Just graduated from a UK college, full registration and all but all I am offered in terms of nursing jobs is NH nursing.
I was top of my class and focused on the scientific basis of nursing. I am kind of disappointed seeing that none of my analytical are really used. All I am asked to do is change diapers and wash people's behinds. Enough is enough I say.
I am thinking about quitting the field all together, or maybe find the nursing area that doesn't involve washing and toileting people all day. All my respect for people doing it and caring and nursing for people in need.Really. But it's not for me.
So why did you go into nursing anyway? Did you not think "ass cleaning" wasn't a part of it??? As a new graduate, I would get all the experience I could in that nursing home setting, then I would most likely be more attractive when looked upon to be hired in the acute care. Trust!!! You will not be hired directly into any critical care unit without paying dues, regardless of your GPA.....
I didn't ask what you would do... And yes, I did think i do not need to do any ass cleaning cuz. there are plenty who can do that, including you it seems. what i asked is what areas in nursing doesn't involve doing that as i don't want to do it anymore.
Of course I will be hired directly into critical care unit as others did. Mine was just bad luck and a hasty decision.
Specializes in Managed Care, Onc/Neph, Home Health.
Nico all i am saying is "pay your dues", you say you "just graduated" and it seems that NH are all that will hire you. You are a new grad. It dosen't matter if you were at the top of your class. You must start out at square 1, at zero, with every body else, all the other new grads who are after the same positions as you. Out in the "real world of nursing", they aren't concerned with your GPA. Its all about experience. I feel I am on topic to give you the hard truth about whats going on out here. of nursing. I have been an RN for 28 yrs, and have worked in a vast number of positions. First job, Oncology/Nephrology staff nurse. Got pulled from one medical unit to another. Even got pulled to a rehab unit. I didn't know squat about rehab. (mind you, got pulled, because I was the lowest on the food chain) Starting out, had to work UP into where I wanted to be, eventually made it to senior management with the largest hmo in the country. But I payed my dues to get there. FORGET getting right out of school going into ICU/CCU/SICU... because you graduated the top of your class. Maybe I should not say "forget it", but your chances may possibly be slim, as evidenced by the positon you are currently employed, but maybe if you know someone that works in one of those specialty areas, that would be willing to "train you" (OJT), then you will be one of the lucky ones. I truly wish you much success in your endeavors in our profession, and welcome!!
I'm with you my friend. I've been a nurse for 7 years, doing mainly bedside med/surg and tele. It is high paced and usually, generally speaking, not glamorous and not as respected as critical care. Until minds change in the profession as a whole my recommendation is put your MINIMUM time into "paying your dues" (as someone in these posts put it), AND GET INTO SOMETHING ELSE. Also, there are plenty of hospitals in the US that take new grads into critical care, albeit they are hard to find. I understand the concept of getting acquainted bedside on a med/surg floor first, I believe it's true, But I know many successful crit. care nurses that dove straight in. There are benefits to that as well and nobody ever talks about it because they think you need to "pay your dues". This concept is toxic. There are benefits to both.
Oh and nobody ever told me to get nursing home experience before I started In med/surg....HAHA. So it makes NO SENSE AT ALL that someone should say to get NH experience before critical care. If it made sense it would be policy everywhere but it's not. It's only policy in hospitals run by "senior management" with the "pay your dues" mentality. Scary when management doesn't think outside of the box.
Specializes in Managed Care, Onc/Neph, Home Health.
Oh and nobody ever told me to get nursing home experience before I started In med/surg....HAHA. So it makes NO SENSE AT ALL that someone should say to get NH experience before critical care. If it made sense it would be policy everywhere but it's not. It's only policy in hospitals run by "senior management" with the "pay your dues" mentality. Scary when management doesn't think outside of the box.
If your comment was directed at me, I was only commenting at his complaint. I wasn't even considering where he was working. Sounded "suspect" to me anyway, a new grad even wanting to work in a nursing home. That wasn't even worth addressing. I worked 3 yrs in the acute care setting, then moved on...broadened my horizon's.
Hey Coldnclammy, I think that's such a great idea about getting NH experience before critical care. I've been in Med-Surg/telemetry for about 2 years and it really does help to have that NH aspect with you while caring for the hospital patients. I personally did not have NH experience before working at a hospital, but I see your point.
I don't mind ppl going to the bathroom as long as they do not need my help with that.
anyway some of my colleagues went into acute care directly, no nursing home experience or bedside nursing prior to that. guess i'm just a bit unlucky.
quit the job anyway although i have no financial net to fall onto.
thats why I am desperately looking for a nursing job that will keep me away from all the dirty things i've been doing lately.
Ive been asking around, seems the theater nurses mainly work inside the OR helping doctors. Think its the job for me, not sure though as ED offers some nasty surprises too.
I've done a lot of clinicals in the OR and hope to go into the OR when I finish nursing school. Yes toileting is pretty much nonexistent in the OR, Inserting a foley was done quite often though. Scrub never touched the patient, only all of the tools. Learning to anticipate what the surgeon is going to need before he asks for it, I think would be very analytical, made not so much scientific. But its a great specialty IMO
I have to say that the job seemed even worse because the senior nurse treated us, junior nurses pretty bad. I mean we had to do everything she didn't feel like doing. Made one of my colleague do some janitor work although she was busy helping a patient.. my colleague is black and I could feel a bit a racism too, but nothing you can actually report.
Specializes in Managed Care, Onc/Neph, Home Health.
I don't mind ppl going to the bathroom as long as they do not need my help with that.
anyway some of my colleagues went into acute care directly, no nursing home experience or bedside nursing prior to that. guess i'm just a bit unlucky.
quit the job anyway although i have no financial net to fall onto.
thats why I am desperately looking for a nursing job that will keep me away from all the dirty things i've been doing lately.
Ive been asking around, seems the theater nurses mainly work inside the OR helping doctors. Think its the job for me, not sure though as ED offers some nasty surprises too.
You really sound "suspect" to me, as if you really went to nursing school and are a new grad. if you exhibit the same arrogance that you show thru this forum, during your interviews, its no wonder you do not get hired in an acute care setting on a medical floor, especially in a specialty care unit.
Nico12
12 Posts
I didn't ask what you would do... And yes, I did think i do not need to do any ass cleaning cuz. there are plenty who can do that, including you it seems. what i asked is what areas in nursing doesn't involve doing that as i don't want to do it anymore.
Of course I will be hired directly into critical care unit as others did. Mine was just bad luck and a hasty decision.
so please be on topic if you can.