Quitting hospital job to go into adult day care...am I nuts?

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

8 months in, not loving the non-stop stress of the hospital, don't think it is for me long-term. That said, wish I could go POOL or RESOURCE but hospital will only do that after one year. Got offered a position in adult day care, 830-3pm, only 3 days per week part-time. $6 pay cut from hospital but looks like much less stress and best yet, hours when my kids are in school and NO weekends. But....my skills will rot in this place and it does have that "sketchy" feel, like you know, not so sure how long it will be around. So........the only way for me to test the water would be to try to do both...full time hospital plus this job but I don't think I'll get leeway to do that at the hospital and it will def be hard on my small daycare needing children. The lower stress is so appealing, seems like the job is not much with 8-12 residents a day and pretty much not even a med pass!????? I don't need bennies or necessarily full time so that is OK too...But then the owner (independently owned) made a comment today though to the effect of if the paperwork is not "perfect" it is my license. I cringed. Should I duck and run from this job? I went and shadowed today and it seemed pretty low key...I am so conflicted...I don't want to lose my skills or marketability but I am so tired of the run run crazy stress of the hospital too....:( Perfect world...hospital would let me drop to POOL early but how do I approach that...:nailbiting:. I have to tell this place today! HELP!! I'd appreciate any feedback, I don't know what to do...

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I think you should go with your gut feeling...which to me sounds like you are not into the day care job much at all(except for the hours). Sometimes being mentally unstimulated can be just as stressful as being overwhelmingly busy in the hospital. And the comment the owner made would definitely turn me off!!! If you do not need to drop down your hours immediately, I personally would stay and wait out the 4 more months or whatever and in the meantime keep looking for other jobs that better suit your needs and give you a better feeling than the day care job. I jumped ship at one of my nursing jobs not too far in and totally regretted it. I felt desperate at the time to get out of the current situation because I was stressed and annoyed with the job, and even though there were lots of cons to the new job, I still went thinking the grass had to be greener. And I definitely regretted that choice. Sometimes though, the leap can be worth it and you may find a job you enjoy so much more than your hospital position, but with all the negative things you wrote about the new job...it doesn't sound like the grass would be a lot more green. I feel that stress in our current positions can make us want to jump ship or act quickly in desperation. Think it out. Just my thoughts.

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Specializes in ICU,Critical Care.

Just curious, have you thought about home health nursing or private duty nursing?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Clarification - The only thing that can impact your license is your behavior/choices. Inadequate paperwork may cause problems for reimbursement or continued re-accreditation, but it won't have any impact on your license unless it links you to some sort of illegal or unprofessional activity.

It does seem too good to be true. Heck, what's to stop you from launching your own Adult Day Care if this is such a sweet deal?

BTW, when I saw the title of this thread, I thought OP was opting to be a day care participant - LOL. Some days, that seems like a wonderful idea; arts & crafts for everyone!

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Duck and run.

Get your year in, then go pool, then look for a job like that.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.

You can always go to a psychiatrist and be deemed competent if you question yourself :)

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Wait - I'm confused. Is OP to be hired like a administrative officer/co-operator ? Or is OP to run class group program activities?

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

OK, so it law here I guess that an RN must be present at all times while residents are there. Thing is, there are only like 12 residents and they take their pills before they get to the center. So....all I am doing is a couple blood sugars, some insulin, and any admissions. Then it is like helping a few to the bathroom, etc. Making sure charts are up to date with vitals, TB, etc, etc, all that I don't know. For the life of me though I don't understand why they have two nurses on the day they have 12 residents....residents sitting, doing nothing....LOL....and not acutely ill.....maybe this is just how it is in daycare? It pays pretty bad for RN work but still very cushy looking when compared to the hospital!! ???? BTW.......I won't quit my hospital job for this job without trying it out. I am trying to get the days off from the hospital that I need there, see? Won't be fun working 6 days a week for a while but it's the only way, right? Would you do both to see? It will just be temporarily hard on me and my young kids. I don't know!!!!

I would love to eventually do hospice home health or something like this...but still....waiting for that golden ONE YEAR experience, LOL

Thank you all!

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Definitely stay where u are for a year, then start looking. nursing home, group home, daycare jobs will always be around. I know several nurses that like these types of jobs bcuz they are burnt out on nursing or lazy. From my own experience I felt brain dead & didnt understand y they hire RNs for these type jobs, u will definitely not utilize your skills if thats a concetn. I suggest staying the year and become more marketable, does your hospital hv any outpatient centers, clinics, or preop surgery units, all hv decent hours & pay without bedside craziness.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Personally, I've not done Adult Day Care. But some things come to mind. I believe ADC is monitored by DOH, so there must be some regs around that govern how the place is run. And if an RN is being specifically recruited, I'd bet it has something to do with the RN scope of practice re assessment and care planning for your clientele.

While not acutely ill but considered stable, many of the client population most likely will be a frail, debilitated group with multiple health problems, physical and poss mental, like dementia or ALZ. ADC is utilized for these pts to provide them some sensory stimulation and socialization while also allowing homecare family care providers the opportunity for respite time to do personal tasks or some employment. In some cases I've known, it's used as babysitting service by some families.

And altho your census may only be 12 NOW there is the possibility for a larger population as time goes on.

OP - will you be replacing one of the day nurses? Is there any ancillary staff to direct program activities? I'm concerned that you've said the clients are "sitting, doing nothing". Something there doesn't sound right to me. Pts need to be engaged in activities, not just watching TV or video. Who will be supervising/overseeing their group program activities?

ADC services are paid for somehow - I think Medicaid and some private pay, poss. With the constraints of healthcare as it is today, I don't know that this job will be as "cushy" as you think. Every job is doing more with less. And with the hours that you state, will you be receiving any benes? If you are 'THE RN', what happens if you need a day off - must the facility close for the day? Same goes for any other staff - who covers their responsibilities?

Don't want to be a 'Negative Nancy' but you need to go in with eyes wide open. The job may turn out well run and a great change of pace.

Good luck.

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