Is working as a new grad in nursing home a bad career move?

[nursedani08]

Hi, I'm a new RN and I pretty much hate working nights on the medical floor at my local hospital. I always knew I didn't really want to be a floor nurse. I have a hard time dealing with anxiety and I'd much prefer a nice dr. office job or a job in education or maybe home health. However I always was told I need to put my time in on a med/surg floor and get my experience. Well I'm miserable, not to mention pregnant and worried my stress and screwy sleep schedule is affecting my baby. A friend's dad told me to apply at our local veteran's home which I think I might like but don't think I'd want to do forever. Would this be a bad career move? I'd like to move some time or another and don't want to have a hard time getting a job. I'd apply for another unit, but our hospital has a policy that RNs can't post for a job outside their unit for 12 months.

I'm just so miserable and a year seems like forever. Part of it is the shift, it's hard on me and the pregnancy has got me even more tired and emotional. It takes me a couple days to recover from working a night shift and by that time it's time to go back to work. I can post for another shift on my unit soon, but there are no openings as of yet and when there is one I will for sure be competeing with another new night shift RN who is seemingly favored over me. sorry this is long.. had to do a little venting too.

[LesMonsterRN, ADN, RN]

It's not necessarily a bad thing, in fact you can get a lot of good experience, depending on the facility. My advice to you, though, is to maybe wait until you're not fatigued and stressed with the pregnancy and then consider your options. I was never good at making majior decisions when pregnant. :) Good luck.

[ScrappyED, BSN, RN]

Have you tried talking to management or HR about how you feel? Large corporations like hospitals have to have guidelines in place to protect their business but sometimes exceptions can be made for good reasons. If I were your manager I would try everything I could to get you into a better position for your situation if you've been an asset. If you have been a good employee with a good attitude and come to work on time and don't call in all the time then they might be willing to let you change in order to keep you. If you've been a good employee and they are not willing to help you then you need to find a different organization anyway. If you've not been a great employee than I would keep that in mind for next time and start looking for a new spot! Just be careful about the facility you choose. I have a friend who worked at a SNF right out of school and was able to get a hospital job 6 months later so it is possible--just make sure that you are not hung out to dry while there! Nursing homes have bad reps for placing RN's in positions they aren't ready for yet with way to much responsibility for their experience.

Hope this helps and good luck on the baby!!

[Sarcolemma]

yes it is

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I think it all depends on the job market in your area. Where I live, it wouldn't matter much and you would be able to get a job in acute. Some places maybe not.

As far as the work load..yes, it could be a bad idea. I've done LTC for the last 13 or so yrs and for the most part, they are understaffed or you are doing the work of different departments. For example, if you work 3-11, you might be doing admits, SW questions, tours, clean ups that housekeeping might normally do...you get the picture. An 11-7 shift might not be bad. I've worked all 3 shifts at one point in time with all of my pregnancies. Right now (baby #5) I'm doing 3-11 prn. Thank heavens I have a great staff, (the hate to let me help with physical stuff) and a somewhat managable workload.

[arelle68]

Thats just what I did. I am so overwhelmed. The med pass is horrendous. 23 pts. They are Alzheimer's pts, and getting meds down them is always an interestion challange. They have about 10 meds each in the morning. I've started to get on top of that, and get faster, and faster. My manager is not happy with me, though. She thinks I should be able to do meds while supervising CNAs, answering the phone, and running the department. I've been a nurse for 2 months, and I don't know how I could try any harder. I don't know how to manage the CNAs, and do all of the other stuff. I feel desperate. I don't think I can do all that while doing meds. I'm afraid I'll make a mistake.

[NRSLDT]

Working in a long term care facility is probably more flexible. It is absolutely not a bad career move. You have to be functional for yourself and the baby. Consider what you want to do day-to-day. When you work nights with a newborn will you have enough support to care for your baby and get your rest? Will you regret leaving the hospital after the baby is born? Your hormones eventually return back to normal. LOL. Compare your pros/cons. You are nurse there is always something out there. I have done both. I currently work in LTC, but I loved the hospital it was different. But I also had a 4 month old at home and a 3 year old. Sleep was like a guilty pleasure, but I felt I did not spend enough time with my kids.

[stellina615]

Where I live, the job market is such that there is really nothing in terms of hospital work for new grads, so LTC is pretty much all there is. I work in a hospital as an LPN and even after all the money that the hospital has put into my education, I still don't have a guaranteed RN position for May. At all of the job fairs and HR info sessions I've been to, the hospital HR folks keep saying that LTC is a good option for staying in the field of nursing while there is a shortage of positions available in the hospital. I'm sure that you get good experience in prioritizing, and like a previous poster stated, it seems that you learn to do things quickly and efficiently. Best of luck with you pregnancy and with whatever you choose to do with your career!

[Jo Dirt]

I'm an RN and I've worked in a nursing home my entire nursing career (9 years) so I feel I can advise you to

RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Once you get trapped in the nursing home it's like a roach motel! You'll be considered tainted and hospitals will treat you like you're worthless filth! On top of that, you'll be like a hampster in a wheel! I just love those little patients and work with some really good people but the work is SOOOO BORING AND UNCHALLENGING!!! It's the same old thing day after day.

I've pretty much mastered life in the nursing home, now it's my master. You'll be going nowhere, and the work is unrewarding because for most all those people it's the last address. You don't see the fruits of your labor being rehabilitated and going back out into the world to lead productive lives. These poor old souls are on their last legs and it's like an old car you keep trying to piece together to keep it running--you're fighting a losing battle.

[lamazeteacher]

Well, getting pregnant wasn't the best career move for a new grad, but I agree that working in a nursing home isn't great either. If you have to work or have economic collapse, find a doctor's office (where there are no MAs) where you can work, or a clinic job.

Since you may not be there long enough to get maternal leave, you might just hang it up if you can, until you've got motherhood down. Being near school age children is not wise (unless they're yours, and then what can you do?), as they carry all kinds of "bugs", and one may not have had the MMR vaccine.

[MissRN0520]

Im glad to hear that I'll be making the right choice when it comes to career.Working as a home care nurse fo a Princess is definitely tempting on my part but had to give it up. Was having second thoughts though (career vs money). But this advise sure makes me feel better about the decidsion I made. Thanks!

[hardboiledegg]

I don't think so, if your passion is aged care, go for it.

I have a friend who started out in a nursing home, He loves to take care of his residents :)

Cheers!