Opportunities After Nursing Home Employment

[mcRN2b]

Good day everyone!

I am proud to say that I passed my NCLEX on the first attempt in September. I have been applying to hospitals and I know it takes time but, I have a future interview in a nursing home and I had an earlier interview in a LTC facility. I had very high hopes for myself when I graduated from school like my teachers did. I always wanted to start at least 2 to 3 yrs on a Med-Surg floor (as my teachers advised) but that hasn't been easy to get. Everyone loves a nurse with EXPERIENCE!

I realized that any type of nursing is a learning experience that I should not frown upon. If I accept employment in a nursing home or any facility where an RN does lots of supervisory work with hardly any IV/injection med administration, is there still a chance that I could later on get employment in a hospital setting?

[Rednights]

Don't do any type of supervisor / management as a new graduate for LTC. You're expected to know how things work in the facility. Expecting to know how all the nursing and then management policy is a huge risk on your license. Everyone will be coming to you for answers. Start as a floor nurse.

[mcRN2b]

Thanks so much for your comment. It should not have taken me so long to reply to you. However, I have been working at a SNF for 1 month now. I am called an RN Supervisor but, I only supervise aides. I am basically a floor nurse. I pass meds, do wound treatments and charting. There is a lot to learn. I was contacted by a hospital for a position on a step-down unit and I turned it down because I was on my 3rd day of training and figured I could give myself 6 months to 1 year experience first. I like that I am working daylight only and 40hrs per week. I just feel like I'm not learning too much. I haven't done a head to toe assessment since I've been there. I feel like I spend more time giving 10-15 patients their medications. I am starting to regret my decision to stay where I am. What do you think?

[Guest757854]

Thanks so much for your comment. It should not have taken me so long to reply to you. However I have been working at a SNF for 1 month now. I am called an RN Supervisor but, I only supervise aides. I am basically a floor nurse. I pass meds, do wound treatments and charting. There is a lot to learn. I was contacted by a hospital for a position on a step-down unit and I turned it down because I was on my 3rd day of training and figured I could give myself 6 months to 1 year experience first. I like that I am working daylight only and 40hrs per week. I just feel like I'm not learning too much. I haven't done a head to toe assessment since I've been there. I feel like I spend more time giving 10-15 patients their medications. I am starting to regret my decision to stay where I am. What do you think?[/quote']

I would have taken the position on the step down unit in a blink of an eye!

Good luck to you!