Can someone please tell me where all the nurses who are looking for jobs are?
I have at least 4 full time and 2 part time openings and I haven't had one good candidate apply. I've had people who lie on their application, people who will only work first shift and are amazed that they'll have to work on every other weekend...where are all the nurses? We pay better than the other facilities around and just had a perfect survey.
I'm a new grad. I just started in LTC in Massachusetts - just finished my 3rd week. I would have to agree about critical thinking skills to some extent! My med pass, treatments and documentation- consume all my time- I've no time to think through about what's going on with patients- it's run run run ! A thorough assessment is impossible. Actually looking into 20 patients- to see their diagnosis, labs, notes and figure out how it connects to the current clinical picture... Ya not gonna happen. So yes I am using critical thinking- mostly to cover my ass.
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
I would suggest that after doing anything for only 3 weeks is not enough time to make a thorough assessment of the job. Perhaps after a while when you realize the med pass is not the be all and end all of the day, you'll be able to use your critical thinking to make a difference for the residents.
I am a new grad RN with 16 years experience as a LPN. It is difficult to say the least to find a place willing to hire a new grad nurse. Long term care facilities will hire new grads but they are not hiring at this time. Or they offer part time without benefits. I wish you were in the Chicago area. I would be there in a heartbeat!!
LTC will be having sicker and sicker patients with many needs. I am a Director of LPN and CNA programs. All my students have jobs when they graduate. Statistics say that 43.3% of new grad LPN's will be in an administrative position within 6 months of graduating, I make sure we teach Leadership skills throughout the program. Many will move on for their ADN etc. but they still need to start out with strong skill foundation. I started out as an LPN when we could still work in the ICU's. My program faculty prepare our students to care for high acuity medical patients which is the highest population of patients. I just took them to a seminar on Challenging Geriatric behavior it was awesome. These opportunities prepare them for leadership and networking, thus providing them with job seeking skills and connections.
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
LPN school in Massachusetts is 10 months long. Most of these people have trouble being nurses six months after they graduate. Leadership after 6 months? I don't believe it.The new BSN grads aren't much better since they lack clinical experience, so don't think I have anything against LPNs.
Good question. About 10 years back the hospitals in our area had a massive lay-off and laid off many nurses with seniority or the older well trained nurses. They gradually replaced them with new graduates, so therefore, the trial and error knowledge that can't be found in text books -learned by the older nurse on the job was not passed down. Our hospitals are still recovering from their error. Plus, there are so many options available to a nurse that he/she doesn't have to accept a job that calls for night shift and every other weekend. Life is not worth missing out on weekends with family and friends. The salaries paid to nurses is so low in comparison to being a lackey for a hospital.
Cape Cod Mermaid-you are right 3 weeks isn't enough to give it an honest evaluation. And I know medpass is not end all and be all of it- that's why I'm so frustrated because it takes me so long to do it! I feel lucky to have a job and be working as an RN- and to get a chance to make a difference in the residents lives
LPN school in Massachusetts is 10 months long. Most of these people have trouble being nurses six months after they graduate. Leadership after 6 months? I don't believe it.The new BSN grads aren't much better since they lack clinical experience, so don't think I have anything against LPNs.
Just remember I am talking LTC not hospital. And the majority of nurses working LTC are the LPN and they end up taking on the Charge nurse role. So when I saw the stats and saw the sites we do our clinical at, I knew we had to increase the leadership focus as well. We are 2 1/2 semesters as well. They must have their CNA before being accepted into the PN program. I remember back in the 70's when I had my LPN in NY I could not find a job anywhere so I moved to Florida for a year got my experience in a hospital, then moved back to NY. If you are willing and able to move the jobs are out there.
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
There is a provision in some areas for a waiver of the 3 midnight Medicare rule, which means we could, in theory, be getting patients straight from the ER. This isn't a new concept altogether...managed health companies have been doing this for years. But, if it becomes widespread practice, the demands placed upon nurses in skilled facilities will grow immensely. Economically, it makes sense for Medicare to have patients treated in a less-costly environment...I think the average cost of a day in the hospital is around $3000-4000(purely a guess) while the average daily cost in a SNF is less than $700. Sounds great but....the nurses in the hospital have 4 to 5 patients at the very most(at least in this area) while MY nurses have 23 on the short term floor. There is no talk of increasing reimbursement to the SNFs for taking care of sicker patients so I don't think the nurse to patient ratios will decrease. That is all totally off the subject but it's Saturday......
JuneLeeRN
9 Posts
I'm a new grad. I just started in LTC in Massachusetts - just finished my 3rd week. I would have to agree about critical thinking skills to some extent! My med pass, treatments and documentation- consume all my time- I've no time to think through about what's going on with patients- it's run run run ! A thorough assessment is impossible. Actually looking into 20 patients- to see their diagnosis, labs, notes and figure out how it connects to the current clinical picture... Ya not gonna happen. So yes I am using critical thinking- mostly to cover my ass.