I can't practice this kind of nursing at my SNF

philliesfinest · Nov 19, 2013

That's exactly how I feel!! I just graduated in May passed and got my license and started working at LTC on September till present but I hate it.. I don't know what do either

philliesfinest · Nov 19, 2013

I'm thinking of quitting too but how long will it take me to find another job ?!?! That is what worries me

Nola009 · Nov 20, 2013

Wow, I am a new grad with a bad 1st RN job experience, so I feel your pain. I think that you can quit. It's YOUR license, and the DON and coorporate knows that. But, they don't care. So you have to care. It sounds like you are very caring and contientious, as you mentioned. I would quit (they will need to find agency to keep their staffing up anyways) and I would most definitely tell your DON why you are doing so. I admire you for recognizing that this isn't the way patients should be treated and I totally understand that you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and unsure of how to handle this huge disappointment. If you quit and tell your employer why, I would say that you are saving yourself and you are also calling the problem to their attention big time. Even if it's just for the sake of money, the company will eventually get the idea that hiring and orienting new people all the time gets too expensive. You know that you can always anonymously contact a state onbudsman too. I think you will do the right thing. Best of luck:)

Nola009 · Nov 20, 2013

Wow, I am a new grad with a bad 1st RN job experience, so I feel your pain. I think that you can quit. It's YOUR license, and the DON and coorporate knows that. But, they don't care. So you have to care. It sounds like you are very caring and contientious, as you mentioned. I would quit (they will need to find agency to keep their staffing up anyways) and I would most definitely tell your DON why you are doing so. I admire you for recognizing that this isn't the way patients should be treated and I totally understand that you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and unsure of how to handle this huge disappointment. If you quit and tell your employer why, I would say that you are saving yourself and you are also calling the problem to their attention big time. Even if it's just for the sake of money, the company will eventually get the idea that hiring and orienting new people all the time gets too expensive. You know that you can always anonymously contact a state onbudsman too. I think you will do the right thing. Best of luck:)

oakleaf · Nov 20, 2013

I feel like I pretty much could have posted this myself. I'm going to hang in there though because I need the money and experience.

philliesfinest · Nov 20, 2013

I feel like I pretty much could have posted this myself. I'm going to hang in there though because I need the money and experience.

you took the words right out of my mouth.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 20, 2013

You will only "lose your license" if your own job performance violates some aspect of your Nurse Practice Act. Your employer cannot make this happen. The key to survival these days is to: 1. make sure that you understand your scope of license & responsibilities & 2. always prioritize those essential professional responsibilities as "must do". Of course, if you do this you may lose your job because you are not putting your employer's priorities first.

Licensed professionals who are not self-employed are always "serving two masters". Our first obligation is to our profession; to adhere to the rules and regulations of our own Nurse Practice Act. Meeting the needs & expectations of our employer will always come second because jobs will come and go, but we only have one license.

I am so sorry that you're facing such a challenge so early in your career. ((((((virtual hug))))))

heartsgal, ADN, RN · Nov 20, 2013

Wow I am a new grad with a bad 1st RN job experience, so I feel your pain. I think that you can quit. It's YOUR license, and the DON and coorporate knows that. But, they don't care. So you have to care. It sounds like you are very caring and contientious, as you mentioned. I would quit (they will need to find agency to keep their staffing up anyways) and I would most definitely tell your DON why you are doing so. I admire you for recognizing that this isn't the way patients should be treated and I totally understand that you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and unsure of how to handle this huge disappointment. If you quit and tell your employer why, I would say that you are saving yourself and you are also calling the problem to their attention big time. Even if it's just for the sake of money, the company will eventually get the idea that hiring and orienting new people all the time gets too expensive. You know that you can always anonymously contact a state onbudsman too. I think you will do the right thing. Best of luck:)[/quote']
At this point I'm not sure what to do because I also need the experience, so right now I am planning on giving my 2 week notice next week so I can at least enjoy Christmas with my family, because as of now I will be working every holiday with no holiday pay, since it doesn't take effect until after 90 days :\ Hopefully this will give them enough time to hire someone else. I also went to a job fair at a local hospital for nurses yesterday and they said without acute care experience I'm still considered a GN, so I can apply for an upcoming GN academy (with the 200 applicants) beginning in January and pray I get in. I also applied at another upscale SNF in my area that had a posting for a nurse, so maybe I'll get a call, but who knows. Where are you working now Nola009? Did it get better or did you find another job? I suppose the thing that has me feeling so down, is that the other nurses seem to be able to handle it. The work load etc, so why can't I? I have a friend on day shift who seems to handle the patient load, but she also says it's "dangerous" working like this, so I know she feels the same as I do on the point. As for reporting anything, the State was just there last week and the facility passed inspection and this DON has only been here 3 months and supposedly has "cleaned" things up around there, so I can't fathom what it was like before. The other nurses have been quite helpful and 2 on evenings with me routinely ask me how I am doing and if I need anything, and I really appreciate them! The other one is a B! And is very grouchy and impatient with me tossing papers at me during admits we have to do together and to make matters worse she is my kids age, so I am beginning to lose my good nature with her and her crappy attitude. I get along well with anyone and am a very friendly person who asks please and says thank you for everything, but she has a serious attitude problem. I called in today because I'm sick with a terrible virus and coughing, but tomorrow night if she gives me this horrible attitude again I'm going to tell her straight out I'm not putting up it and walking off, because it stresses me out focusing on dealing with her, while I'm trying to care for my pts and no one else behaves cross like she does. I don't for the life of me understand what her deal is. My friend says it's because she is very jealous of RN's, but all the other nurses are LVNs and don't act like her, so I think it's just her and everyone ignores it. Thanks for the encouragement, I sure do need it.

heartsgal, ADN, RN · Nov 20, 2013

I'm thinking of quitting too but how long will it take me to find another job ?!?! That is what worries me

Start applying at other SNF's now and perhaps you'll get an interview and can express why you are wanting to leave where you are now and then ask them if they have these problems. I believe there are facilities out there operating better, than where I am now, so hopefully it's like that in your area also. I refuse to believe they are all the same, but perhaps that my naïveté.

heartsgal, ADN, RN · Nov 20, 2013

You will only "lose your license" if your own job performance violates some aspect of your Nurse Practice Act. Your employer cannot make this happen. The key to survival these days is to: 1. make sure that you understand your scope of license & responsibilities & 2. always prioritize those essential professional responsibilities as "must do". Of course if you do this you may lose your job because you are not putting your employer's priorities first. Licensed professionals who are not self-employed are always "serving two masters". Our first obligation is to our profession; to adhere to the rules and regulations of our own Nurse Practice Act. Meeting the needs & expectations of our employer will always come second because jobs will come and go, but we only have one license. I am so sorry that you're facing such a challenge so early in your career. ((((((virtual hug))))))[/quote']
Thank you and this is how I feel also. I am going to read my NPA today to make sure as I move forward in this job, I am fulfilling my responsibility to the patient for however long I stay. I care less abut the facilities agenda and more about my role as the nurse and my offering adequate care to my patients. Thank you for simply staying it so I can focus on what's importantly no have peace if mind I'm doing the "right" thing. I'm pretty sure they need me more than I need them anyway. It's so disheartening to experience this with my first job as nurse. *sigh*

Nola009 · Nov 21, 2013

I understand. I was shell-shocked or disillusioned with nursing clinicals vs. this supposed 'real life nursing' that goes on in SNF/LTC. Yeah, I believe it's worse at a lot of these huge, publicly owned corporations. In cases like that you best believe that the almighty dollar is ALL that matters as opposed to one of the things!

I didn't get another job yet, well, I got one that I didn't start yet and it's at an Assisted Living Facility. It only pays $17 and even as a new grad I KNOW that is a low rate.

Honestly, I am really surprized that your SNF experience is not counted toward hospital experience. Yeah, it's not the same, but like you said, you are using your skills and professional judgement every single day you work. How do they want you to get your hospital experienced when there are so many more new grads than there are hospital openings? Ugh. So frustrating.

What I have found in my area is that a handful of small area hospitals (like in smaller surrounding towns) take a chance on new grads sometimes. The bigger hospitals might, but probable won't, and they really prefer a BSN to an ADN RN now.

So, my plan is to start my BSN asap. It seems to excite hiring managers. I will put down that I am an ADN holding RN who is currently pursuit of a BSN on my apps.

I may or may not actually take that Assisted Living job. The pay is laughable, the experience counts for almost zero, and the hrs. are crappy. Another reason I hesitate is that while I do some pts med passes, nurse aides do some of the residents med passes. Wouldn't that be under my license kind of?

It makes me nervous.

But then again, I need SOME money.

I think you are having a *seemingly* harder time than your coworkers / friends bc you really took what you were learning in nursing school to heart, and you said that you are older (Im over 30 myself) so I think that you know what happens when things go wrong bc of life experience. And we are talking life and death here! You don't have the 'oh, it will never happen to me' mentality that a lot of younger ppl have.

Don't beat yourself up. It sounds like this is a bad situation and I hope that you get a call from the hospital or at least that nicer SNF.