new grad!

owlRN01 · Jan 7, 2013

Hey! How long have you been taking cases? What are your kids (or adults) like? I also did this as a new grad but I got simple kids with g-tubes and such. When they tried to send me somewhere without an orientation with another nurse I told them no. Truth is that most of those places just want someone to fill the holes with these kids. I cared enough about the kids and I knew what areas my skills were lacking. I never put a kid in danger and I never risked my lisence just so the company could fill a hole with a nurse. I got out of that situation as fast as I could by finding a job in a hospital. It only took me a couple months but I realize for others it is taking a lot longer. Are you working with adults or kids? I think no matter what home health is a crappy place for a new grad to start. Most of us just are not confident enough in our skills. I took the job because I needed money and I needed experience. If you feel the same way stick it out for a while until you find a job that better suites a new grad. Whatever you do, do not let them walk all over you and send you to cases you are not comfortable with. I wish you the best of luck!

galvara2 · Jan 7, 2013

Hey! How long have you been taking cases? What are your kids (or adults) like? I also did this as a new grad but I got simple kids with g-tubes and such. When they tried to send me somewhere without an orientation with another nurse I told them no. Truth is that most of those places just want someone to fill the holes with these kids. I cared enough about the kids and I knew what areas my skills were lacking. I never put a kid in danger and I never risked my lisence just so the company could fill a hole with a nurse. I got out of that situation as fast as I could by finding a job in a hospital. It only took me a couple months but I realize for others it is taking a lot longer. Are you working with adults or kids? I think no matter what home health is a crappy place for a new grad to start. Most of us just are not confident enough in our skills. I took the job because I needed money and I needed experience. If you feel the same way stick it out for a while until you find a job that better suites a new grad. Whatever you do do not let them walk all over you and send you to cases you are not comfortable with. I wish you the best of luck![/quote']
thank u I work with kids and i guess im in the same.boat as u. It was hard getting a job as a new grad. I need the.exp. but this company isnt like that they wont.send u anywhere.u are uncomfortable and they always orient u first. were u nervous as a new nurse? If you were how long.did it take.u to get over it?

owlRN01 · Jan 7, 2013

That's great that they don't just throw you in. I did orient a couple days with other nurses at one house but then they started to want to send me all over the place without any direction or orientation. It would have even been nice had another nurse been there to at least explain the childs routine to me but that didn't happen I was really nervous as a new grad (I still am a new grad). I had a child that had seizures a lot and to be honest it scared the crap out of me. I felt like I was walking on egg shells all day. I left that job after 2 months because it was mentally and emotionally draining to me to have no help when I needed it. Yes it was just one kid, but to stay put in one room of someone elses house for 12 hours a day was awful! I am so thankful that I found my hospital job. It's a wonderful environment that I feel safe enough to learn in. I am not always worried that something is going to go wrong. I would say that I never had the chance to get over being nervous in that setting and I am only one month into my hospital job so of course I am still nervous there as well... those feelings will pass at some point. At least that's what I keep telling myself.