I interviewed for a DON type position in a local assisted living community last Friday, went in Monday to meet with the regional manager, and they called this afternoon to offer me the job. Which, of course, I gladly accepted, and I start tomorrow morning.
The pay is nowhere near what I was making at the hospital, but it's certainly not poverty level, and at any rate, the loss of income may very well be offset by what I'm sure will be increased well-being and NOT getting sick every few weeks. I've done this sort of work before, and I loved it; the only reason I left was the corporation I was working for was fairly new, and the pay, benefits, and working conditions left a lot to be desired. I had three buildings with a total of 160+ residents and only 10-15 hours a week in each one; here, I'll have 32 hours a week and only 42 residents in ONE building.
I think I can do this.
I hadn't expected to hear from these folks until Friday; they'd had several more interviews to do, but the administrator called this afternoon and told me that they'd wanted me from the start---"We thought your interviews went really, really well, and the staff and Corporate and I all thought you were the right one".
I'd had a good feeling about it all along, because from the moment I walked into that building, I'd felt like I was home.........the facility itself is sparkling, the residents are neat, clean, and they look happy and well cared for, the staff look like they're glad to be there, and there is a good amount of stability, with most staff members having been there at least 2-3 years. The nurse who is leaving has been there since the community opened 4 years ago, the administrator has been there for over 3 years, is my age and plans to stay there until he's ready to retire, and the lead medication aide worked for me years ago at my first ALF and she literally jumped for joy when she saw me Monday morning (I suspect she had at least something to do with my getting the job:chuckle ).
The only fly in the ointment that I can see at this point, other than the pay cut, is having to wait six months for health insurance; that's going to be tough, but I've heard there may be a way around this so I can get it in 3 months. With any luck, though, I might be able to stay healthy for long enough that I can stay OUT of the doctor's office until I do get insurance.......I hope, anyway!
So, I'm a working RN once again.......thank the Lord!! I've had a great vacation, but I'm well rested and rarin' to go.:roll I'll let y'all know tomorrow night how the first day goes.
Great News! I hope that you like it and there aren't any hidden suprises! But Im sure you know what you are getting into since you did this kind of work before! Congrats on scoring a great job!!!
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Thanks, everybody!!
My first day didn't begin all that well---I was five minutes LATE because I got hung up by a loooooooong train, then I found out I wasn't supposed to wear a scrub top:imbar But after these initial missteps, the rest of the day went swimmingly.........both the staff and residents made me feel very welcome and wanted, and I've gotten more kisses and hugs today than I have in the past three months. I can come and go pretty much as I please, and I actually get to hire and evaluate the caregivers and medication assistants. (Yes, I'll have to fire people too:( but hopefully not too often!)
I also have a beautifully decorated office and a computer, a free cell phone, free meals, access to exercise equipment and yoga classes, continuing education, and eventually health and dental insurance, PLUS profit sharing. And on top of that, my administrator is planning to throw a welcome party for me one evening soon, and my entire family will be invited so everyone can get to know us.
My first day didn't begin all that well---I was five minutes LATE because I got hung up by a loooooooong train, then I found out I wasn't supposed to wear a scrub top:imbar But after these initial missteps, the rest of the day went swimmingly.........both the staff and residents made me feel very welcome and wanted, and I've gotten more kisses and hugs today than I have in the past three months. I can come and go pretty much as I please, and I actually get to hire and evaluate the caregivers and medication assistants. (Yes, I'll have to fire people too:( but hopefully not too often!)
I also have a beautifully decorated office and a computer, a free cell phone, free meals, access to exercise equipment and yoga classes, continuing education, and eventually health and dental insurance, PLUS profit sharing. And on top of that, my administrator is planning to throw a welcome party for me one evening soon, and my entire family will be invited so everyone can get to know us.
I think I can live with this.
Wow ! Can I ask what the parent company of this assisted living is? Sounds nice !
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Street clothes and real hours?????
How sweet. Great news for you.
Oh, yeah........not only street clothes and real hours, but weekends and ALL major holidays off.
The only major disadvantages that I can see thus far are being on salary, rather than hourly, and having to wait a full year for a week's vacation. But then, I probably won't NEED so dang much 'vacation' if I'm not sick all the time.......and since I'm in control of my own hours, I can take a day off during the week and come in on a weekend day if I want, which is something I would've loved to do when I was in long-term care and ALF before, but couldn't because I wasn't given that sort of discretion.
Yeppers, I'm lovin' it........now, if dh can just find a job and get out of my hair, all will be right with the world.
i interviewed for a don type position in a local assisted living community last friday, went in monday to meet with the regional manager, and they called this afternoon to offer me the job. which, of course, i gladly accepted, and i start tomorrow morning.
the pay is nowhere near what i was making at the hospital, but it's certainly not poverty level, and at any rate, the loss of income may very well be offset by what i'm sure will be increased well-being and not getting sick every few weeks. i've done this sort of work before, and i loved it; the only reason i left was the corporation i was working for was fairly new, and the pay, benefits, and working conditions left a lot to be desired. i had three buildings with a total of 160+ residents and only 10-15 hours a week in each one; here, i'll have 32 hours a week and only 42 residents in one building.
i think i can do this.
i hadn't expected to hear from these folks until friday; they'd had several more interviews to do, but the administrator called this afternoon and told me that they'd wanted me from the start---"we thought your interviews went really, really well, and the staff and corporate and i all thought you were the right one".
i'd had a good feeling about it all along, because from the moment i walked into that building, i'd felt like i was home.........the facility itself is sparkling, the residents are neat, clean, and they look happy and well cared for, the staff look like they're glad to be there, and there is a good amount of stability, with most staff members having been there at least 2-3 years. the nurse who is leaving has been there since the community opened 4 years ago, the administrator has been there for over 3 years, is my age and plans to stay there until he's ready to retire, and the lead medication aide worked for me years ago at my first alf and she literally jumped for joy when she saw me monday morning (i suspect she had at least something to do with my getting the job:chuckle ).
the only fly in the ointment that i can see at this point, other than the pay cut, is having to wait six months for health insurance; that's going to be tough, but i've heard there may be a way around this so i can get it in 3 months. with any luck, though, i might be able to stay healthy for long enough that i can stay out of the doctor's office until i do get insurance.......i hope, anyway!
so, i'm a working rn once again.......thank the lord!! i've had a great vacation, but i'm well rested and rarin' to go.:roll i'll let y'all know tomorrow night how the first day goes.
marla - i just now saw this thread, and am soooooo excited for you! congratulations and much success to you on your new job! :biggringi :kiss
:bowingpur :smiley_aa 
:loveya:
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
SO proud of you my dear. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT CELEBRATORY LATTE WHEN YOU AND I HAVE SETTLED ya hear??????