JennBenns

Hello! I am a recent grad RN with my ASN (Dec. 2011), starting prereqs in the fall towards my BSN. I have been applying for jobs in all the major hospitals since October with no luck, and was hoping that after being licensed things would change. Still hearing nothing from the hospitals, so I have been applying to LTC facilities. I was offered a position part time on night shift, which I accepted thinking I could certainly use the money and I don't want to be out of nursing practice for too long. However now that my start date is coming up I am dreading it! I was told originally that I would have 6 weeks of full time orientation, a week of days, a week of evenings, and 4 weeks on my shift, nights. But after my physical/drug screen were cleared I spoke to the manager who now says my first day is a new hire orientation, the following 2 days I will work day shift, and then I will be given a schedule based on what I accepted, which was nights w/ rotating weekends, and that my orientation period would be 4, MAYBE 5 weeks. I am a new grad, and very scared of being tossed into a situation with many patients and staff who report to me! I know I need to keep the job b/c I need RN experience, but I am worried I will not get the support I need as a recent grad like I would in a hospital setting. Plus, I didn't expect to land the job of my dreams in women's health, but I never expected to work in a "nursing home". I have spoken to several classmates who have all said they are struggling as well and are going the nursing home route, only the few grads who were already employed by the hospitals are getting RN positions. My rate of pay is much higher than what others are offering, but is it worth it? I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I am freaking out a little! Any advice would be much appreciated!! :)

That depends, they say it's not practical because you shouldn't expect it. Nursing courses are hard, and unlike any other course you have taken. You can't really compare how you've done in other classes to how you will do in nursing school. I personally was an A student, except for my science courses: I got B's in A&P and microbiology. But I finished my first semester of nursing school with an A. I studied ALOT, and focused alot during clinicals, and asked the nurses tons of questions. Nursing school is very much about the application of knowledge to practical situations, at least that's how my school tests us. Everything is NCLEX based. It's not impossible to get A's, but it is difficult. You just have to get used to thinking like a nurse!