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.

[SharonH, RN]

Did you know that Brian, the founder and owner of this site started his career in long-term care?

https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/podcast-interview-brian-343439.html

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

Did you know that Brian, the founder and owner of this site started his career in long-term care?

https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/podcast-interview-brian-343439.html

and now, he's rich. lol :yeah::yeah:

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

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.

Yes and no.

Yes..some LTCs are just that..LTC until death. Some are good places and some are bad.

Some days it is SSDD, but in our area things are changing. I am seeing so many younger pts that are more short term rehab for cardiac care, wound care, PT/OT. Since I work prn, I really never know what I will see when I come in. Last week we had a pt with JP drains, one with TPN, another with complex wound care. I do get to see people leave and go home and that is my reward. For those who don't leave, my reward is knowing that I provided them with the best care I could and made their days comfortable and dignified.

Again, it all depends on the area you are in and what the places/ job market is like.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Being a new grad is stressful in any work setting. There is no working around that.

The greener pastures we all dream about are not that green either.

How close are you to having one year experience? Once you have that, other options open up.

If you have a spouse who gets health insurance in his job, you could switch to a per diem job. You could work as many hours as you do full time, but have more options about the shifts you want to work.

[nursedani08]

well I realized part of what I hate about nursing is being treated as a waitress/servant which I think is in part because I work on the medical unit and we are not always staffed with a care aide. It's not that I think I'm too good to do those things, it's just that I don't have time to do those things AND do what I'm trained to do. I realize that going to a nursing home would just make things worse... I would be doing those things all the time.

I'm just going to stick it out for a year (hey I already have 3 months down and I should get a 7 week leave of abscense to have my baby.) plus I'm only part time so I have to think... it could be worse! But basically I try to remind myself that I'm lucky to have a job at all in our economy, and this is pretty much as bad as it's gonna get.. I'm not going to work the medical unit forever. (hopefully not much longer than one year)

But please don't try to say my baby was a bad career move. Because she wasn't a career move at all. She is a blessing and I'm so excited to meet her.