In need of some advice...

[shaunamarslan]

So all the new grads out there know how HORRIFIC the job market is right now! After getting accepted into SDSU's RN TO BSN program (where i was one or only fifteen people selected with over 5,000 applicants) and having to defer my acceptance because I couldn't find a job down there for the LIFE of me ( Yah.... 200+ applications I'm sure), I have FINALLY found a job in a skilled nursing facility in the Northern Bay Area. After a mere week orientation I am now a "charge nurse", mostly because I am the only nurse working with 2 CNA's and commuting an hour and a half EACH way to work Nights. The facility is private pay and actually pretty nice with a low census of only 15 pts, but it is NOT CHALLENGING AT ALL!!! I feel I will seriously lose my nursing knowledge and skills ( everyone here is no code, no iv's) and everyone is dementia/alzheimers. Although I truly love the pt's, it is no where near the ER where I want to be.

My question to those who are reading are Should I stick it out and get my 6 mos- a year experience here to practically "babysit" so i can merely put this on my resume or should i continually be looking for something immediatly even though i just accepted this position. If you would reccomend the later, do you think it will look bad on my resume to even list the current job since i have only been here for 3 weeks? I have also heard of hiring managers not counting nursing homes actual "experience". any thoughts, comments and advice is greatly appreciated!

[NC Girl BSN]

Well, I personally would stay and actively apply for other jobs. No matter how boring or unchalleging it is, it will give you work experience. It also gives you a paycheck to pay your bills. Eventually things will turn around and the job market may get better. I would rather have Assisted living experience on my resume than nothing at all.

Also you can't go by what others say about managers at hospitals. Unless you specifically heard the hiring manager say they will not hire you because of nursing home experience, then its just hear say. I worked in LTC for almost 2 years and got hired in a Big hospital on a busy Neuro floor.

[shaunamarslan]

thanks for the advice :-)

[LoveANurse09]

I agree with NC girl. At least stay for 6 months. Some experience is better than none. But you can still actively apply until the right fit comes along. Good Luck!