I'm not feeling challenged...

[bankssarn]

I graduated in December 2011 with my ASN. My first official nursing job was on a telemetry unit. I worked the graveyard shift full-time. The unit was always busy. We'd discharge someone, and we'd have someone in the ED waiting for their bed. We were always full. It was a crazy unit, but I learned and experienced so much. After a year, I got an offer on a tele-med-surg unit. I accepted, because the hours were better (and so was the pay). I was 6.5 months pregnant when I accepted the job. I had a high-risk pregnancy and ended up missing 4 days (I was hospitalized with preterm ctrx for one of them) during my 90-day probationary period. My employer was not understanding (and honestly I can't say that I blame them). However, I did not choose to be high-risk. Unfortunately, they did not take me back after my maternity leave. Due to the fact that my husband and I just bought a new house and had a new baby (a day apart), I accepted the first job offer I received... in a skilled nursing facility. It's a wonderful facility, but I'm not being challenged. I feel like all I do is pass pills and check vital signs (which is actually all I do, besides charting). I did get to remove staples from a TKA last week. Woohoo. I'm worried about losing the nursing 'skills' I obtained during my time in the hospital. I don't want to be labeled as a "job hopper", but then again, I don't want to feel lost... like I'm starting anew... when and if I return to hospital nursing in the future. I'm not sure if I should stick it out for 6 months... a year... or try to find something that challenges me. Again, I don't want to be a job hopper (although I will say that I held the same job for 6 years prior to obtaining my nursing license). Also, the hours are crazy. I'm working 5 scheduled 12-hour shifts this week. They are also expecting us to pick up weekend call-time (this is supposed to be for salaried employees, not hourly) with no guarantee of compensation. Has anyone been in a similar situation? What was your experience? If you took the time to read this, thank you.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Start going after the job you want. A hospital HR will already know why you are changing positions.

Prepare for the "why are you leaving your current position" question.... with a good ,solid honest answer.

Not the least of which would be.. you are working 60 hours a week, some of it for free!

[westieluv]

Call without compensation and five scheduled 12 hour shifts, all with a small baby at home?

Run, don't walk, away from that! Any hiring manager would understand why you need to find something else, but especially let them know about the potential for unpaid call, because no one in their right mind should be expected to work without reimbursement, and the rest will fall into place and you should have no trouble finding something more challenging and reasonable.

[bankssarn]

Thank you for your quick responses! The on-call time will be from Saturday 0700 to Monday 0700. We may not be paid for being on-call (although we will be unable to plan anything), however if we are called in, we will be paid for our time (but not time and a half like in the hospitals). Still, it's not what I hired in for. And yes, I have a 4 month old at home... and a 4 year old. The 4 year old has started calling me 'grandma' because she spends more time with my mom than me.