To take a rehab/SNF RN job or wait it out for acute care in Sacramento... UGH! What to do

[vpowervalval]

I am a new grad RN with both my ADN and now my BSN. I am in the Sacramento area and am not finding any new grad positions with the exception of new grad programs which are highly competitive. I have been turned down for over 30 new grad residency positions and over 80 "experience preferred" positions in everything from home health/hospice to med-surg. I have been offered a post-acute rehab facility positions and a psychiatric facility position but can't seem to decide whether to stick it out longer and try for the acute care setting or not. I am certain I am not the only one that has been in this position. Any advice out there would be really appreciated.

[Red Kryptonite]

Having a job > not having a job

[iPink, BSN, RN]

Take the post-acute care job and get some experience under your belt. Of course if that's not where you want to be long term, keep a watchful eye on acute care openings and apply. It's always better to job hunt when you already have a job.

Good luck

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

[Angeljho, MSN, NP]

As the other posters have stated, take the post-acute job. It's easier to transition into another job if you have experience AND you're actively working.

[vpowervalval]

Thank you all for responding. I can definitely see the benefit of working while looking into acute care, however as a new grad I am applying for new grad residencies for which I would be disqualified if I have work experience under my license, thus the dilemma. Also I have been told that it is better to begin my career in the acute care setting as opposed to somewhere else if acute care is necessary to reach my goals. Most acute care job postings in my area request at least one year of acute care experience required, home health/hospice included. Any more thoughts?

[ddaviddudley]

Well how long have you been a new grad? I understand that you want to get into a new grad residency but the competition is so stiff.

The risk you take is this: if you wait and try to get into a new grad residency and your one year mark hits and your unsuccessful then getting any job period becomes harder and harder because the gap of unemployment between graduation and now has greatly widened. The larger that gap, the less marketable you become.

I agree with the other posters, the best way to get a job is to already have a job. Plenty of nurses have been able to transition from LTC or post acute care rehab into acute care. You just wouldn't be hired via new grad residency program.

I personally started off in corrections and even that was good enough to help me transition into acute care. Been working in the ER for 2 years now and it has been a great experience and I have never been in a new grad residency program.

[Red Kryptonite]

Also I have been told

Far too many people make important life decisions based on this.....

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Non-hospital job in SNF or psychiatric facility = RN pay + RN experience

Waiting for an acute care hospital position = Zero pay + Zero experience

Here's a hint: since you are in ultra-competitive Sacramento, it's unlikely you'll ever obtain the acute care job that you seek if you continue to hold out. If I had to make a conjecture, in all likelihood there's nothing on your application or resume that makes you stand out from the rest of the massively sized unemployed new nurse crowd in the northern CA job market.

Take what's been offered to you. Good luck!

[Emergent, RN]

Get a job asap. There is plenty that can be learned in a non-hospital setting. Don't be a snob about LTC or any other type of nursing.

I started out in a small nursing home years ago. Moved into hospital setting when jobs opened up. Have worked in various acute settings since. I've had an interesting career with lots of variety and opportunity.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

I can definitely see the benefit of working while looking into acute care, however as a new grad I am applying for new grad residencies for which I would be disqualified if I have work experience under my license, thus the dilemma.

That's not necessarily true. Most states (verify with yours) define new nurses/grads as one with under 1 year nursing experience. I did go through a New Grad Residency and there were a few nurses in my cohort who already had six months experience somewhere else. That's why many employers want nurses to have 1-2 years of experience under their belt, because at that point they are no longer considered GNs.

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

[vpowervalval]

I graduated in January 2015, so I think I will continue to try for acute care positions and new grad residencies until I hit my six month mark. I have had one residency interview already and was recommended for another one by my nursing recruiter. I tried to getting into a prison job which sounded awesome to me since I have a love for psych. and public health but was told I needed acute care experience first.

[vpowervalval]

I am not being a snob. I own a housecleaning business and work very hard in the home of older adults. My grandmother worked as a CNA in nursing homes for over twenty years and I grew up visiting the residents. I am just struggling to make a decision because I get a lot of conflicting information and advice from everyone from nursing instructors and nurses to family and friends. I am certain that if I started in a nursing home I could still have a wonderful career, I was just hoping for the nurturing and training that might come from a new grad program because I am lacking confidence. I am just a little afraid to take on a nursing home job where I have 24-60 patients. I thought I would ask within this forum because I was hoping to gain wisdom.