I am new to this website.. It's being a while that I being visiting this site and I completely love it!! :heartbeat
The reason that I post this message is to seek advice regarding a recent job offer. My situation is the following:
I just graduated from nursing school as an LPN, have no experience whatsoever other than clinical rotations as a student... In easy words, I just came out of the oven.... I being recently offered an job with a nursing agency. I being told that they send you to different institutions, LTC, Homecare, etc.. depends what you choose. they say they are very flexible with their schedules; anyway.... I have heard that agency nurses are very independent and requiere alot of experience..(which I don't have yet ) Is this true??? My question is should I considerer this oportunity? Is this a good choice for me to start as a nursing career since I just graduated..? Has anybody had joined a nursing agency as a recent LPN grad?? What is like to be an agency nurse...?
Any thoughts and advice will be greatly appreciated...
talking about agencies, they are the only ones hiring now as it is difficult for an LPN to get a job anywhere in northern NJ,especially without experience. no one is hiring and agencies seem promising? what about agencies sending you to hospitals or nursing homes? do you guys think one can get experience from there?
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
While I advise 'no', I honestly have to say that I had a different experience. I graduated in 2006, my primary job is working in a hospital clinic. I did start agency work a few months later; working as a flu nurse and then when flu season was over, started home care in that same agency (did this on the side on weekends). What I did was when the agency offered me a home care case, I went to the house prior to actually accepting it while another nurse and the mother was with the child and had them familiarize me with the equipment. I was honest with the mother and said I was a new grad. I had a pediatric case where the child needed nebulizer treatments, trach care, suctioning. I did learn a great deal while on that case. Also, when I first started as an LPN at my regular position, all new grads needed 6 weeks of med-surg, no matter where we were actually hired for. A few months later, I signed for the agency my job uses and do occasional shifts for med-surg. I was working with people I knew and it was not so bad (not that great either, but because I was really a staff member, they did not bother me as much as they did others).
Again, I say no way, but, I did take a risk and was not so disappointed. However, I don't take unfamiliar situations, now. I feel that I need more consistant med-surg experience before I take a home care case again. That time, I was lucky...it may not be so the next.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
wao! Thanks for sharing,but i can i refuse to do something i am uncomfortable with like home care with agencies?
Yes, you can say no, but keep in mind that if you say no too many times, they will not call you, which defeats the reason why you signed with them from the beginning (to work). In addition, agencies can be very famous for not telling you about the entire situation until you already agree (if at all), because if you go to work, they get paid...period.
Again, personally, I advise not to do this. But, I don't know your circumstances, so, try to proceed with caution no matter what the circumstances. I was fortunate, but I was able to see the potential for doozies.
thanks a lot pagandeva2000, in as much as i do not want to sign up with agencies; i can't seem to find a job anywhere as an LPN with no work experience and that was why i signed up with carelineservices and axion, so far, i haven't had any work yet since i just signed up with them a couple of days ago, now i am beginning to have second thoughts but i hope and pray i get sent to hospitals or nursing home where i can learn and gain the experience i really want, i really do not want to be in an uncomfortable situation......i hope i am as fortunate as you were as well. thanks
I got lots of experience doing agency work in a nursing home. However i was not a new grad and i strongly recommend that new grads NOT go agency. It's a risk to your own license. while you may get nursing home assignments that sound easy, you never know which facility, what shift, and who you'll be working with. As an agency nurse you need to be able to take charge in any situation. New grads don't have that confidence or those skills, and if they seem to they are faking it. Faking can work, sure, but it's your license to risk. Also, many facilities are now dropping agency and not using them anymore due to the economy. agency workers are expensive. That is why i myself left my agency for a full time position.
keep job hunting. go to different facilities in person. lots of places don't place ads but still need more staff. drive around and meet with people in person. you'll get a steady job, guaranteed income, and most importantly- training.
yeah, i strongly agree with you, thanks a lot! i ll keep looking but can i tell the agency that i am no longer interested in working with them even if they've already hired me?
You can tell them you'd be willing to do things such as a flu shot clinic, or a doc's office (if you are willing) but I would never work in a hospital or nsg home without experience or orientation.
I've been a nurse for 18 years, and have six years experience in my current specialty. I am currently on a travel assignment, and things are done very differently here than the various ways that I am experienced with. I am going to get one week orientation- but things are done sooo differently here, it's really not enough.
Nursing is often very difficult even when you do have a lot of experience.
I am being oriented by a nurse who has worked on the unit in her current position for eight years- and she was stressed out and runnning behind all day.
yeah, i strongly agree with you, thanks a lot! i ll keep looking but can i tell the agency that i am no longer interested in working with them even if they've already hired me?
A quick way to get out of an agency commitment (as long as you don't have any assignments to finish) is to tell them that you've accepted a full-time position somewhere. If you're interested in flu clinics or something simple tell them that and they will keep you on the call list. That way later down the road after you get experience you won't have burned any bridges with the agencies, you can just call them up and tell them you're available again (once the economy is better, there really are no agency assignments these days.)
I being recently offered an job with a nursing agency. I being told that they send you to different institutions, LTC, Homecare, etc.. depends what you choose. they say they are very flexible with their schedules; anyway.... I have heard that agency nurses are very independent and requiere alot of experience..(which I don't have yet 
) Is this true??? My question is should I considerer this oportunity? Is this a good choice for me to start as a nursing career since I just graduated..? Has anybody had joined a nursing agency as a recent LPN grad?? What is like to be an agency nurse...?
kemibal
30 Posts
talking about agencies, they are the only ones hiring now as it is difficult for an LPN to get a job anywhere in northern NJ,especially without experience. no one is hiring and agencies seem promising? what about agencies sending you to hospitals or nursing homes? do you guys think one can get experience from there?