huangsoRN

I would recommend new grads to work in LTC facility if they cannot find a job. I graduated last August with BSN. Couldn't find a job anywhere with 100+ applications. So I applied for nursing home, even nursing home it's hard to get a job unless they have a immediate opening. Their pays are about the same as a new grad RN in a hospital. Yes, it is tough to work in a nursing home as a new grad. But it has taught me how to manage time and prioritize. It also help me to land a job in ICU　residency for Multicare. I only received one wk of training in nursing home with 20 residents. First couple weeks is rough but nursing home is all about routine. Getting down to know what meds the residents take. Getting practice to call the MDs and give SBAR report to EMTs. 2 months working in nursing home has taught me the reality of nursing that school has never showed us. Good luck with job searching. I know it's tough out there and I feel lucky I got my dream job in ICU.

I am BSN new grad and started my first RN job in LTC a month ago. I had 4 days of orientation and I asked my DON to extend my orientation so they gave me extra 2 shifts. I have total 20 residents in my hall way and 7 of them are diabetic. I am still struggling with paper works especially when there's new admission or incident report that I need to complete. Orientation is going to give you a general idea but I personally didn't absorb much information that was given to me in the orientation until I actually encounter the situation. It's going to be over whelming in the first week. But once you get to know your residents and their medications, it will be easier. I always have my "brain" with me and I write what Tx needs to be done at what time in the beginning of the shift to keep me organized. It's good to note who is diabetic and when their CBG needs to be checked. Ask the nurse who is orienting who's glucose tend to drop fast so you have a better control of what time you need to give their insulin. Nursing school did not prepare us to the real world so it's very important to establish a good relationship with the co-workers. The nursing assistants are great source to go for skin issues when you first start because you don't know if they are new or they have been there for a long time. I work 12 hr shift 0630-1900 but sometimes I don't leave til 2200... What I found most helpful is to know who you can go to when you need help. Some nurses may not want to help because they got their own stuff to worry about especially it's their time to go home. I am glad I have found a co-worker who is resourceful and willing to stay and help me when I got 3 admissions in one afternoon. Best of luck to both of us! PS. your legs will feel sore in the first few days... but it will get better I am getting a pair of compression socks asap.

Hi, I graduated in August and still have no job yet. I believe more than 1/2 of my class got hired but mostly by working as a nurse tech for the hospital or did senior practicum there. I have been applying to all hospitals in washington that accepts new grads and got 2 interviews but still have no job. I talked to the nurse recruiter in some hospitals and they said that every new grad position has 100+ applicants... It is possible to get a job in Seattle but it may take sometime and luck :) If you want to work in pediatric, go for seattle children's and Swedish, Franciscans for L&D.

I believe Franciscan has some nurse tech position opening about couple weeks ago. I'm not sure if the the position is still available. I only saw one nurse tech position opened in multicare in the last 5 months. If you don't mind going to seattle, try Virginia Mason, Harborview, Swedish, Seattle Chhildren's or UWMC. Virginia Mason nurse techs gets hired as RN right after they graduate so it's really a good deal. I used to be a nurse tech in Harborview and I loved working there. However, it's very unfortunate they didn't have any spot for new graduate RN once I graduated so I still have to look for a RN job by myself. I do have the e-mail and phone number of the nurse recruiter in Harborview. So if you are interested, send me a private message :)

I got the rejection e-mail today. Hopefully you will not get this e-mail. Please update me :)

It is my goal and passion to become a primary family nurse practitioner. Yes I am complaining about job market because I really want to have the experience that will prepare me better to become a nurse practitioner. BSN is my first degree and I'm 23 years old and I admit that I do not have the critical thinking skill compare to experienced nurses. This is why I am so upset about not getting a job in acute care setting. However, I did get some offer from LTC. I am just wondering if experience in LTC will provide me the experience I need to become a FP.

How was the interview SimplisticRnx? I havent heard back from them yet... and I don't think I will

I am willing to relocate. I live in washington state and I have applied to residency programs in WA, OR, CA, and even TX. I had interviews but was not selected since it was my first interview and my nerve took control of me... I did better on the 2nd interview with another hospital but was not selected either. When I get nervous, my brain goes blank and my English goes down hill... (ENG is my 2nd language) Residency programs are so competitive right now and interviews are hard to get and I feel I am not as strong applicant as native English speaker in interviews. I figure getting a job in LTC is better than flipping burgers in fast food restuarant so my plan right now is most likely accept the LTC job and keep looking for hospital job. Hopefully I will find one before I forget all the skills.

Thank you for replying. I actually got a RN position offer from LTC. It seems like all I will be doing is passing meds and giving some wound treatments... I don't mind doing LTC but I don't want to do it for my whole life. I worry that if I join LTC I will have hard time getting a job in acute care setting in the future. I really want to be a FP and I am really trying to get experience to be more prepared. Grr... I really need some input from experienced nurses and practitioners!

Hi all, I graduated 3 months ago with BSN degree. Cannot find a RN position yet in the hospital... I am looking at LTC and home health care now. I understand that many ppl suggest to have RN acute care experience before NP school but I guess the economy won't let me do that right now. It's is my goal to become a primary family practitioner in a doctor's office. Even if I get a home health care or LTC job and work for 2-3 yrs, will that help me to be more prepared to become a FP? Any input is helpful, I am just tired of job searching...

Hi SimplisticRnx, I just interviewed with them today. I interviewed with 2 residency directors. They asked me about 5 questions such as why you choose group health and the rest questions are regarding your clinical experience. I am sure you will do great :) I heard that they are interviewing 30 ppl and there are 12 positions only. Hopefully we will both be selected. Good luck!

Hi, I just scheduled a interview for the Group Health Ambulatory Care RN Residency. I am just wondering what's the pay scale in Group Health. Also for current employees in Group health, how is working environment in ambulatory care?

Thank you all for the input :) I will focus more on finding a job then looking for grad school. One more question, wouldn't it be hard for people who went through the nursing immersion program (For career changers and graduates with degrees in non-nursing subjects who want to become Primary Care Nurse Practitioners) to find a job since they have no experience either? My friend is starting the nursing immersion program this winter and I feel that he will have a hard time getting a job once he gets out too.

Thank you for the reply. I do want to get experience first but it's really hard to find a new grad job in this market... This is why I am considering to continue my education.

Hi everyone, this is my first thread. I just passed my NCLEX in mid september and is wondering if it's a good idea to pursue nurse practitioner degree without RN experience? Also, how's the market out there for nurse practitioners?