New Grad as a Assessment Nurse? Need advice

Specialties Home Health

Published

Hello everyone,

I am a new graduate RN who graduated with her ADN and has been searching for a position in a hospital for 6 months. I haven't even been able to book an interview! I live in NYC and apparently all the city hospitals (which is about 20 hospitals) and some private ones are all frozen and no one is hiring! And even if they were, not many would hire an new graduate RN.

I was finally able to interview for a home health position a few days ago and although I haven't received a job offer yet, they called me yesterday to let me know that they are interested and wanted to know if I had any other job offers. I get their final decision today. They are considering me for two positions, Field Assessment Nurse and Intake Coordinator. The Intake Coordinator does the initial assessment, which checks to see if the client needs fits what we have to offer, and the field assessment nurse does all the follow up assessments after they have been enrolled in our plan. From what I was told all I will be doing regardless of the position is assessments (no medication administration, dressing changes, etc.) which is kind of a bummer because I feel that I'll lose all my skills. So my questions are: Is this an appropriate position for a new grad RN? Will it make it harder in the future for me to be able to get a position at a hospital? Also, what is your experience with home care? Do you love it? Hate it? Why?

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In California nurses are required to have a minimum of 12 months working in their licensed capacity before working in home health care. To get around that an employer has to apply for a waiver with convincing evidence of their plan to train this new grad i.e. Comprehensive 12 month orientation.

Unless they will provide that level of training and supervision, I believe it is completely inappropriate with today's high acuities.

Is this a large organization or a small agency that you are considering?

And I love home health.

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They told me it would be a 2 week orientation at their office location and then I would follow a preceptor for another 2 weeks. After following a preceptor my case load would start as one case a day, and increase weekly until I receive a max of 13 cases a week. I told them about my concern as a new grad nurse and they said that if I had any troubles to call my supervisor, which doesn't ease my mind at all.

It's not a very big organization but it's not small either. I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place, I need to work but no ones hiring!

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Is this the only home health job you've pursued? If not, look for a larger organization with more educational resources and stronger orientation program.

The above scenario is reprehensible, we give our experienced nurses more time and support than that.

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They told me it would be a 2 week orientation at their office location and then I would follow a preceptor for another 2 weeks. After following a preceptor my case load would start as one case a day, and increase weekly until I receive a max of 13 cases a week. I told them about my concern as a new grad nurse and they said that if I had any troubles to call my supervisor, which doesn't ease my mind at all.

It's not a very big organization but it's not small either. I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place, I need to work but no ones hiring!

nope, nope, and nope. In my opinion home health is not the place for new grads, and that scenario sounds terrifying. Keep looking, and good luck!

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