Only at a job for a few weeks?

jmking · Sep 24, 2010

How many patients do you have? You can still apply to other jobs while working at this one. Typically most rehab/sniff have high patient ratios.

feisty_lpn, LPN · Sep 24, 2010

You should stick it out until something else comes along. The job market is rough for all nurses, not just new grads. You need the experience.

As for your resume, you should put it on there. Employers have all kinds of ways to verify former employers... credit reports, FICA records, etc etc. When the interview question comes up about your current employment, simply state that you are gaining valuable experience and time management skills there but you want to broaden your horizons.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Sep 24, 2010

if no one stays why are there people giving you advice? I fear they are taking unsafe shortcuts to make things look like they were done appropriately. I say quit, but not until you have another position. The experience would be nice if you can tough it out

caliotter3 · Sep 24, 2010

Stay there until you have another job in hand. List the job because it is experience.

SlightlyMental_RN · Sep 24, 2010

To get your next job, list your current position and duties. For subsequent jobs after the next one, don't bother to list if you were only there for a few weeks. This is what I have done, and it out just fine.

Scarlette Wings · Sep 24, 2010

in the present economy any job is precious if it helps put food on the table and gets the house payment paid on time. that said, most places will assume that an applicant is working somewhere and listing any place you have worked does show that you are employable which is a good thing. you can give the reason as one of it not being a good fit for you or whatever. i do wish you luck.

what i kind of find interesting is how many people will throw the "baby out with the bathwater" and tend to think that their facility has the worst patient load and the worst staffing issues. in the last quarter of a century have found that 90% of the time most every place has way too many patients-per-nurse than ever seem safe and that staffing issues exist all over. (only the names change to protect the innocent.)

sometimes people jump from the frying pan into the fire without realizing it. i have done that myself a few times. (can you say been there ....done that!)

himilayaneyes · Sep 24, 2010

I would tough it out at this place until I have another job waiting for me. Quite frankly, you're lucky to have a job as I'm sure you already know in this job market with so many new nurses competing with experienced nurses for jobs. So definitely don't quit til you have another job. I know that SNFs typically have very high nurse to patient ratios since it's not considered acute care. I don't think I'd put it on my resume if I was only there for a couple of weeks b/c then the facility may think that you'll do the same thing to them if another hospital offers you a job. If you do decide to include it on your resume for the experience, you could just say that the policies and practices of the facility were not compatible with your personal standards as a nurse or something along those lines. Good luck.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2010

It sounds like you are working in an unsafe environment, and I would continue to look for other jobs. Upon interviewing for a job that you like, most nurse managers are very understanding when you are honest about wanting to leave due to unsafe practices...however, I would not go into great detail about it. I was working in an OR for only 3 months until I realized that some short cuts that were being taken was putting my license in jeopardy. When I interviewed with a nurse manager from another OR that I wanted to go to, she COMPLETELY understood, and even gave me props for recognizing unsafe practices. This alone showed her that I was serious about patient care and she welcomed me into my new job.

SNFs are very hard to work in. The work is back breaking and the staff is usually short. If you feel strongly about it, then quit. If you are willing to stick it out until you get another offer, then make sure that you are getting rested, eating well and that you are crossing all of your T's and dotting all of your I's.

I wish you the best!

elprup, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2010

this is what i put on my application. i was at long term care for only 7 weeks. "looking for position in a more personalized patient care setting." i absolutely loved the patients, but could not tolerate managment's games and/or safety issues. it was absolutely an eye opening experience that i refuse to ever do again.

luvmydogs84 · Sep 25, 2010

Thanks everyone. I do plan on staying there until I get another job offer. My main concern was what my potentially new place of employment would think about my leaving the facility I'm at after such a short amount of time. jmking- I had 20 patients my 2nd day on the floor (I'm actually still on orientation but there was no nurse to work that shift so I was left alone for awhile). And that is the lighter, more skilled side of the building...the other sides have 35 to 40 to one nurse. I'm sure most nursing homes are like this, but I can't see these staffing and "safety" issues happening in the hospital setting...

Jag815 · Sep 27, 2010

I'm feeling the same way, luvmydogs84. I, too, am a new grad (LPN) on a LTC unit with 25 patients on my floor. I've only been there 2 weeks and am feeling overwhelmed with the amount of meds I have to pass out. Not sure if I should stay here until I find something else OR leave and continue looking. Everyone I've talked to says that I should stick it out for a little while longer, but I'm in a constant battle on what to do.