Medicare/Medicaid Provider RN, can't find hospital job, can't continue for my bsn...

[whiteoleander5]

Hello everyone.

I graduated in May '10 with my ADN, and passed my boards in August... I applied everywhere for an RN job, even in other states, and found nothing. Then a few months ago, I found a job as an Medicare/Medicaid RN provider taking care of a young child who has round the clock nursing care. Basically, I am self-employed and the state pays me as a private duty nurse... I am thankful that I have this job and TECHNICALLY I am called a "nurse", but where the heck is my hospital job!?! I feel like a glorified babysitter, and only 10% of the care is actually nursing-related. I get no benefits, no health insurance, no vacation time, and VERY MINIMAL experience. Most of the time, I don't even feel like a nurse.

I am still religiously applying to other places, but I am slowly starting to give up. So much of my time over the past few months was seriously just sitting down and sending out resumes, cover letters, applications for hours...and hours.. and hours, for days and days. It nearly drove me to insanity, and on most days drove me to tears. Life post nursing school has just been terrible for me. Having this job really isnt doing anything for me other than giving me a paycheck... I feel like its just such an unprofessional environment, and that because I have no direct supervision from another RN who can vouche for me to say I'm doing great, can I really use this job as a stepping stone to something better?

On top of this, I cannot be in the RN to BSN program because in order to do so, you need an RN job where you have a nursing supervisor above you who monitors what you are doing. At my current job, it's just the parents who are there watching me... they are the ones who showed me how to do everything. I love the irony of it, because most of us new grad RN's cant find hospital jobs so we decide to continue our education, and yet... we cant continue our education because we dont have an RN job... Well, what options does that leave us then?

I thought that by this point in life after school, I would at least have a hospital job, gaining experience, feeling like I knew what I was doing... I dont know, something more than this. Instead, I am simply a babysitter who occasionally gives a medication, which anyone can do. Honestly, I know that I should be grateful for at least having this job... but, really, you don't need a nursing degree to be a babysitter.

Does ANYONE know where they are hiring new grad RN's for hospital positions? I will relocate. Also, has anyone even heard about Medicare/Medicaid RN providers?

I miss nursing school. It was tough, but I knew what was expected and I knew how to get through it. The disappointment of not finding a "real" nursing job is just terribly unsettling for me and very difficult to swallow.

[caliotter3]

You might be just a glorified babysitter but you have a job and on your resume you can use the title RN for this job. It gives you income while you continue to look for something more suitable. Good luck in your job search. And consider an online RN to BSN program where no clinicals are required. Best wishes.

[JBEYE]

I read that you have been sending out resumes and applying to places. I am assuming majority of this has been done online or via mail. Have you thought about hitting the pavement? Actually go in person to hospitals/facilities and show your face. Ask to speak to the DON or whoever does the hiring. Be persistent. Just go through the phone book and start calling these places and even ask if they have a new grad program. It's tough out there but from what I know of, a lot of nurses get their first jobs by selling themselves to the right people by being persistent and literally just showing up. I guess it makes you appear more serious. Worst case scenario is they tell you no, in which case you move on to the next.

I hope you find a job you're happy and content with soon.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Aww I feel for your situation. When I got my LVN license I was out looking for jobs around about this time of year. I got a got in Private Duty peds which I was grateful for but pretty soon I soured on it and got very depressed and didn't feel like a real nurse like I was going to be stuck here forever. A couple of months ago I managed to transition into Hospice which I love. Still the in home setting mainly but a step in the right direction. Remember 1 in 5 nurses leave after the first years. The jobs will open up just be patient =D

Incidently today is the first year anniversary of my first day of work. I started the day before Thanksgiving.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

and consider an online rn to bsn program where no clinicals are required. best wishes.

this is not true! although rn-bsn programs do not have the same clinicals as traditional/accelerated bsn and adn programs for the obvious reason that we are already rns (in other words, we are not being followed around the floor for med passes or procedures), most programs, as the op mentioned, require you to have a preceptor/clinical instructor for many of your lab/clinical course work that is community and leadership oriented. not to mention that just about 100% of theory courses required real-world application examples in discussions and papers for rn students. thus, the op is correct ... experience is required.

[mb1949]

this is not true! although rn-bsn programs do not have the same clinicals as traditional/accelerated bsn and adn programs for the obvious reason that we are already rns (in other words, we are not being followed around the floor for med passes or procedures), most programs, as the op mentioned, require you to have a preceptor/clinical instructor for many of your lab/clinical course work that is community and leadership oriented. not to mention that just about 100% of theory courses required real-world application examples in discussions and papers for rn students. thus, the op is correct ... experience is required.

not all schools, there are quite a few on line classes, and the op could use her experiences as a home care nurse for the discussions, etc. a child who needs around the clock nursing care is probably on a vent, parental nutrition whether tpn, or ngt or peg has lots of meds, etc, whether the op realizes it or not she is getting real life experience, there are schools that are totatly online that the op can get a bsn, i just finsished my bsn and the only clinical i had was in a simulation lab for advance practice skills, try to look around you will find a school that meets your needs

[Jacqualene]

I'm in Texas and I was wondering how did you go about becoming an RN Medicaid provider? I currently work for an agency but would like to "cut out the middle man".

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Hey, the middle man deals with filing taxes and other unpleasant administrative tasks! Trust me!

I'm in Texas and I was wondering how did you go about becoming an RN Medicaid provider? I currently work for an agency but would like to "cut out the middle man".