2 weeks at SNF and wondering why some say it's not experience

[heartsgal, ADN, RN]

I recently began my first job since graduation in May at a SNF/ rehab and had 6 days on the floor of orienting before going it alone when someone called in sick and the DON asked me if I thought I could work it alone, since the other nurses would be around for questions. I think I did fairly well considering, but it's very hard work with barely time to run and eat for 15-20 mins all shift. The norm here is that nurses all do their paper charting they been to busy for when the next shift arrives, which takes about 1.5-2 hrs. Meaning my 2-10 shift is really 2-11:30 or 12. So in my late 40's I'm trying to adapt to standing for 5-7 hours straight without sitting even for 5 mins. It is a completely different world than hospital nursing during clinicals to say the least. In SNF's every nurse has a unit to herself with approx 17-25 patents (in my area anyway) 2 CNA's, a medication aide for PO's and I had 23 patients on Friday. Unfortunately one of my confused pts had a fall 10 mins before my shift was over so I had to fill out an incident report on top of all my charting, that I'm still learning to do and was there until 1 am. I love the patients and even though it's very hard work, I am really enjoy being a nurse and I'm praying this job will be considered experience. During clinicals nurses would always tell us not to work at SNF's after becoming licensed because it's not really considered experience and now I'm wondering why. I realize it's not acute care but I have patients with varying levels of acuity and some more stable than others. Already in one week I've had an ostomy I've cleaned and changed, trach care and suctioning, a G- tube with meds and flushes q 4hrs, several pts with accu checks and insulin and managed it alone, while asking questions when I needed of course. I will be horribly disappointed if after 6 months, if someone tells me they don't consider that nursing experience :'( While I'm learning a tremendous amount already, I want to transition to acute care and apply for positions again after a few months. What are your thoughts?

[squidbillies]

I think saying it's not experience is bull! You are using tons of skills: Trach care, osteomy care, assessments, documentation, probably foleys, leadership roles, time management, dressing changes, maybe EMRs... You could write a ton of bullet points on a resume with this. Don't let the naysayers get you down- you are learning and growing. Great job.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

You are 100% correct - you are obtaining experience. But any work experience is tied to the environment in which is obtained. For instance, you probably drive a car. Does that mean you can drive an 18-wheeler or a bulldozer? Nope, because even though the basic skills (steering, move vehicle forward, stop vehicle) may be the same, the context is completely different. Same goes with work environments.

Employers are free to establish any type of hiring qualifications that they feel are relevant to the job. So, if they only want to hire someone with acute care or long-term care, or dialysis experience, it's their prerogative. It's useless to try to convince an employer that their requirements are bogus; you won't win that argument.

PP is absolutely correct. Your best approach is to 'market yourself' in a way that will appeal to your target audience. It is also a good idea to obtain concrete experience in quality improvement and regulatory processes. These look really great on a resume.