New Grad RN charge nurse position at a SNF

[VeeRN]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the site. Anyways I'm a new grad nurse from CA. Graduated in January and passed my NCLEX last week. I just interviewed for a SNF and there's a high possibility that I'm going to get the job. They called me back saying there going go thru my references and all my information then they'll give me an official offer. When asking them questions during the interview about the role of RN, I left the interview feeling very scared and inadequate. They made it seem that the charge nurse position is going to be very difficult and fast paced and the training is only a few days. I feel that a few days isn't enough. I'm very grateful for getting the interview. Is there any advice out there? Any new grads who were hired at a SNF as a charge nurse with no experience? My goal is to work at a hospital. I love telemetry. If offered the position should I take it? Or turn it down and keep looking at hospitals only? Also I heard that hospitals don't hire nurses who worked at SNF, which makes no sense. I know it doesn't count as experience in certain hospitals. Is this true?

Thanks.

ph another thing. It seems that RNs that work in LTC or SNFs are offered supervisor positions which is very weird to me even for a new grad. All my friends that applied for SNFs are the supervisors at that facility.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

You're in California, home to one of the worst nursing employment markets in the entire country. Hence, if you reject this job offer, another year might pass before you are offered something else. If you are willing to take that risk, reject this offer.

New grad training of 3 days in the SNF setting is normal in the area where I live. Orientation is a time to learn the facility's paperwork, supplies, equipment, routine and overall rhythms. It is not a clinical practicum time to learn everything that wasn't learned in nursing school.

I ended up staying in the SNF setting for six years. It has served as the foundation of my nursing career. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Some people are able to handle an orientation of only three days, others can't. Personally, I would think it would be normal for most new grads to need more time. It doesn't make you a bad nurse, it makes you a new nurse.

I would say to go with your gut. If you don't feel comfortable with what's being offered and you are financially able to wait, then give it some more time.

Good luck to you.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You're in California, home to one of the worst nursing employment markets in the entire country. Hence, if you reject this job offer, another year might pass before you are offered something else. If you are willing to take that risk, reject this offer.

New grad training of 3 days in the SNF setting is normal in the area where I live. Orientation is a time to learn the facility's paperwork, supplies, equipment, routine and overall rhythms. It is not a clinical practicum time to learn everything that wasn't learned in nursing school.

I ended up staying in the SNF setting for six years. It has served as the foundation of my nursing career. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I have the utmost respect for TheCommuter.

However , I would not take that position. I have 30 years of experience and would not be able to handle that job. The facility is desperate.. ask yourself why.

[EmRN14]

As a new grad and working as a charge nurse in a SNF will be very difficult. It is a lot of work. I worked my first job at a SNF as a new grad and it was probably the hardest position I had. Not trying to scare you but it will be a very demanding job. I also only had 3 days of training and I felt so overwhelmed and I was not even working as a charge nurse. It was scary and a lot of pressure on me to take care of 30 residents by myself. I felt like more training would have been necessary for me to be successful. I felt like my license was already on the line. To be honest, I would keep trying for a hospital job. I am from Ohio and worked at the SNF for 3 months until I found a hospital job on a med surg floor. Then a year after that I moved on to OB. It takes time to get where you want to be but you can do it. If you feel confident that you can handle the charge nurse position then I would do it. Or maybe you can discuss possibly having a shadowing day to see if it would be right for you. Who knows, maybe you will enjoy the challenge! Good luck in whatever you decide!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

ph another thing. It seems that RNs that work in LTC or SNFs are offered supervisor positions which is very weird to me even for a new grad. All my friends that applied for SNFs are the supervisors at that facility.

Yes, in the LTC setting, RNs are considered supervisors due to the full scope issues; however, that doesn't mean you are not going to be much of a supervisor while working on a cart.

What is the position you applied for-are you going to do med pass or be "in charge" of the floor-meaning, are you going to handle orders, update care plans, talk to families, review incident reports, etc?

Your role makes a difference in this case.

[VeeRN]

They really didn't describe what I would be doing clearly. The DON just scared the crap out of me, saying I would be a charge nurse and it's very demanding and it will nothing like the hospital setting or by the book. Career services at school sent my resume to that facility. I originally sent my resume to another facility but that position was already filled. When I went for the interview I didn't know what I was interviewing for, all I knew that I was interviewing for an RN position. This is my fault I guess, I was really excited about getting an interview.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

The DON just scared the crap out of me, saying....it will be nothing ...by the book.

This is what concerns me most, other than a new grad going into a charge RN position.

At the very least pretend that you do things the "right way."

[niccikatie]

When I was in nursing school, one of our instructors gave us some very good advice. She told us that we WOULD get offered charge nurse positions at nursing homes after graduation and that we SHOULD NOT take them. That we deserved a better entry into nursing that that job would offer. I offer you the same advice. If at all possible, wait for something else.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

I am just flabbergasted that facilities are putting new grads in charge positions.

I guess they are hoping you just don't know any better, and what do they care. It's your license, not theirs.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

They really didn't describe what I would be doing clearly. The DON just scared the crap out of me, saying I would be a charge nurse and it's very demanding and it will nothing like the hospital setting or by the book. Career services at school sent my resume to that facility. I originally sent my resume to another facility but that position was already filled. When I went for the interview I didn't know what I was interviewing for, all I knew that I was interviewing for an RN position. This is my fault I guess, I was really excited about getting an interview.

Interview experience is good. You are no way "at fault" for anything.

In this case.. it is a (crappy) for profit facility that is desperate to have a licensed nurse to cover their crappy care.

Learn from that and find a decent job.

[Extra Pickles]

I posted on another thread awhile ago that a new grad Rn supervisor is a recipe for disaster and I'm sticking to that! nursing school doesn't teach you everything you will need to know, experience does. without experience how are you going to be certain you will act quickly and correctly when crisis situations pop up, because they will! are you going to be deciding whether to call the doctor and put the steps in motion fast to get a resident sent to the hospital or are you going to misinterpret the signs of real trouble as something that just needs to be waited out? are you ready for those decisions right now?