Nursing Home Contract for 2 years

[Shimbo]

I want to get people's opinion about this. I am a registered nurse who graduated last year. I just started working at an agency about a month ago as a home health nurse. Im getting LPN cases and getting paid at a LPN rate with no benefits which sucks, but i just need experience. I was just interviewed today for a nursing home and the VP of HR really liked me basically offering me a job however I need to sign a 2 year contract. It isn't official yet because I still need to get interviewed by the Nursing Director, but I still have a good chance of getting hired. I really was looking forward into working at a Hospital, but it has been difficult for me for the past year. I also had an interview with one of the top hospitals in NY around 2 months ago, however when I spoke to the nursing director recently, they haven't made a decision yet. This hospital interview is for an OR program which I would absolutely love to work for. Im not too sure what to do because if I do get an offer at the nursing home and accept it that means I can't work at a hospital until 2 years later and knowing that I still may have a chance of getting hired at the NY hospital is making me feel frustrated about this situation. I just feel restricted by a 2 year contract at a nursing home. Also i want some input on those who have worked at nursing homes.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Can you afford to live at the LPN rate that you are making now? I am personally leery of contracts. I quit my first nursing job in a hospital after four months and I am starting a new one soon.

[Shimbo]

As of now I can live off at a LPN since Im still living with my parents. All i need to pay for now are my student loans and car payments. Im questioning about working the nursing home because i think a 2 year contract is pretty long for a nursing home

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

Don't sign a contract without at least being able to work there for 60-90 days. There are so many reasons it might not work....you have to be sure you can deal with it competently, and be on top of your game with learning a system that works for you. LTC is not for everyone and some can not even keep up with it. It can be very stressful.

I love LTC but not all of them are ran the same....you need to see how it is ran internally before committing is my advice.

If you really want the OR job, maybe tell the LTC to let you work 90 days to see if your a good fit and maybe the Hospital will call by then.

Best wishes!

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

That is a very good idea to see if you can wait 60-90 days before signing the contract. I knew about three months in that I wanted to quit my first job. However, it does take time to become very competent as a nurse.