Got a job - feeling a lot less bummed now. LOL!

Nurses General Nursing

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I just posted a while ago about being disappointed to start my career in a LTC, b/c I have a passion for critical care. I went ahead and decided to apply PRN at a LTC facility that is about 3 minutes from my house. They were super nice, and hired me on the spot! Starting pay is better than I hoped, too! I will be charge nurse, but they know I'm a new grad, so they said they'd give me a longer orientation if I need one.

So at least now I'm going to be working. I'll still keep looking for a hospital job, but at least it's a start! :D

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That's awesome news. It is better to work and build a resume than do nothing. I don't think new grads can be picky about where they get their first few years work so kudos for lowering your expectations a little to get to the prize in the end. The chronic conditions that you will see in an LTC are all issues that you will have to manage in a critical care environment. People have pre-existing conditions such as DM and HTN and your experience of managing these in LTC will stand you in good stead when you migrate to CC.

Good Luck

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

That's great -- congratulations!

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Congratulations! Is it PRN or fulltime? If it's PRN, are they foreseeing how many shifts you'll be able to work?

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Good for you! Congratulations your "in charge" already too!

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congratultions..better than nothing

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Congradulations! Good move to take a LTC job to get some experience, plus being a charge nurse (good job!) will look great on your resume and give you great leadership skills/experience for your future. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

Congrats on getting a job. And clarify what it is they mean by charge nurse. In LTC, this can mean different things. It can mean that you are the "charge nurse" for this hallway...which means you're in charge of passing all the meds, doing the dressing changes, and treatments for that hall....not charge nurse in the sense of you're responsible for all the residents in the facility...or you may be responsible for all the residents. So congrats! Just get clarification on what they mean....especially as a new grad. Good luck.

P.S. PRN job means you'll make money and still have time to look for the hospital job you want...unless you happen to fall in love with LTC.

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I'm the charge nurse for one "side" in the nursing home. I'll have a med aide (the med aides there do narcotics, too) and an LPN. I'll do accucks, insulin, treatments, wound care. I'll get more of an idea on Friday, when I go in. I already did the UA while I was there, and they called references already (my best friend called me after she gave a reference this afternoon). It's a 90 bed facility, but their census is down to about 60. There are about 30 patients on each side (a lot, I know). The facility is very clean, and nice. The staff that I spoke with were super-friendly. They know I'm a new grad and that I want to work in a hospital, which is why I applied for PRN. Sounds like I will get great experience there (I hope). Pretty excited! I liked my LTC clinical rotation a lot, so I'm looking forward to working. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dying to get in at a hospital). ;)

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Specializes in Acute Surgery/Trauma.

Good Job and Congrats!!! You will be getting some valuable experience so please take FULL ADVANTAGE of what they have to offer. You will be in critical care soon enough and more prepared....In the mean time get your certifications ACLS and BSN if you don't already it, anything to make yourself more marketable while trying to get into the hospitals. I wish you the best of luck and much success!!!:yeah:

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I tentatively got a job today too, so I am happy tonight. Congrats to both of us on a good day!

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

Congrats!!! MY advise. ( I have worked in LTC for 7 years 3 yrs as an RN) Ask questions. Makes notes. I carry a clip board. the 1st page on it is phone #(staff, Doctors,Pharmacy etc). I manage 4 wings and 68 residents. I do MDS for one wing. and all doctors rounds. I divide the top sheet in 4 and have notes on 4 wings for morning report. When I report I Make more notes. I put Squares around the priorities. Priorities are Doctor calls and faxes. Follow ups on Assessments. and skin charting. ETC..... I love my job. LTC is a Crash course in Time Management.

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