New Grad - Offered Nursing Home Position but want to work in hospital, advice?

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Hello,

I will be graduating from RN school in 2 weeks. For the past month I have sent out applications EVERYWHERE (well primarily hospitals in the area anyway) and so far have gotten the "thanks, but no thanks. Come back when you get hospital experience response". So I started applying at nursing homes this week (my inital thought was that it might be a good idea to work somewhere at least in the meantime? ....and I am in DESPERATE need of a job and $$ ). I got a job offer luckily, but I'm wondering or not if I should take it since I really want to work in the hospital? I hate jumping from job to job so would feel bad about quitting this job as soon as I find another? What does everyone think? Should I take the job or try and wait out to find a hospital one?

Thanks for the advice! Any is appreciated :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

I don't think it would hurt to take the LTC job & get 6mos-1yr experience.I've read plenty of posts on here about nurses who have done that, and they have good results. It may help you land a hospital job in the future. Good luck with your decision :)

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If you can go without a job for several months then wait for a hospital job. But you mentioned that you desperately need $$...so take the offer. Who knows, maybe you will like it there and stick out for a year before considering hospital setting. Or...maybe you'll be able to work at both places. The point is, worry about securing a position first, before worrying about quitting. When opportunity presents itself, embrace it and things will work themselves out. My friend tells me once that we tend to regret the things we did not do than the things we did do. Goodluck with your decision

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Take the job. Job = money. It's better than waiting like the rest of the unemployed new grads that can't even get hired anywhere. Many hospital jobs now require one year experience, with the exception of hospitals that offer New Grad Programs.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Take the job while you keep looking for the hospital position. You will be racking up RN experience and an income in the process. Plus you can still keep applying to new grad programs--you will remain eligible for most of them as long as you have less than a year's experience and have been out of school for less than a year.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
and I am in DESPERATE need of a job and $$

Pretty much gives you your answer.

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Specializes in Psych & Gero psych.

I too was desperate, My advice take it part-time/PRN. I passed the NCLEX-RN, and put in applications and had a hospital job, in my area of choice, in 2 weeks. Many place look for the licence first and formost. My advice would be start studying now, Saunders and The NCBON review, ($50 for 3 weeks) don't put of taking the test. The sooner the better. Many place check for licence before calling, (DUKE is known for this) and as soon as you get your licence, put it on your Resume and up date your applications.

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Hello,

I will be graduating from RN school in 2 weeks. For the past month I have sent out applications EVERYWHERE (well primarily hospitals in the area anyway) and so far have gotten the "thanks, but no thanks. Come back when you get hospital experience response". So I started applying at nursing homes this week (my inital thought was that it might be a good idea to work somewhere at least in the meantime? ....and I am in DESPERATE need of a job and $$ ). I got a job offer luckily, but I'm wondering or not if I should take it since I really want to work in the hospital? I hate jumping from job to job so would feel bad about quitting this job as soon as I find another? What does everyone think? Should I take the job or try and wait out to find a hospital one?

Thanks for the advice! Any is appreciated :)

That was how I got my hospital job was my LTC and SNF experience. Many people think that the LTC SNF jobs are the bung hole of nursing, yes at times they are BUT you gain valuable experience there in regards to time mgmt and prioritizing. You learn a lot about wound care. You learn a lot about the geriatric population in general. So I would take the position something is better than nothing. :cheers:

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Thank you sooo much for the input everyone! I should have mentioned I've been an LPN for the past 2 years (at a doctors office yes, but you'd be surprised at how much you can actually learn in that type of setting). Unfortunately the job offered is for full-time only. That's why I've kind of been back and forth about the whole thing. I want to take it since I need a job in the meantime, but if I end up getting a hospital-job soon down the road (as I'm hoping to) I'd have to leave and I haaate being that person who quits after just getting hired....feel like it looks bad and reflects poorly on yourself?

For a nursing home/rehab, it's actually really nice. It has the best ratings in my area and that's why I stopped by facility to give them my resume. Clean, doesn't smell (ha), the patients are really taken care of (no skin breakdown, etc).

Anyway thanks again for the input! I'm probably being too much in my head and should just take the damn thing! It could take me a while to find a job and it's always good to get experience in the meantime :)

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Specializes in Psych, Maternity, ER, Ortho.

Depending on your area, it could be a long time before you can land a hospital job. I have seen many people post on here about not being able to find a job and being out of school over a year or more.

Can you not conitnue working at the doctor's office until you could find a hospital job? Or possibly work PRN at one of the nursing homes if it is the matter of a difference in pay?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thank you sooo much for the input everyone! I should have mentioned I've been an LPN for the past 2 years (at a doctors office yes, but you'd be surprised at how much you can actually learn in that type of setting). Unfortunately the job offered is for full-time only. That's why I've kind of been back and forth about the whole thing. I want to take it since I need a job in the meantime, but if I end up getting a hospital-job soon down the road (as I'm hoping to) I'd have to leave and I hate being that person who quits after just getting hired....feel like it looks bad and reflects poorly on yourself?

For a nursing home/rehab, it's actually really nice. It has the best ratings in my area and that's why I stopped by facility to give them my resume. Clean, doesn't smell (ha), the patients are really taken care of (no skin breakdown, etc).

Anyway thanks again for the input! I'm probably being too much in my head and should just take the damn thing! It could take me a while to find a job and it's always good to get experience in the meantime :)

Why don't you try a LTAC, Long Term Acute Care.......Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals | Kindred Healthcare

I am not a employee of Kindred nor do I am I affiliated in any way. I have worked for them in the past and I feel it is an underutilized resource for new grads wanting acute experience. There are other LLCs out there so look in your area. They give excellent orientations, usually, as a whole.

Take the job you have. It is always easier to get a job once you have one.

Good Luck!!:hug:

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I just found a great link!!!!!!

Long Term Acute Care Hospital Directory, LTAC Hospital Listings, Directory of Long Term Acute Care Hospital

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