New RN, BSN needs advice please

Nurses Career Support

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I graduated in May 2012 with my BSN. I studied right after graduating and took my boards in JUly and passed. I got let go of my CNA job because I was now overqualified and there were no RN positions available at the time. After 3 months of unemployment, 100 job applications and two hospital interviews I finally decided to try nursing homes. I got hired at a really big company nursing home that employs over 800 workers. Great facility with great benefits. They asked if I wanted to work in long term or step down care. I said I would like to start in long term care to get my "feet wet" and used to the computer and paperwork. I have now been working for three months and I feel so slow. Somedays I struggle to get my last med pass done. I work second shift. I feel like I am still trying to learn my paperwork and which med orders require consent forms. Let alone I haven't even had enough time to learn to complete monthly assessments. I am only three days a week with no room to pick up shifts unless I get trained on another floor or another shift. I know I am not ready yet. I plan to work another 3 months and then ask to be trained on a transitional care floor we have. My plan would be to work on the transitional floor for 6 months and then look for hospital jobs. My main concerns are that I still feel like I am too slow and should know more. I feel like I am losing my knowledge I learned from school the longer I am in long term care. I feel like my supervisor won't take a chance and place me on a transitional care floor if I can't even keep up with the RNs and LPNs on the long term care floor. Also, do I stay at this facility for longer than a year if they have opportunity to apply for loan repayment after working that long or apply to hospitals? I would feel guilty to apply and take the money for loans and the apply for another job at a hospitAl. Advice is greatly appreciated, A RN with 3 months experience that needs more hours

I think the job market is at tough times, don't give up the transition is always going to be a rough road. Don't be so hard on yourself. If you feel you are being held back from other opportunities then you might want to think about switching to another place if you have the choice. I think you would know whats best for your situation. Good luck on your decision. Don't give up. :)

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