Unpaid training in home care

[Tankweti]

Hi All: I think I may have finally latched onto something, after having graduated in May 2010 and having only one previous interview. I was looking through our local Pennysaver and saw an add looking for home health aides which runs every week. In desperation, and nearly out of money, I called them to see if I could get a job as an HHA (I am an RN, BSN). In conversation, it came out that I was a new grad RN and they said I should apply as one. They never advertised for RN's either. So, I came in to get a 2-step PPD (as it had been > one year since I had my prior) and I was given a written test of 100 questions, some Med Surg, some Ped and some IV (which last part they told me I did not have to take but I did anyway just to see). I did very well on the test, with the exception of the IV part which I bombed (no surprise, as they did not go into depth about Groshongs and how much to flush them with and flushing methods in nursing school). Then I sat through orientation, about 4 hours of videos, then a personal skills assessment with one of the nurses who works there. Then some meetings. Finally, I was told that they would be willing to train me, and pair me up with an experienced nurse, as long as I was willing to train for free. I jumped at the chance. I do not know how long this unpaid training will last, but I am trying to make money during nursing tutoring in the meantime. The plan is to hook me up with one patient eventually and I will be with that patient all the time (or 8 hours a day, which ever comes first!).

I wonder if anyone else has experienced anything like this? The company paid for my physical, which I guess demonstrates their seriousness about taking me on.

This might be a way for some people to get into nursing when the market has everyone so stymied. It just so happens that my preference was home care, but I realize that this is not the case for everyone.

I am not going to jump up and down with glee yet, as it is as yet unclear how this whole thing will work out. I guess I am just trying to protect myself emotionally in case something goes wrong. We all had our hopes up so high after nursing school so I am trying to keep very low key about this whole thing, put one foot in front of the other and see where that leads.