New Grad

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Hey Everyone,

I am on track to graduate with my BSN in the middle of May. I am started to look into jobs and facilities to work when I do pass my NCLEX. What is your opinion on getting an RN position at a nursing home? I have never worked in healthcare since I graduated from High school and got directly into the nursing program at a local college. I only really have the experience my clinicals have given me. I know some nurses are ANTI-Nursing home, but I completed my capstone clinical at a LTC hospital (ST Vincent Seton, INDY) and really enjoyed it. I really think I would like working in a nursing home; however, do not want to take a pay cut or have a hard time finding another job if I would want to transfer in the future. So I guess my questions are:

Is the new grad salary for an RN the same as in a hospital?

Will I be able to find another job in the future outside of the nursing home if I would want to?

I am located around kokomo, IN

Thanks in advance guys!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I think it's time we (nurses) openly acknowledge that acute care (hospital) nursing is not the only place that "real" nursing occurs. Acute care job opportunities are decreasing due to multiple factors, while the non-acute job market is expanding. It's nice to see that your school has already recognized this by providing clinical experience in a LTC setting. Hopefully, more nursing schools will begin to modify their clinical rotations to enable their students to see that there are great opportunities in a variety of settings.

If you like LTC and have an opportunity to work there - GO FOR IT!!!

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Specializes in MLTC.

Nursing needs to learn to value ALL nursing positions for their experience. I graduated in 2012 with my ASN, and the only job I could find was as a case manager through a Medicaid managed long term care company. I assure you, I am just as much a "real" nurse as anyone in the hospital. And if you think some of the things you do in a hospital can make you squeamish, try sitting in someone's home for a 2 hour assessment, with no PPE, while they spill their bed pan **** across your lap, cockroaches are running around, the place looks like an episode of hoarders, you can visually see the bed bugs, and you're trying to maintain the patients integrity. I may not be acquiring the same skills as you do, but my assessment skills, and patient education skills are on point, and I have a way better idea of what care after discharge takes, and how to get what is needed in place. This will allow me to help improve read mission rates, and lower health care costs.

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Thank you ladies! I have not applied yet but have contacted several nursing home locally and let them know my interest. The LTC facility I completed my capstone was an LTC IUC facility.

Thank

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I got on allnurses today to look for opinions about the same thing. Graduated May 2013, Passed my boards in December and there is absolutely no nursing shortage in MN. Sure, there are jobs in ND, but there is nothing else in ND and I am a very social person! I'm not opposed to LTC, its just not what I'm passionate about. I see posts on here about people holding out for that hospital acute care job, but if I can earn experience and look for that same job, why not? At least I'm gaining something! Thanks for this post.

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Specializes in Ortho.

Work in a hospital

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Hi JennM_RN, could you please get in touch with me? I would like to ask you about your long term care job....I have an opportunity with that but would like to get some feedback [email protected] thank you!!!

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I say apply to as many positions you are interested in...ltc, hospitals...and then wait to see who contacts you for an interview...then go from there..

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