Some feedback for a job I turned down please...

[StocktonNurse, BSN, LVN, RN, EMT-B]

I am starting this thread in order to get some good feedback from you guys here in the forum. Basically I found out that I passed my boards around the beginning of this month, and I have been looking for a job. Now a couple of days before I received my results I was given the opportunity to work at a SNF by my old instructor. Although, it wasn't a regular floor position, it was a job where I would be an admission coordinator or I think she said manager of admissions coordinator and discharge planner. Now, she offered to start me even without my license (I guess they felt strongly that I would pass). They would start me at $24 per hour, I would work Mon-Fri with weekends off. Now here is the thing, it is a salary position and I would be paid for 84 hours every two weeks. I get a feeling some of you guys are like what the heck are you thinking?!!? :) Well, I told them that I would call them back about it. I was the only one they selected out of my entire class and told me that they like my assessment and interpersonal skills.

So...I eventually told them no. Reason is, because I feel that I am being payed to deal with the stress of the job. Some descriptions of the job include basically marketing the SNF and going to hospitals to fill up beds at the SNF they want to hire me at. Although, since it is salary I really got the feeling that I would be there longer than 8 hours and have those weeks were I would wonder why am I here working 50 hours a week and only getting my salary. My main thing about my career in nursing includes myself becoming an RN ASAP. I want floor time, hospital time, and anything associated with it. When I talked to the individual that already had the position, they said that their main experience included just looking at H&P's all day, and understanding insurance and social services. I told them that as a newbie into the career of an lvn I was fully gracious, but had to back down since I really want floor time. They told me that they would give me floor time, although, I would have to be fully there for the full time job, and floor time would be OT or part time.

The main thing here that is messing me up is the fact that I turned in an application to a local private hospital where my family works at, but its almost been two weeks and I thought they would have called me sooner. The hospitals really seems to want to stick to the "we dont hire as many lvn's nowadays". That sucks...so know I could've had that job, and it may still be there, but I feel that if I get into this hospital I will receive the floor time necessary that will help me out once I get into the RN program.

What do you guys think?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Personally, I would have taken it, hands down, but since you do aspire to become an RN, I can see why you didn't. If they were going to be willing to be flexible with your desire to return to school, I would reconsider. At this moment, I am not as dying to get floor experience on a regular basis, because it is really tiring. I do it on weekends for the experience, but, it is different for me; I don't intend to go further in nursing.

I hope that you get the job that fits your needs soon.

[flkeyslpn]

As a LPN for the last 16 yrs out of 13 SNF. I think you made a wise choice. I'm currently working in an ER and going back to nursing school. My suggestion is that you call the hospital and see if the CNO received your application(what jobs do your family hold) maybe they can introduce you and ask if they have a floor position open. Also, it might be helpful if you ask them about scholarship programs and do they help towards furthering education. I know the hospital I work at usually only hires LPN's for the floor and I got really lucky, but you never know until you try.:hngon:The funs just starting. You also might want to check night shift, they typically have more openings. (OOps looks like you already work nights to be up this late)

[scrapgirl2000]

In ,my opionion I would have taken the job you were offered. I submitted a LOT of apps. The responses I recieved (being a new grad) were nothing from SNF's (thank God). From hospitals, they said that they were not utilizing LVN's or they want new grad to have 6 mo- 1 yr exp. as an LVN before they hire you. I work at an assisted living facility and hands down the best choice I made! I had an interviw with Kaiser outpatient and I chose the assisted living before Kaiser. At my facility I was able to shadow the nurse BEFORE being hired to see if it was where I would like to to work. I loved it and have posted on this site about. The hours are great and there is room for advancement such as LVN supervisor, resident coordinator, etc. It also allows me to go back to school to become and RN or to venture into social work for a promotion within the company. The opportunity that you had was great because there is too much to deal with in working as a floor nurse. If you are just wanting to work mainly as a floor RN, then this may not have been for you. But if you want to go the route of case management and such, this opportunity can allow you to go to school on weekends or at night. Patient care and skills you learned in school and will utilize in the RN program. But for now, you can give yourself that break and use the opportunity to do a less stressfull job while you are in school. I deal with mainly paperwork, but I love the flexibility and not coming home as stressed if was a floor nurse.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I would have accepted that position in a heartbeat.

Admissions coordinators generally are respected in SNFs, have plenty of autonomy, can come and go as they please, and virtually never deal with the abuse that floor nurses experience. Abusive family members never yell at the admissions coordinator. Patients never become furious with or complain to the admissions coordinator. Physicians are usually respectful to you, because you are helping in an indirect manner to make them money.

Also, having a low-stress job is important while going to school.

[caliotter3]

If nothing comes of the hospital job, you might want to reconsider the SNF job offer if it is still available to you. The problem in many places is that there are not necessarily an abundance of jobs to be had, so it is sometimes better to take what is offered while it is offered. You will be in a terrible situation, if now you aren't offered anything without leaving your immediate area. Good luck with your decisions.

[Brownms46]

I am very surprised by the responses given on this one. I had expected someone to say; Why would a facility hire an inexperienced nurse to be a manager of admissions or discharge planner?? I do not care if you were the star nursing student and got perfect grades in every subject.

Please forgive me but I have to wonder about your "old instructor", and just what is/was she thinking???

An Admission/Discharge manager need to have a whole lot more experience then a good student. You really need to have a some experience to make accurate assessments on patients, and dealing medicare and medicaid patients can be a big can of worms!!! There is so much I could say here, but I will just say that if you take this position, remember to get a whole lot of malpractice insurance, and not just what the facility offers.

One more thing, talk to a Nurse Attorney please!

Good Luck!:uhoh21:

Pleas

[Dierdre]

I strongly agree with the previous poster. What in the heck were they THINKING? A new grad simply does not have the experience to make the kind of decisions that a SNF coordinator needs to be able to make. Also...working at least 84 hours per week is NOT conducive to decent grades in RN school. I strongly suggest something with very flexible scheduling...is there a plasma center in your area?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I strongly suggest something with very flexible scheduling...is there a plasma center in your area?

The OP (original poster) is located in California's Central Valley, which is known for not having an abundance of LVN job opportunities outside the LTC/SNF setting.

[okielpn_1]

i have to agree with the poster about being concerned with the company that would want to hire someone right out of school with no medicare and medicaid experience its a big part of the job that knowledge. the word "patsy" comes to mind when i hear situations like this.my friend was offered a adon job of a nursing home right out of school several years ago and that was the same situation. not saying it is but if it looks like a dog and smells like a dog. its probably a dog. good luck and i think your wise in your first gut decision you made.