New grad RN at a SNF

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I am a RN new grad hired as a RN supervisor at a SNF and I don't feel safe where I work. I have so much respect for the medical workers (LVNs and CNAs) that enter this field, however I think our facility is way understaffed. They have a high turnover rate from what I was told. I only get 5 days of training which is scary. Some of my own preceptors don't want to teach me. I just feel I'm not getting enough training. One of the LVNs told me they made her figured it out on her own. I've seen patients with ulcers not being turned and everything that I was taught being thrown out the window. I don't blame them especially with the amount of patients, charting, and other things they have to do, but this is how it is at a SNF. Everyone has their own area they need to take care of and it's very difficult to find help especially if you work the afternoon or graveyard shift. I'm scared to lose my license. A part of me doesn't want to quit because I haven't been getting any interviews, but at the same time I'm questioning myself if I should just let it go. I really don't know what to do. I never imagined in to be this hard to look for a job.

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You describe it as a dangerous work environment. Likely a corporate owned facility only interested in the bottom line? I'd say walk away, you won't be getting any interviews if you lose your license.

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Specializes in Ped/Adult Home Health, Public Health.

You're a new grad but hired as an RN Supervisor? How long have you been at your position? Your work environment is definitely unsafe for you.

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I just started last week. Yes I am a new grad. The problem is it's so difficult to find a job so I decided to take it. They said they would train me but I don't feel it's enough training for me in a week.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

The majority of SNFs are dangerous environments. I had an experienced rn supervisor and it was still a dangerous place. It's unlikely that is a good place for a new grad.the fact that they would hire a new grad to supervise is a red flag. Try long term acute care. Maybe you'll have luck there. It's a safer environment.

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Specializes in ICU.

I worked in a SNF as a new grad. It was unbelievably difficult. You should be able to find another SNF job at a safer facility. Check out non-profits and stay away from corporate chains. If you have some savings and not a lot of expenses, consider quitting and doing independent contract work while you look for a new full-time job. I sometimes do independent contract work for a company that provides health screenings (i.e. fasting/non-fasting finger sticks to check for cholesterol and blood glucose, height/weight/BMI calculator, health coaching) in addition to my regular nursing job. Companies like mine will hire new grads because the work is exceptionally easy but the pay is obviously lower than say a hospital job.

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walk away... follow your gut and leave. you'll find something better later!

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Hi Mike, 

I am currently going through the same thing. I am a new grad RN and I decided to apply to a SNF as a temporary job because I am WAITING  to get into residency programs at hospitals within my area (they take forever for the hiring process 3-6months). Been very difficult for me to get my dream job in the hospital ??. New grads that I did talk to did say that it took them 6months to get in and finally start their new grad training in a hospital. I have hope that I will get into a good training program to transition into a professional nurse! It just gets discouraging. But anyways that is why I've been so desperate to get a temporary job right now.. and I instantly got a SNF job! Legit the same day I applied. I got hired and then.... I quit after 4 days. I legit left and let me tell you why! I got no training, no support, no communication with staff and "training members”… legit was alone and had to do everything on my own. I got one day of training on an EMR system that I've never been familiar with. I know there are many EMR software's that different facilities and hospitals use but... I was not familiar with this type of EMR system.. so only ONE day??! One day of training?! Absolutely not. Not safe whatsoever. Legit the entire time I was there.. I was worried about my license.. meaning I was not getting the proper training to handle a high patient workload to deliver safe patient care plus being in charge of CNAs/LVNs. There was just absolutely no way. I got SO overwhelmed plus feeling like I had no support... worst feeling ever.  I am all about team work/collaboration, quality training, etc.)..and I knew immediately that I'm going to be alone here throughout this entire process. Definitely cried and had multiple mental breakdowns. My gut feeling told me to get out now! So on the 4th day... I walked in .. no one acknowledged me.. no one came up to me to guide me or even train me. Then .. the assistant DON gave me my schedule and they inputted my name wrong! Not spelling my name wrong.. they actually put a different name!! That is when I hit my breaking point.  I just walked out.. I left and emailed the DON my resignation plus I explained the situation. Now they are begging for me back and at this moment I don't think I even want to accept to go back and to risk it... just for the sake of my mental health and my RN license that I worked so hard for. I know my worth and I know what I can bring to a company but I know that they don't care about any staff, including me. I felt so incredibly bad because I know the patients need me. I care so much for the safety of patients and I am a huge advocate for them. But I just have to be selfish in situations like this. Hopefully the DON took my statement with utmost consideration and maybe they will provide better team work, longer trainer and adequate communication. 
So my advice, STAY AWAY from SNFs.. especially as a new grad nurse. Don't put yourself through that. New nurses need high quality, longer training for any healthcare environment!! Not 1-2weeks!! To all new grad RNs.. try your best to keep applying to new grad residency programs. You will get 6+ weeks longer of in class training plus 2-4+ months of being with a preceptor on the clinical floor!! You need a support person to make sure you are 100% comfortable to handle patients  on your own! Be your own advocate! Don't lose hope! Keep smiling, you are not alone! 

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Specializes in Dialysis.
ikerr said:

Hi Mike, 

I am currently going through the same thing. I am a new grad RN and I decided to apply to a SNF as a temporary job because I am WAITING  to get into residency programs at hospitals within my area (they take forever for the hiring process 3-6months). Been very difficult for me to get my dream job in the hospital ??. New grads that I did talk to did say that it took them 6months to get in and finally start their new grad training in a hospital. I have hope that I will get into a good training program to transition into a professional nurse! It just gets discouraging. But anyways that is why I've been so desperate to get a temporary job right now.. and I instantly got a SNF job! Legit the same day I applied. I got hired and then.... I quit after 4 days. I legit left and let me tell you why! I got no training, no support, no communication with staff and "training members”… legit was alone and had to do everything on my own. I got one day of training on an EMR system that I've never been familiar with. I know there are many EMR software's that different facilities and hospitals use but... I was not familiar with this type of EMR system.. so only ONE day??! One day of training?! Absolutely not. Not safe whatsoever. Legit the entire time I was there.. I was worried about my license.. meaning I was not getting the proper training to handle a high patient workload to deliver safe patient care plus being in charge of CNAs/LVNs. There was just absolutely no way. I got SO overwhelmed plus feeling like I had no support... worst feeling ever.  I am all about team work/collaboration, quality training, etc.)..and I knew immediately that I'm going to be alone here throughout this entire process. Definitely cried and had multiple mental breakdowns. My gut feeling told me to get out now! So on the 4th day... I walked in .. no one acknowledged me.. no one came up to me to guide me or even train me. Then .. the assistant DON gave me my schedule and they inputted my name wrong! Not spelling my name wrong.. they actually put a different name!! That is when I hit my breaking point.  I just walked out.. I left and emailed the DON my resignation plus I explained the situation. Now they are begging for me back and at this moment I don't think I even want to accept to go back and to risk it... just for the sake of my mental health and my RN license that I worked so hard for. I know my worth and I know what I can bring to a company but I know that they don't care about any staff, including me. I felt so incredibly bad because I know the patients need me. I care so much for the safety of patients and I am a huge advocate for them. But I just have to be selfish in situations like this. Hopefully the DON took my statement with utmost consideration and maybe they will provide better team work, longer trainer and adequate communication. 
So my advice, STAY AWAY from SNFs.. especially as a new grad nurse. Don't put yourself through that. New nurses need high quality, longer training for any healthcare environment!! Not 1-2weeks!! To all new grad RNs.. try your best to keep applying to new grad residency programs. You will get 6+ weeks longer of in class training plus 2-4+ months of being with a preceptor on the clinical floor!! You need a support person to make sure you are 100% comfortable to handle patients  on your own! Be your own advocate! Don't lose hope! Keep smiling, you are not alone! 

The original post is from 2015. The posters have long moved on from this

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Hoosier_RN said:

The original post is from 2015. The posters have long moved on from this

I know that but anyone can look this up and read this for extra encouragement! Doesn't matter the time.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
ikerr said:

I know that but anyone can look this up and read this for extra encouragement! Doesn't matter the time.

I saw that you directed to Mike. He has been MIA since 2015. I just didn't want you to expect a reply...

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