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.
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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.