New Grad 2B in 3wks!!

[NYSNOWBUNNY007]

Hello everyone...First i want to thank all of the nurses who are on this forum who have helped me get through my full-time LPN program...I need a lil advice on what type of job to get first...My instructor stresses on the fact that she'd rather have her new grads work in a hospital or LTC facility and get "orientated" properly b4 going to an agency...We all know that the agencies offer more hourly...after sacrificing for so long and not working for about 6months now..i cant see myself working for 15-17/hr to pay off some of the "bills"...Im a quick learner ..i ask plenty of questions...but is it really that dangerous to go work for an agency as a new grad lpn?...my instructor when she talks about it she gives us fear about the agencies...i mean you make your own schedule and passing meds shouldnt be THAT different at any LTC or Hosp...by the way ALL of my clinical experiences were at a hospital..I learned ALOT...I have seen everything that can possibly go wrong and its kinda scary..but im all for the thrill...I love ER, and i Love wound care and working with an agency to do wound care or administer insulin, or workin at a hosp (for experience) sometimes its hard to get hired... while you are waiting i dont think it would be bad to start off with an agency...One agency in particular does tell the facility that you are a New Grad..and they say they are willing to take that "extra Time" to show the ropes..so ...I know i probably asked alot but is it really that bad to start off with an agency first??...Considering that i have plans to go back home to NY in about 6 months... but i dont want to go back home with NO experience i know that if i get something i will not start with the starting rate...thank you all for reading my post...

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I would get 6 months of experience in a hospital or nursing home before trying agency work. Every facility has different paperwork and policies, and agency does not orient you to the forms.

What if a patient falls and busts her head open while you're doing agency at a rehab hospital? Are you going to do neuro checks the way the rehab hospital wants you? Are you going to complete the incident report the way the facility wants you? Are they going to train you to transfer the fall patient with the head injury to the hospital? Would you know which forms to send to the hospital and which ambulance company to call in order to conduct the transport? This is not as easy as it sounds, especially considering the fact that agency throws you in without training you.

This is why I suggest you obtain 6 months experience in a nursing home or hospital before doing agency.

[NYSNOWBUNNY007]

Thank you...well..I do plan on going "staff" with a nursing home or hospital who ever responds first to get the proper orientation and get to know the documents needed in case of an emergency...and with an agency "just for wound changes and insulin administration"... I have a good friend of mine who is and LPN now who does Home Health (wound changes/ insulin administration)...and she has gotten her proper training at a nursing home too for about 5 months b4 she went agency...she is willing to have me shadow her for a few visits...which i think its great ...i wouldnt be dumb enough to go and jump on to agency right off the back...but thank you so much for the advice...i will definately keep this one...