New grad nerves or red flags?

[windinmyhair]

I potentially have two job offers. They are not in the area I want to be, but that's ok because I desperately need experience. My problem is that my gut reaction to both jobs is that they are not safe. The first I have a bad feeling about because I found a lot of bad press about the facility's practices, and they are very upfront about their use of restraints and a lot of criticism has been directed toward this by the public (this setting only admits pediatric patients).

The second is a nursing home. It would definitely offer me the experience I need, but they offer minimal training (1 week) and then I'd be the sole RN in the facility at night (however there will be LPNs on other halls).

I know I will be terrified wherever I start, so that's why I am unsure if I'm just feeling nerves or if I really am seeing red flags.

[swansonplace]

There are a couple of websites you can use to check out to see what their ratings are.

Search

Glassdoor.com

hospitalsafetyscore.org

http://www.ahd.com/

http://www.ahadataviewer.com/

Do your homework, and look into the hospitals. See what their ratings are, suits, what employees think of the hospital, etc.

If it has a union look into the union.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Sounds like a very risky situation. As the only RN, you would be legally responsible for patient care including supervision of subordinate staff. IMO, there are two primary issues.

First of all, what are your state BON rules about new grads in supervisory roles? In many states, new grads must practice in a structured environment with appropriate supervision immediately available for a period of time... in Tx, it is 6 months. From the way you have described it, this would not be the case.

Also, professional accountability prohibits us from accepting any responsibilities for which we are not competent. Do you think you are ready to accurately identify & appropriately respond to unexpected patient situations without any guidance from a qualified RN? You cannot 'delegate' this responsibility to the LPNs, no matter how expert they are.

You could be putting your professional career at risk.

[Apedro]

HouTx, Thank you, your response has been the most informative so far. I have accepted a job at a LTC as a Nurse Manager and I was also told I would receive about a week of training before I would be "in charge of the whole building". I will look up the BON rule you mentioned about 6 months supervision. I really don't want to loose my license.

[Apedro]

HouTx, your post was very informative but I searched the TexasBON website and I couldn't find the 6 month supervision requirement...would you please, direct me further? I accepted a supervisory position at a LTC as a new grad and if I had something like the rule you are talking about to present to my new employer, it may get me some more and much needed supervision/training.