Hi everyone. I'm a long time lurker who is finally a member. A little background info. I've been an LPN for 2 years now in a long term care/rehab facility and have had both long term residents and rehab patients. I've been exposed to and feel comfortable with g - tubes, wound vacs, and trachs. I needed a change and a flexible schedule since I'm going back to school for my RN. I've been offered a position by two different agencies.
Agency #1 is 3 days a week and every other weekend (I need the hours) on 2nd shift. Opportunities to pick up shifts available. Benefits included after the probationary period (which I need). The patient is a quadriplegic adult with a trach, vent, g-tube, ostomy, and foley. I have no vent experience. Training is a few days with another nurse with the option of a vent class at a later date. I was hired on the spot. Pay decent with a dollar raise after probationary period.
Agency #2 is 3-4 days a week depending on parent needs on 3rd shift. This is a child (I have no peds experience). Patient has a g-tube and seizures. Agency has you go through classes before they move you up a level with cases. No benefits unless schedule is 36hrs a week and mine won't be. Unsure of opportunities for extra shifts. I had a face to face interview with HR then phone interview with clinical director the same day. Was hired a few days later. Pay is about the same (before agency #1 raise).
So who do I go with? I need the hours and benefits, but I want to feel like I have support if I need it. I will say I'm leaning towards agency #2. I just don't know about the hours and benefits, but I don't want to jeopardize my license. I guess I'm just looking for validation.
Good idea to go with all three. As you orient to the individual cases you can see where you want to spend your time or how you want to break up your work week. Some people work two weekend shifts with one patient, others reserve, say, night shift for client from X agency, and work swing shift with client from Y agency, etc. You will see how things pan out. Hope that all three agencies are serious about providing you with work and that they are not just "collecting" phone numbers. Good luck.
Good idea to go with all three. As you orient to the individual cases you can see where you want to spend your time or how you want to break up your work week. Some people work two weekend shifts with one patient, others reserve, say, night shift for client from X agency, and work swing shift with client from Y agency, etc. You will see how things pan out. Hope that all three agencies are serious about providing you with work and that they are not just "collecting" phone numbers. Good luck.
I like that..."collecting phone numbers". You nailed it on that one! Well done!
Yeah. They never remember your phone number when it counts, but they sure know what the phone number was when they tell the unemployment people that they offered you work and you refused! Really? Why did my phone never receive a call from them then? Whose delusion is this anyway?
Agency health benefits are usually expensive and/or terrible.
This is very true. The "insurance" I was offered was almost $400 a month (just for myself) and in very tiny print at the end of the brochure it said, "this coverage does not meet the minimum requirements for the ACA"! Really?! Then why would I even want it?!
Thank goodness I'm signed on to both agencies due to the availability of hours. Looks like the pediatric agency will be my primary as they are offering more hours with two different g-tube cases on nights. The adult vent case, even though I'm not entirely comfortable yet, will be a supplemental case for me. They are offering a 2 hr vent class that I will be attending. However the peds agency offers and requires more extensive training before taking on trach/vent cases.
Overall, things seem as though they'll work out as far as working for two agencies. I have my first 11hr peds training case tonight. I am very excited. Thank you all for your input:)
Thank goodness I'm signed on to both agencies due to the availability of hours. Looks like the pediatric agency will be my primary as they are offering more hours with two different g-tube cases on nights. The adult vent case, even though I'm not entirely comfortable yet, will be a supplemental case for me. They are offering a 2 hr vent class that I will be attending. However the peds agency offers and requires more extensive training before taking on trach/vent cases.
Overall, things seem as though they'll work out as far as working for two agencies. I have my first 11hr peds training case tonight. I am very excited. Thank you all for your input:)
Glad to read that you are enthusiastic about the challenge. Don't forget about the third agency should either or both of the other situations not remain static.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Wow the trach vent class I take is 8-12hrs including lab (after self study and passing a pre-test written exam) and minimum 3x8hr shifts with a qualified preceptor
Wow the trach vent class I take is 8-12hrs including lab (after self study and passing a pre-test written exam) and minimum 3x8hr shifts with a qualified preceptor
2 hours isn't nearly enough for a class. The families get more than that at the hospital. Its dangerous for the families to know more than the nurse, because they will use that against you in one way or another.
Thank you! Unfortunately the third agency won't work out as their openings are in NW Indiana and I'm NE. But I'm going to keep them in mind should things change.
And JustBeachyNurse, that's why I've been uncomfortable with this vent case. I know I have trach experience and am not a new grad, but I feel as though I need more training. Luckily the peds agency offers more so I'll have the opportunity to have more training.
2 hours isn't nearly enough for a class. The families get more than that at the hospital. Its dangerous for the families to know more than the nurse, because they will use that against you in one way or another.
This is precisely why I'm uneasy with the vent case. I'm thankful for the training and resources the peds agency has to offer.
FWIW, I have always found that the training I got from another nurse on an actual case was far superior to the classroom "training" I have been forced to attend on occasion. Ask your supervisors if you can shadow a good vent nurse on one of her shifts for training purposes. This can be arranged with the family with the offer that you might be a viable fill-in nurse in the future. You can offer to get this shadow time in for free so they can't use the "we can't pay two nurses at one time" excuse. Just to save you some of the inconvenience I've experienced or heard of in the past. Good luck with your new cases!
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
Good idea to go with all three. As you orient to the individual cases you can see where you want to spend your time or how you want to break up your work week. Some people work two weekend shifts with one patient, others reserve, say, night shift for client from X agency, and work swing shift with client from Y agency, etc. You will see how things pan out. Hope that all three agencies are serious about providing you with work and that they are not just "collecting" phone numbers. Good luck.