New LPN - Job Offer Frightening!

suzanne4, RN · May 10, 2006

That is way too much responsiblity for a new grad. Who is going to orient you for the time that you really need, if you are the only one?

It sounds scary, because it is scary.

Nurse Ratched, RN · May 10, 2006

ALF's operate on private pay only. They are usually expensive, need to fill beds and as a result can be bad about accepting and keeping residents who do not fit their physical/mental criteria for admission/continuing residence, but who do pass on the main criteria - having enough money. Thus the most common problem experienced by nurses in ALF's is trying to meet the needs of residents who shouldn't be there because of failing faculties, but whom management will not evict because the cash is still there.

As a new nurse, you don't yet know what you don't know. You may find yourself in positions you are not ready to handle, and out of ignorance (lack of knowledge) may exceed your scope of practice in that facility. This puts your licensure at risk.

I say all this not to put down your skills, your good sense, or even all ALF's. I will say if this particular facility is serious about hiring a brand new nurse to work an off-shift where there is less support, it's probably because they can't con an experienced nurse into doing the things they want them to do. Be very wary.

nursesaideBen · May 11, 2006

Go with your gut, if it feels fishy it may be a better idea to move on to greener pastures especially being a new grad.

Best of luck!

-Ben

HannasMom · May 11, 2006

I work in an Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility. We have three LPN's, and just hired another one, who will start on Monday. We also have a full-time RN. This is a recent thing for us to have four nurses.

At first when I started working there it was common to be the only nurse there, a few days each week. (There was two LPN's and one RN, part of the time.) It was just too much for us, we were burning out and that can mean mistakes. Not good!! New nurses would quit after just a few months, due to burn out.

You have alot of responsibility, too much for a new nurse. You have to have great organizational skills, be able to delegate assignments, supervise caregivers and if you have them, the Med-aides. Call doctors, do Alert charting, Care Plans and Care Plan meetings, supervise the caregivers, take orders, order meds, supervise the caregivers....

This is just some of it. Yet, even though I almost quit my job recently, (personal reasons) it is the best job I have ever had. I love working in my memory care unit. I have received great training and attended fun and informative workshops for free.

Go with your gut feeling. You need experience in order to make it in Assisted Living, because you don't always have someone to get advise from, like I did in Skilled Care or LTC.

ididit · May 11, 2006

Thank you so much for your input/advice. I'm not only a new nurse but new to this site. This is great! I read your comments and agree...my gut feeling is that this position is not for me. Just needed to hear it from someone else. As it turns out a Skilled Nursing Facility just one mile from me phoned and asked if I was still interested in a part-time 11pm-7am position (two nights). I had faxed them a resume last week but wasn't counting on hearing. Sometimes things have a way of working out. Although I'm still frightened to start, I'm not nearly as frightened as I would be at an Assisted Living Facility. Just knowing there is another nurse on another unit is reassurance. Thank you again for your help....I appreciate it more than you know!