Should I take a job in Nursing home

NOADLS · Jul 11, 2015

If you don't take it, you'll have no experience. Some is better than none. And for 30/hr, I wouldn't hesitate in any circumstance as a new grad.

chipee · Jul 11, 2015

I'm also a new grad, so I understand the need to get experience before more doors open. However, I couldn't imagine just receiving one week of orientation. Especially, since you could very well be the only RN on duty at the time. I just don't believe I would have the necessary skills and mindset to take on that challenge so early in my career. I would seriously consider looking for something that you will have more support and training with.

Sanhect1 · Jul 11, 2015

I think what I will do is go and get more information on nurse to patient ratio, and my specific job duty, also how much support I will have after orientation.

RNJill · Jul 11, 2015

Unless you are on the verge of homelessness or something similar, I would NOT take a position with only a week's orientation if you're completely inexperienced. Yes, that is a nice salary especially if you live in lower cost areas. However, even for the most confident new grad with some sort of healthcare experience that is like 1/8th to 1/12th of the orientation length you should/would receive in the proper setting. And as someone else mentioned, as an RN in an LTC setting you'd probably be in a supervisory role.

Save yourself the trouble of being destroyed by stress or burnout after a month or two if at all possible wait for a more suitable offer. They probably have high turnover anyway if they're only offering a week of orientation.

Libby1987 · Jul 11, 2015

Never with one week orientation.

I wouldn't consider changing specialities with only one week and I have years of clinical experience. I wouldn't even take the position you've been offered without a decent orientation and I know your patient population well.

Counter offer with longer orientation.

kiszi, RN · Jul 11, 2015

A week of orientation is not unusual in LTC. If the duties are reasonable and the ratios are not ridiculous, it may be doable.

BlackBettyRN,OCN · Jul 12, 2015

Yea my first job was in LTC and my orientation was two 8-hour shifts. A whole week of orientation sounds like heaven. And I made way less than $30 an hour...

Trauma Columnist · Jul 12, 2015

Moved to Geriatric/LTC forum

Sanhect1 · Jul 12, 2015

Hiiii yeah I'm in NYC so they pay here is good. And two days omggggggggg I think I would die lol

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jul 13, 2015

I got three days orientation as a new grad in a SNF before I was thrown to the lions. I made it through, but I had to take charge of my own learning process and ask endless questions, read policy and procedure books on my breaks (when I got them), and observe other, more experienced nurses handle their workloads. I sweated bullets for months and had countless nightmares, but by the time I was ready to move on to a better environment I was a reasonably competent nurse.

I don't recommend that a new grad work for a place that offers only a week of orientation, but when jobs are scarce sometimes you've just got to take what's available and get some experience. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do.

Michnurse03 · Jul 13, 2015

I worked in LTC in my last year of Nursing school, it was a ladder program, first LVN then RN.

Your license can certainly be in jeopardy, as a new grad you need to be in a position to learn, not be the "expert" on the floor.

In many LTC the RN is a supervisor.

If you get into LTC, as a new grad, you may miss out on the opportunity to get into a new grad position in a hospital.

Many hospitals do not see LTC as the acute care experience they require. It shot me in the foot. If at all possible get into a hospital not LTC.

Best of luck with your decision.