ruthere04976

What is a VNA Jahra? Thanks for the advice guys. I have been checking Craigslist but they seem to only need PCA's so far...

Does anyone know how one would go about finding a live-in private duty nursing job? I would love to move South and I really enjoy working with elders and I thought this would be a good solution to both. Any ideas?

The way you describe yourself describes me to a tee - graduated top of my class, attractive, polite, helpful, etc. - and eaten alive! I had to leave my job after 9 months because the DON was in on the picking. It has a name - it's called Horizontal Violence, when nurses eat their young. The only solution for me was to get a new job at a facility where the DON (and I asked this in the interview) has a zero tolerance for Horizontal Violence. Where I work, nurses who aren't nice (and CNA's), don't have a job for very long. I applaud my DON for her stance. Get out of that toxic environment before it takes a toll on your health, because it will.

Go to the Dean of Students and file a complaint.

If you work in surgery you will smell burning blood, which is a really bad smell. You'll see wounds (the first amputated toe stump I saw almost did me in). But you get used to it and soon you'll be taking care of the most putried smelling wounds (like an abdominal wound from a perferated intestine) with your best poker face on. Go for it!

Thank you.

I feel your pain. Like you, I don't want to settle. I want to use the skills I was taught for fear of getting rusty. If one more person asks me what area I want to work in, I"m going to puke! Like we can choose. Anyway, we're getting way too negative. Take your job for whatever they offer, knowing that it will give you the year of experience to open other doors I'm going to go beg for a low-paying job, part time and with no benefits at a nearby nursing home tomorrow lol. Chin up, Patchouli.

Patchouli - I hear you. I never did a LTC rotation either. LTC bothers me because when a new graduate nurse gets a job in a hospital let's say med/surg, you get 6-12 weeks orientation, depending on the hospital. The LTC facilities I've interviewed at give 2 weeks orientation and you get 19 patients on a skilled unit instead of the 5-7 you get in a hospital setting. The lack of orientation bothers me. The other thing that bothers me is that in LTC facilities around here, you don't do vitals or pass meds as an RN - I'm afraid of becoming rusty on my meds. If you've been a CNA or LPN prior to becoming an RN, you are more apt to get a hospital job than if you are coming from a completely different background or with no work experience.

You're right - nobody spells out where the shortages are - perhaps it is in nursing homes. Good point.

Wow, experienced nurses are having a hard time finding jobs in the southwest?

I"m located in Maine. It seems that only nursing homes will hire new grads. I really want to work in a hospital. I did my clinical rotation in a SCU and want to put these skills to use before they get rusty.

Thank you, all of you, for your suggestions. Thanks for the well wishes Wondern. What I see happening, at least in this state, is hospitals getting by with less. The questions I'm asked at interviews consist of "how many patients can you care for at once?" The ratio went from one nurse to 3-4 pts to 5-7 pts. The questionaires we fill out on line for some hospitals seem to drill down to the fact that if you don't answer them to reveal that you love to multi-task to death and love being pulled off assignments and put onto something new, you don't get the job. I may have to apply to nursing homes not connected to hospitals. They are hiring. I can't help but think that pts must get inferior care now days. From what I'm hearing, the budget constraints at my local hospitals are caused by the hospitals not being reimbursed by the state for the care of welfare recipients. You're right though - we do us new grads go to get experience? I graduated top of my class with an award in academic excellence in nursing, yet I can't land a job. I'm not giving up though! I will look into the KY hospital.

Hi, I am willing to relocate. My area is largely under hiring freeze, especially when it comes to new grads. Do you know of areas that are hiring?

Hi, I'm new to this board. I came on board to check out the job listings. I keep hearing about a nursing shortage, but I just graduated from college, passed the NCLEX and now I"m sitting on my license unemployed. It seems no one wants to hire new grads. Any advice out there? Thank you, Susan