New Grad LVN who is unsure..

[ecclecticlylovelylvn]

Hi everyone!

This is my first post, but I have been lurking allnurses for a while now.

So I am a new grad LVN who just a few days ago was going crazy, because I seriously was having no luck with call backs after submitting 150+ applications.

Well apparently the hard work has paid off since I now have two possible jobs (one for sure and the other one in the works)

• The first one is at a 50 bed SNF where I would be a medpass nurse along with a second LVN(this is the for sure opportunity.)
  
• The second option is at a Ophthalmologist Surgical Center where the position is for an admissions nurse where I would evaluate incoming pts for preop.
  

My question is, which position will be more likely to provide me the most valuable experience as an aspiring RN student, who wishes to ultimately work trauma.

I know that as a new grad it is just amazing to have any opportunities at all! I am just trying to make sure I make the best career move for my future.

[Born_2BRN]

If I were you speaking from experience I would pick option 2 working in a healthcare facility setting. You won't be learning much working in nursing home except maybe some medications.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

It's hard to say. Preadmissions at an optho clinic might not give you much knowledge and it might be fairly specialized setting. Nursing home residents have a lot of comorbidites and medications, which may actually be more helpful as you may get more familiar with a variety of medications, such as Lasix, which we give frequently. Neither position is really ideal for what you want. An urgent care would probably be your best bet but since there are so few jobs right now it's understandable to take what you can get. Good luck!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

If I were you speaking from experience I would pick option 2 working in a healthcare facility setting. You won't be learning much working in nursing home except maybe some medications.

You've probably never worked in a nursing home. Don't knock it until you try it. In a nutshell, nursing home work is useful experience to build one's skill set.

Nursing homes frequently deal with PICC lines, central lines, Mediports, Permacaths, and peripheral IV access since a number of the residents might be receiving TPN, Procalamine, IV antibiotics every four hours, normal saline for hydration, and other IV fluids.

You might also be caring for short-term residents who require post-op recovery. Much of the time these residents are only two to three days post-op when they are admitted to the nursing home after having undergone hip and knee arthroplasties, ORIFs, laminectomies, limb amputations, colectomies, kyphoplasties, CABGs, craniotomies, aneurysm repair, hysterectomies, gastric bypass, thrombectomies, and other major surgical procedures.

Some short-term residents are admitted to Medicare skilled units to recover from medical issues such as pneumonia, CVA, acute MI, cancer, COPD exacerbation, debility, closed reduction fractures, deconditioned states, failure to thrive, CHF exacerbation, status post falls, contusions, and generalized declining functional status.

At a nursing home you might end up performing skills such as surgical staple removal, suture removal, IV therapy, wound care, tracheostomy care, ostomy care, management of cervical halos, appliance of braces and splints, respiratory therapy, nephrostomy tube maintenance, diabetic management, emptying of JP drains, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, continuous positive motion, indwelling urinary catheter insertion/care, enteral feedings via gastrostomy tubes, and plenty more. Some nursing homes have pulmonary units that contain residents who have tracheostomies or stable ventilators.

The nursing homes of today are similar to the med/surg floors of a few years ago.

[mikkie1317]

Hello

I will recommend that you start in a nursing home or SNF, which is option one because you will be exposed to many medical conditions esp Heart failure, CHF, Pneumonia, DM II and will gain a lot of knowledge about medications. Option 2 is more of a specialty area which restricts you . I have been an LVN for 5 plus years, my first job as an LVN was in a SNF, I worked in the Long Term Care unit. Eventually, I became bored and it turned out to be a routine, later, I requested to be transferred to the sub acute unit, and Oh! My! it was so fast paced and i really loved it and learned a lot. when I got into nursing school for my BSN i felt like a genius in class.To bring back the point that SNF is the best option, ignore the stereotypes associated with LVN working in the SNF, often we are called Med nurses or Lower Paid Nurses(LPN), just focus on your goals and try not to get too comfortable with your routines because then it is easier to learn bad habits.

[yginay]

Absolutely go with the SNF. We had to bring an LVN over from our satellite Sub Acute Care SNF to work on our floor at the hospital last night because we had a scheduling glitch and got caught short. She was fantastic! She had been exposed to exactly the majority of sort of patients we see over in the acute care setting and not only that, she could handle pressure very well. She told me her ratio can be up to 14 patients and yeah, so she can't do IV drugs or pushes...big deal, she could do a lot of other very valuable things. I was very impressed by her professionalism and character and while I have always had respect for LVN's, she made it grow even more.

Whatever you choose, be proud, be successful and I hope you find what works best for you!