Peers critical of my new grad job choice

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Just a bit of a vent here.

So in May I took the stage for my pinning ceremony and in July I received my license as a registered nurse. I searched for work for what seemed like an eternity, but was lucky enough to land a position in a skilled nursing facility 2 miles from my apartment. I am so excited and I can't wait to start (10 more days)! Granted, my dream is to work in an ICU, but I'm a new nurse and I feel that working in a skilled facility will be a great learning experience. I think it will help me develop time management skills and my DON says that this particular facility is great for a new grad because most of the patients are in acute rehab, so I'll be doing wound dressings, initiating IVs, the big med passes, dealing with feeding tubes, etc. The place also pays about $6 more an hour than any of the hospitals in my area and has a really good benefit package and all that jazz. They are also still hiring for a few overnight and evening shift positions and welcome new nurses to apply.

Well, most of my graduating class still haven't found work. I've suggested this place to some of my buddies and they immediately shoot the position down because it's a skilled nursing facility. Then they give me the whole "I can't believe you're actually gonna work in a nursing home" or "I would never want to work in ltc or a snf. All you're doing is wiping butts" schpeal.

I'm sorry, what? I mean, many of them act like they are above working in a skilled facility or long term care. I'm sorry, but as a new nurse I don't feel like I'm above anything. Even if this place paid me crap money I would take the job in a heart beat just to gain experience. But then again, I feel that even if I had 10 or 20 years of experience under my belt I wouldn't be above ltc or any other field of nursing. I believe that caring for any population, no matter how young or old, whether you're welcoming a new baby into the world or easing another out of the world, is not beneath anyone. I understand that geriatric nursing or long-term care may not be everyone's cup of tea, but hell- OB nursing is not mine. I would not, however, act like I'm too good for OB. It's just not something I'm interested in doing.

So while everyone else in my class is still holding out for that position in a hospital (along with the 800 other new grads in my area) I was lucky enough to be given a chance at a small facility willing to pay me top dollar for my area. Oh yeah, they also have free parking (the hospitals around here make you pay $100/month to park in their garage). I was given a chance by this place and I'm very excited to give them my best. They are willing to work around my school schedule (I'm going back for my bachelors and probably fast-tracking it into the masters program) and are happy to welcome a new grad to the staff. I start orientation on the 14th, and the nurses and administrators that I've met have all told me that they are excited about me starting and are willing to work with me to answer questions and train me properly. One of the nurses even told me she loves working with new grads because it helps her better her practice.

Now, I am very enthusiastic about this job. I'm sure there will be many times I'm overwhelmed and may end up going home and crying in my pillow. The staff might end up being mean and burnt out and whatever other negative thing. I may hate this job. Or the staff may be nice and wonderful and I may love this job... I don't know. But at least I tried it before I judged it. I'm thankful and grateful for the opportunity.

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Bravo! I'm happy for you! I just started NS a few weeks ago, and I'm already hearing Level I students talk about how they are only going to do this or that.

I'll be happy with whatever I get two years from now or maybe the economy will recover between now and then, it'll be better for everyone.

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Congratulations on having both a gracious (and wise) attitude and an exciting career opportunity.

For some, it's easier to sit around moaning and complaining than to dig in and make the most of what's available. But when the logjam clears and jobs open up again, you will have the benefit of all the paychecks you have earned AND all the experience you have gained.

I wish you the best. You're acting like a smart cookie.

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Ahh but OP, you will be the golden one!

I feel some SNFs are much more acute than some Medsurg or even (almost) some ICU floors! With D/Cs happening practically with the first clean vital set, and now more and more straight out of the ICU, you are going to have more skill than many hoping to move from medsurg to ICU.

So there! Screw them.

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Sounds like your classmates need to take some **** and get over themselves. You are the one who will be in a better position within a few months while they are still looking for a job and not using their skills.

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Congratulations on your position and kudos for your wonderful attitude and work ethic are in order. I agree with above posters and take comfort you do not have to account for those long employment lapses on your resume!!!

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It sounds like your classmates are jealous because you found a job and they didn't, and this is just "sour grapes" on their part.

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As with everything in life, it's all about your attitude. Yours will serve you well. You will gain a tremendous amount of experience in acute rehab at a SNF. They pay better and like you said, are much more willing to work with your schedule. Patients at SNF need and deservse top notch care and it sounds like you are just the one to provide it. Congratulations!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Transplant.

I think you have an awesome attitude about this opportunity. It really sounds like you did your homework and found a solid place to work that will give you good learning experiences and pay the bills! As a fellow new grad, I would have done the same in your situation, and have to say that since many of my classmates are still looking for jobs, I think that they would've, too!

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Congratulations on finding work!

As to your classmates, who's working? You're working. Let them criticize you for taking a job. Let's see how superior they feel in six months.

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towards the end of my last semester my husband told me to apply to positions in waves. the first wave were my "dream" jobs in the units and hospitals which i would do anything to work at. while i knew these positions were long shots, i was happy to at least try because you never know. the second wave were the jobs and units within the hospital which were a little more realistic for new grads. the final wave were the positions outside the acute hospital setting and in ltc, snf, rehab hospitals, and home health agencies (seriously you name it and i applied to it). even though the ltc and snf were the last positions i applied for, i never once thought i was above them and no matter the position or setting i would give 110% to any job (corny but true). in this economy i knew an offer was an offer so i wasn't turning down anything based of setting, shift or pay. in the end i was offered two positions, one in the hospital and one in an acute rehab facility. while both jobs appealed to me i choose the med/surg position because it was 35 minutes closer then the rehab hospital. i'm still not on my "dream" floor but i believe i'm in a position which creates a great learning environment and challenges me at the same time. your classmates who think their above these positions will still be the ones looking for jobs months from now and in the end it doesn't matter what they think because your the one gaining valuable experience.

congrats and good luck with the new job.

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Thanks for all of your kind responses :)

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