katiekoo

I am a recent May 2012 grad from a very respected ASN program in the Mid-Atlantic. I recently passed the NCLEX, so now I'm looking for that first job. I'm a more "mature" new nurse, with lots of life experiences to bring to any new job. I've applied at several hospitals, several different types of positions/shifts, even with long commuting distances from home. Not one single phone call. Throughout school, I worked as a CNA with a home health company. I enjoyed working with clients in their homes as a CNA, so when the company offered me a PRN RN position, which I accepted without much thought. My concern is that I will get pigeon-holed as a Home Care Nurse, and will never gain any clinical skills. The company I will be working for does not do any "skilled" nursing care (trachs, vents, G Tubes, etc.), but only provides a basic nursing assessment and care plan management, then delegates client care to the Home Care CNA. With the job market and economy still sputtering, I realize finding that "dream nursing job" is a figment of my imagination without any clinical experience or a BSN in hand. I'm hoping I can wait it out doing Home Care nursing until the job market improves. Is this a good decision to make? Will I regret working in home care right out of nursing school? Has anyone else taken this path right out of school? If so I would appreciate any lessons learned or advice...Thanks!

All of the above comments are right on target. Just take it one day at a time and DO NOT get overwhelmed. Also, try to cut down your work hours as much as financially possible to make room for studying.

I'm glad to find someone else who has experience in caring for quads. I just finished my 1st week of working with a quadriplegic patient, whose SCI occured in May of 2011 (roughly 4 months ago). I had a crash course (one day of training), then I was on my own for the next two days. I provide 3 hours of care in the morning and 3 hours of care in the evening, so not that bad. What is eye-opening to me is how many little steps that you have to remember and how to stage/plan your care. The transfer with the hoyer lift and sling is my most challenging aspect of it all. Anyone know of any good websites that I can find a step-by-step procedure for transfers? Everything out there I can find uses actors that are NOT quadriplegics! Not real enough for me... Another issue, is the newness of the injury. I know the patient is angry, frustrated, ****** off, etc. Luckily, I have the maturity to not take it personally. I hope that after my learning curve and with more experience with him, these tense moments become fewer. Until then, I have to just keep smiling and get to know how to provide the best care possible for him.