New Nurse Help

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Hello everyone, I am a newly LPN graduate and scared to death. My first job was a LTC facility I worked there for three months and I hated it. When I hired in they toled me that they would train me like two weeks since I was a new nurse, and I was trained four days then on my own, on a shorter hall. I cried like every night that I had to work because I hated it. I did not like working nights first of all and hate working weekends and holidays. My husband works day shift and get home around 4:30 pm I went into work at 2pm til 10pm well most of the time there till 11pm. So working four to five nights a week not seeing my husband but maybe 30 min awake. So all of the stress with that on top of all the stress at work. So now I'm stuck and don't know what to do. I went for an interview for a factory and got the job, yes it's less money 10 an hr plus production bonus (40-50 hours a week so overtime) vs LTC of 15-16 an hour. But no weekends, no hoildays, and it's dayshift same as my husbands. I feel bad and my family wonders why I want to work in a factory. I feel stupid for even thinking about it. I am supposed to start on Monday at the factory, and I dont know what to do. Please help...Do I need to just suck it up and try out my nursing career or go to the factory and work maybe six months and then maybe get back into the nursing field. Just in the three months I was in LTC we were under staffed under paid and it didn't seem worth the miney to me. I loved my patients!! So I have a LTC facility like 10 mins from my house and I sent in my resume have not heard anything but they work 12hr shifts 6a-6p. I really dont want to work third shift but have been told by school and alot of nurses that starting on day shift is really had and most likely as a new nurse you will sink. So I scared to death to try a day shift, and heard others say they hated working there. I have been calling Dr. Offices all around and trying to find an office job, with no luck. Put in resumes at two hospitals that are not hirring LPNs at this time most hospitals are not hirring LPNs any more. I'm not going to say that I don't like being a nurse because I think I do, I don't like all of the responisbility. I need some advise please help me........

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if you don't like responsibility, then you are in the wrong profession. work at the factory and in 6 months if you feel you still want to be a nurse, give it another try.

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Specializes in LT, skilled, IV, pediatrics.

Agree...If you don't like the responsibility, long hours, hard work, understaffing, etc. etc. of nursing, then you are in the wrong field. What you describe is typical of LTC and hospitals won't touch a new nurse, they have many qualified nurses with more experience to pick from. Also, doctor offices and clinics won't hire a new nurse, because you're expected to know what you're doing and hit the ground running right out the gate. Most require minimum 1-2 years experience. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if you want to be a nurse, stick to the LTC facilities until you get more experience and then you can try other areas. Another thought is maybe home health, they might not take you full time, but you might be able to work 2 part time jobs, one at LTC and the other at Home Health. Worth a try. Good luck.

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Being a nurse you have many responsibilities..so if you "don't like all of the responsiblity" then maybe nursing is not for you. As a new grad or even a new employee, you can not be picky as to what shift you work or even which days you are scheduled to work. Just be greatful that you have a nursing job. I'm sure many people out there are dying to land their first job. You can ask around, many nurses work odd hours and most of the time you end up working every other weekend or maybe every third weekend and probably every other holiday. You might be better off trying to find a job in the clinics, but I think many clinics now probably hire CMA. Work your factory job if that's going to make you happy but you better come up with a good explanation when you go in for a nurse position interview as to why you quit LTC to work at a factory. Good luck with whatever you choose. Remember your first nursing job may not always be the best, but somehow everyone needs to start out somewhere.

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O.M.G. is it really that bad out there to get a first nursing job i am doing pre reqs now and all i hear abd read is how difficult it is to get into a nursing program and then how difficult it is to get that first job yet i hear there is a nurse shortage will some one please enlighten me i am ready to dedicate my life to something i may or may not be able to get into HELP!!!!!!

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Help. Doin pre reqs for RN O.M.G.is it that difficult to get employed as a new RN

also is it That difficult to get into a nurse program How does any one ever become an experienced RN

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
O.M.G. is it really that bad out there to get a first nursing job i am doing pre reqs now and all i hear abd read is how difficult it is to get into a nursing program and then how difficult it is to get that first job yet i hear there is a nurse shortage will some one please enlighten me i am ready to dedicate my life to something i may or may not be able to get into HELP!!!!!!

There is no nursing shortage! It's all hype.:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Hospice.

I'm going to be honest. I started out in LTC as well. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE geriatric patients. But the care model that we follow is based upon maximizing revenue...at the cost of nurse's safety, physical health, and emotional stability. I absolutely will not work in long term care any more after being forced to work 20 hour shifts, back to back. Or having 30 brand new patients dumped on me with 1 day of orientation. And then having my ability as a nurse called into question when I I couldn't handle it after 6 hours of killing myself. YES we DO have to start out somewhere. But I refuse to tolerate those kind of working conditions at the expense of the safety of my patients, and my nursing license.

As nurses, we're called to give all of who and what we are out of love for the human condition. I believe in that and I thrive on busting my tail at work. It's such a beautiful, accomplished feeling. But most of the LTC facilities I've been in have truly made me hate myself. I have chosen to stay away from LTC as a result of the horrible corporate ethic that sadly many of them are run by. Yes, nursing is EXTREMELY difficult and you're either created for it or your'e not. I do not believe that just anyone can do our job. Too many people are showing up from other career fields for the money and all sorts of terribly wrong reasons b/c of the downward shift in the economy. They have no business in our line of work as far as I'm concerned. But for those of us who were born for this, we're still human. And even nurses have a breaking point.

How about applying with agencies for pediatric home health? That in itself is grueling, and has really crappy drawbacks that are unique to it. But all nursing specialties do. But by doing this, you can focus on 1 patient and perfect your nursing style and abilities and then move into a position that requires you to give more of yourself to multiple patients. I hope it works out. Don't give up!!!!:redpinkhe:redpinkhe

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

Hello, I feel for you, it sounds like you may have gotten overwhelmed. If you don't like working holidays and weekends, maybe working at a clinic may be best for you. If you like nursing...don't give up. It takes time to adjust from "school nursing" to "real world nursing", from my experience working day shift is much more fast paced than the night shift. Nowadays its hard for new graduates to find jobs I am afraid that if you go to this factory job it will be harder for you to get back into healthcare. If you have any other questions that i can help you with that will help you make adjusting better please feel free to ask!!

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