What would you do?

Nurses General Nursing

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I recently was hired as a nurse in a skilled nursing facility. It is a full-time position, from 3-11. I just received a call from a home health agency. They are looking for a nurse to monitor the medication regimen of about 7 clients. I would be responsible for traveling to their homes and consulting with the physcian and pharmacist to make sure they are receiving the right med, right dose, and no drug interactions. I would visit each client at least once a month. I am a new grad and have been looking for months for a nursing position. I finally was offered a position at a skilled nursing position. Then I get this call from the home health company. I don't know if I should take this job also or strictly focus on my skilled nursing facility job. The skilled nursing facility is not near me and so I would have to travel some distance. I don't know if I would want another job that requires me traveling distances. So what would you do?

My long term goal is to work at a hospital.

The lady over the phone for the home health job is going to explain everything to me tomorrow. I will see what paper work is required and the salary. I agree you have to weigh the gas milage, length of time per visit, and paperwork. Once I factor that in I will see if it is even worth it.

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC.

Four weeks of orientation is wonderful! Most SNF offer less than a week to a new nurse. What kind of orientation would you get doing home health? I really suggest you stick with the SNF because you would get the chance to solidify all the skills you learned in nursing school - NG tubes, trach care, foleys, colostomies, blood draws, etc. Monitoring medications for home health - not so much. I would think that a future hospital employer would look more favorably on someone who has been using the skills that they would in the hospital.

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Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.
bubblymom373 user_online.gif

thank you. i graduated october of last year. i had lost hope even as a christian. i had applied to so many places and either got no response or we do not hire new grads. for those still looking, hang in there.

i get what your mean. i've applied everywhere..up/down, left/right, high/low, zig/zag yatta yatta and get turned down at every one of them. i'm a new grad (08/1010) and still no job. i have all the experience and then some, trained while in the navy but nothing seems to be good enough.

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As someone who has worked in several LTC facilities, I will tell you my "experience" with them. I have taken jobs at 5 different places and ended up quitting all 5 of them in a matter of months. This last one was it, I have vowed to never step foot in another one, ever again. I would declare myself incompetent and draw SS first! Take the home health job and run from LTC!:twocents::twocents:

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navyguyhm3 user_online.gif

i don't have the healthcare experience you have but i am a army vet. even with me serving my country i still had a hard time finding a job.

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j464335

i am nervous about long term care, i have heard the horror stories. i went in for an interview at one facility and they only wanted to give me a week of orientation and responsibile for 50 residents. i ran with my license as someone advised.

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The HH job seems like it would be a reasonable job that would allow you to keep your other part-time position if you desired. If you take the LTC job you will be so tired and stressed out you will not have the energy for another job. LTC is rough, It isn't for me, nor would I ever advise anyone to work in it.

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Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.
navyguyhm3 user_online.gif

i don't have the healthcare experience you have but i am a army vet. even with me serving my country i still had a hard time finding a job.

i know what ya mean. i had almost 10 years in, exceptional training and medical background, get sent to afghanistan, take a couple bullets in the legs and a head injury and bam...i get medically retired and have to start all over...veteran status doesn't seem to matter, even though vets are more dependable than 99% of the average work force.

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j464335

i feel what you are saying but i applied to hospitals and they are looking for experienced nurses. i hope this facility is different than the ones you worked at. i need a job and they are willing to give me a chance as a new grad unlike most others.

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navyguyhm3

i never served in war and i commend you for defending our freedom. have you tried the va? i applied with them but they went with another candidate. i remember 10 years ago i would fill-out an application and state that i was in the military. i got calls back asap. times sure have changed.

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Specializes in med-surg, urgent care, emergency med.
navyguyhm3

i never served in war and i commend you for defending our freedom. have you tried the va? i applied with them but they went with another candidate. i remember 10 years ago i would fill-out an application and state that i was in the military. i got calls back asap. times sure have changed.

i've tried the va here in loma linda, ca...but, nothing is open and they are on a hiring freeze. i would love to get in the va, but so far, i only step foot in there for phy. therapy and neuro. they pay well too, start off 22/hr for lvn and more with experience.

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navyguyhm3

Not only does the VA pay well but the benefits are excellent. You are right there is a hiring freeze at the VA. One of the VA hospitals close to me has no openings for nurses. What about long term care? I know it may not be your first choice but it is a start.

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