working in a nursing home

DaisyDoodle · Aug 31, 2008

Hi! I had a similar experience. I really wanted to work at the local nursing home after graduation and everyone told me noooooo. So, I went to work at a hospital that was over an hour away from my house. It was a teaching hospital and I was there for 3 years. After that I moved on to home health and did that for 3 years and then applied at the local nursing home which also has a rehab center. I'm soooooo happy where I'm at right now. I don't think though that I would have the understanding that I do with assessment skills, etc. if I did not have the hospital experience first. I'm the Director of Nursing now and so I'm responsible for hiring and training of the nurses. I do notice a difference between the nurses that come from hospitals and those that come from other nursing homes. This is just a very broad and general observation though and I'm not saying it applies to all but the nurses that have the hospital or acute care experience seem to manage the patient load and emergencies differently from the others. They work more independent and have a self confidence about them. Just one person's suggestion, get into a teaching hospital with a good reputation for at least a year... you may find you love it! If not, then go and try your hand a geriatrics. There is so much out there!:)Good Luck!

Guest296136 · Sep 1, 2008

The problem with going right to a nursing home after graduation as an RN is that you don't get your skills. The RN's do most of the paper work and supervise, the LPN do most of the patient care, therefore you don't get the experience you need.

Get your skills and then go where ever you want, if it's a rehab facility that is a little different, you will get IV's, Trach's etc.

Caffeine_IV · Sep 3, 2008

Do what works for you. If you like geriatrics..work at a nursing home and if it's not your fit, try something else. I really enjoyed the nursing home BUT it wasn't something I wanted to do long term as a staff nurse..I'd rather be nurse manager or DON if I went back to LTC. Good luck!

As an LPN at the nursing home..I passed pills, did treatments, documentation, new admits, venipuncture, the list goes on.

ewilson3 · Sep 3, 2008

many hospital now have geriatric as a specialty and units just for geriatric patients, if you are really passionate about it, i would recommend you apply for a geriatric floor prior to going to a nursing home to hone your assessment and nursing skills!

Ilovelucy2 · Oct 10, 2008

Hello everyone! I'm new to this site and wanted some advice.

I recently applied for a Nurse Manager position at a LTC facility within the same health system I work for. I have 3+ years ICU experience as an RN. I previously worked in ICU for 3 years and at a retirement home for 2 years as a CNA. I have my Bachelors degree, yet I have not officially done Charge Nurse in ICU since I've become an RN. My current manager has wanted me to orient to charge, but I told her later this year due to wedding plans/getting married back in April. My NM now knows I have applied for this position and has been supportive.

My question is, do I have enough experience to be Nurse Manager of a LTC facility? My interview is next Wednesday and I'm afraid that it will look bad that I haven't even done charge yet. I have no prior management experience, but figure you have to start somewhere. Comments welcome.

DaisyDoodle · Nov 19, 2008

I've been asked to come up with 15 nursing department safety goals for the upcoming year. Any ideas for other D.O.N's and nurses on how to improve the safety at the home?