training will you receive and for how long?
I don’t want to be negative but I second GrumpyRN’s concern/question. I find it a bit odd that this physician would hire a new graduate to be the only nurse. An experienced nurse might notice and question things in a practice that a newer nurse might not. No offense to you intended, we’ve all been new at some point. I may be overly paranoid and everything may well be aboveboard, but I’d personally remain alert and cautious.
I’m a Scandinavian nurse and there’s a lot I don’t know about nursing in the States. My advice may be irrelevant rubbish. I’m just sharing the gut feeling I got from reading your posts.
Anyway, I hope this works out for you and that this job, should you accept the position, will be a good place to gain professional experience.
I don't know the rates in California, but I pay about $75 a year for .5 million in professional liability, and $80 a month for excellent health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. In fact, when I worked for the government, I was paying $400 per month out of my pay for health insurance. You would likely get a better deal on your own through the Marketplace than you would were the surgical center offering a group plan.
.
THATS IT!!!!??? Before Obama care I was paying $150 for crappy insurance that didn't cover anything!! I was thinking insurance would be at least $200 a month. Didn't know it was so affordable.
What do you mean when you say that you’ll be allalone in the OR? What type of procedures are you going to be performing? I assume this is something well within a nurse’s scope? What kind of training will you receive and for how long?
I don’t want to be negative but I second GrumpyRN’s concern/question. I find it a bit odd that this physician would hire a new graduate to be the only nurse. An experienced nurse might notice and question things in a practice that a newer nurse might not. No offense to you intended, we’ve all been new at some point. I may be overly paranoid and everything may well be aboveboard, but I’d personally remain alert and cautious.
I’m a Scandinavian nurse and there’s a lot I don’t know about nursing in the States. My advice may be irrelevant rubbish. I’m just sharing the gut feeling I got from reading your posts. .
That's just it!! I asked how long training was and he said depends how fast I pick up on things. Then he said I would be in the OR with him as the Circulating Nurse, and I'm definitely scared of that task alone! He said they would have a part time, but it would mainly just be me!! Being that I am a new grad, I know I will have a ton of questions to ask and working in OR isn't something new grads usually do.
I would take that job in a New York minute, but then I get my health insurance through my husband's employer. It sounds like a really interesting first job.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I think I'm just scared. Moving means living on my own, supporting myself, far from home, and having to break up with my bf. Career or man?
Living on your own, supporting oneself, and being far from home are all significant aspects of making that all-important launch into adulthood. It's scary at first, but the successful people of the world face their fears and take the plunge.
THATS IT!!!!??? Before Obama care I was paying $150 for crappy insurance that didn't cover anything!! I was thinking insurance would be at least $200 a month. Didn't know it was so affordable.
Insurance may be $200 a month for you, and it may be only $50 a month for you. I don't know what your rate would be because that is entirely dependent on your past income, current income, dependents, etc.
Go to the California portal for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare): COVERED CALIFORNIA
Follow all the steps. You should have several choices of healthcare plans, and you will likely qualify for a subsidy to help pay for the cost. Good luck!
Private pay medical coverage for one person is not that bad, 50-100 a month . Get the experience. If an interview comes up, schedule it. Request a personal day off.
macawake, MSN
2,141 Posts
What do you mean when you say that you’ll be all alone in the OR? What type of procedures are you going to be performing? I assume this is something well within a nurse’s scope? What kind of training will you receive and for how long?
I don’t want to be negative but I second GrumpyRN’s concern/question. I find it a bit odd that this physician would hire a new graduate to be the only nurse. An experienced nurse might notice and question things in a practice that a newer nurse might not. No offense to you intended, we’ve all been new at some point. I may be overly paranoid and everything may well be aboveboard, but I’d personally remain alert and cautious.
I’m a Scandinavian nurse and there’s a lot I don’t know about nursing in the States. My advice may be irrelevant rubbish. I’m just sharing the gut feeling I got from reading your posts.
Anyway, I hope this works out for you and that this job, should you accept the position, will be a good place to gain professional experience.