New grad pay and schedules at a SNF?

[Undone]

Hello everyone. I may have an interview coming up and would like to go in with an idea of what is considered normal. I have so many questions and am not very familiar with how SNFs work. I have looked through many threads but have not found the answers.

I'm wondering how much a new grad should expect to make at a SNF? Also, what type of schedule would be typical? Is it generally a 12 hour shift? How many patients would you normally be responsible for, and if it is very many then how many times do you actually see each of them in a shift? Do most SNF have LPNs to do meds, or is that usually all on the RN?

If you have to stay over because the next shift will be 4 hours late for example, is that time and a half? How do you complete your documentation if it isn't complete because you didn't have a chance during your shift. I ask because I have read on AN that legally you can't work unless you are being paid, but that companies don't want to pay you OT. It's all so confusing .

Thank you for any info :)

[Undone]

Nynurs,

Was that in the city or one of the outer boroughs? That does make a SNF more appealing considering the negative things I hear and read.

[nynurs]

the SNF-LTC facility is in Brooklyn, and yes!! definitely more appealing that what I've read too. if you've explored other threads, you'll read that it is considerable hard work at these facilities also, especially with the patient/nurse ratio. for a new grad in NYC, this opportunity and offer was a blessing.

[Undone]

I have read some of those threads, they do make it sound tough.

Good luck, I hope it turns out to be a great job.

[estrellaCR, BSN, RN]

SNF pay is higher if snf is part of a hospital ...and so pay is equivalent to all other RNs starting working at that hospital. If snf is independent then pay is lower.

[nycNurse2b]

I started in a SNF on the sub-acute rehab floor when I graduated a few years ago. I think I started at just over $70k a year for days. This was in an outer borough.

gl!

[blondie1887]

these salaries seem kind of high. I am looking for a job thru an agency and they told me I'll only get $25 an hour as a new grad, $30 at the most. Where did you find these nursing homes. I have an associates in nursing and bachelors in another field, so maybe thats why I can't find something in a nursing home?

[azilliRN]

I can give you an idea of what it is like to work on a Skilled Unit at a local hospital. First, I work three 12 hour shifts, caring for 9 plus patients. See them? I have two different sub groups - Acute and Sub/Acute. I spend my time with those who need more medical attention. As for the rest, I put them on the back burner unless something arises. Otherwise, my time is spent elsewhere such as giving out scheduled meds, running I.V.'s, taking vital signs and handing out lots of pain medication. That is just a tip of the ice berge. I have To deal with PT, OT and the Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. My phone is constantly ringing non-stop throughout the day.

I am not sure what our starting pays is because I went to the SNF on a higher pay level after two and a half years of working in a clinic. Another thing I can tell you is that it is very hard work. I'm on feet throughout my entire shift. When I do sit down it's for a bite to eat and a quick bathroom break. Charting? I do all my charting at the end of my shift. Overtime is to be expected.

As with any job, it is rewarding and frustrating. If you work with a good group of nurses and who are willing to help you in times of need, you will have job satisfaction. Team work is essential if you work on a skilled unit.

[JWEMT]

these salaries seem kind of high. I am looking for a job thru an agency and they told me I'll only get $25 an hour as a new grad, $30 at the most. Where did you find these nursing homes. I have an associates in nursing and bachelors in another field, so maybe thats why I can't find something in a nursing home?

At this time agency is about 30$ to start new grad no bs

[Undone]

Hey JWEMT, thanks for your input. Do you know any agencies that can find positions for new grads? Thanks!

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

The pay all depends on location. What I've read so far is pretty accurate. A SNF differs from LTC in that the SNF has all skilled beds which makes a big difference in care. Also, the patients in a SNF don't live in the facility as residents do in LTC. The beds are skilled for fairly short term patients that the hospital releases for them to recover from surgery and the like...think med/surg with a far bigger patient load. These people are not bad enough to stay in the hospital but can't quite go home yet. There's no difference in the work except you don't have as many resources and the docs don't come around that much.

LTC facilities will have a few skilled beds in them. As far as the MDS goes some places make the RNs fill out the MDS info sheet. This is done because they don't want to hire the proper amount of MDS nurses. The average residents/patients that an MDS nurse should have is 25. I worked at one place where I had 88 people...this place had the RNs fill out the MDS info sheet which was not good. I just ended up having to go over the whole thing and checking all the stuff anyway before I would sign my final signature to the MDS. It's so much more involved than filling out those few pages and in my experience the nurses would copy the previous MDS to save time; not good.

I don't blame the RNs because it's really not their job. Places believe they are saving money by having the floor RNs fill out the sheets, but all it does it put more stress on the already stressed and overworked nursing staff.

The place I'm telling you about even assigned the noc RNs their fair share of the MDS sheets...ah; when you do the MDS you really need to interview the person and evaluate the entire situation, from the special spoon on their tray to changes in behavior, etc... especially with an annual; this is why it doesn't work. You can't get all the answers out of a chart.

I've seemed to have stepped on my MDS soapbox but never mind. The salary you ask about will be reflective of the area. In Oregon at a place in one of the bigger cities I was offered union pay and at one of the smaller towns where I lived I was offered $15 an hour. I talked to the employees and it was a baseline pay that all RNs started with (this was 20 years ago but still...) that's why I stress location.

A SNF is actually a good place to start if you can handle high, high, stress and are super organized. :)

[nynurs]

I don't think it's ever really worth it to start at an agency as a new grad, only because they usually don't offer benefits. let's face it, healthcare is in the midst of significant changes and while a significant salary is nice, we definitely need unions and benefits to survive.

If you do start at an agency, I would still continue searching for a permanent job offer.

[Undone]

Benefits will come in handy but at this time I don't need a job that offers health insurance as I already have it, what I really need is a paycheck. I would love a hospital job, but with no experience and no completed BSN I don't know if I can count on that happening yet.