New Grad RN at SNF to be charge/unit manager

[mmeezyy]

Hi everyone, I was really hoping to get some input.

I went to an interview today at a local subacute/SNF facility and it went well. They heavily implied that they would offer me the position as long as I pass my background check, and I'll be hearing from them in a couple of days.

Throughout the interview, the administrator and acting director of nursing kept repeating the fact that I need to learn fast because I am expected to be in a managerial position as soon as possible. Given that they're allotting five days (or five 8-hour shifts) of training, on my sixth day I will be charge nurse with two other nurses, in charge of 64 patients in the SNF part of the facility. They also kept reiterating that they're making big changes so that they can be up to code and need someone who can adapt to these changes within a moments notice. Everything they explained made it sound like they were looking for someone with more experience, rather than a new grad like myself.

So as a new nurse, the five day orientation already made me a little nervous but the fact that they're already planning to put me in a charge nurse/unit manager position right afterwards made me feel uneasy. I'm located in Southern California, so I know that my opportunities are very slim and I have felt that since graduation. However, I'm not completely comfortable with the position or situation.

Is this a normal experience for a SNF? And if they do make me an offer, should I accept it even though I'm not totally comfortable with the position so that I can get the experience and be able to move to a hospital? I've heard a lot of people say just stick it out until you get enough experience that hospitals start looking at you, but I'm not too set on accepting a position of great responsibility that I may not be thoroughly trained for.

[CanadianRN16]

In my area, there is only one RN who supervises LPNs/ nursing aides at the smaller SNFs. If you have good experienced staff and support from your supervisors, it won't be so bad. You have the training for this, it's just pulling on your prioritization and organizational skills.

That being said, you should question the fact they're making big changes to be 'up to code'...be wary during the orientation!