Would You Take This Job?

[kemkem]

hello allnurses family!

i am a new grad lpn with no prior healthcare experience and had an interview today. i have 2 questions. the first is would you take this job?

ltc facility in fl, $17.50/hr, the shift is called baylor. basically, i work a double on saturday and a double on sunday (32 hours) and get paid for 40 hours. so if i decided to pick up extra shifts during the week it would be overtime. on the 7-3 shift i would have 30 patients and they usually (her words not mine) have treatment nurse. on the 3-11 shift, i would be responsible for meds and treatments for all 30 patients. they also said that i would be the direct supervisor to all cna's on my hall so, with them, i would be responsible for more than just delegation.

pro's: it's a job (enough said), i get an extra 8hrs on each check so i guess you can say i'm making like $21.88/hr, i only work 2 days, have the entire week off (perfect for school) and yet, get a 40hr paycheck. . . did i mention it was a job?

con's: my husbands days off are saturday and sunday. . we are almost newlyweds (a year and a half next month) and, unless one of us takes a sick day, we would have no days off together. . . ever! the pay is a little less than what i was hoping for, i only get three days orientation!! (did i mention i'm a new grad with no prior healthcare experience), 30 patients is alot, especially if i also have to do their treatments and be "the direct supervisor" of 7-9 cna's as well. the drive is 45 minutes and i'm not quite sure with this type of schedule i would qualify for benefits. (health care benefits i don't care about but i mean as far as pto and holiday pay, etc.) not to mention, i will be working 32 hours in a 48 hour time span!! . . . whoa!

soooo. . . . would you take this job?

my second question is that last tue, i had my wisdom teeth removed. i was prescribed vicodin but stopped taking it on friday because i hated the way it made me feel and so i've been making do with 800mg ibu. today after the interview they gave me a drug screen and although i have had almost 5 days, i still feel really worried that it'll show up. i have a prescription to back it up but i would just like to get started asap and don't want any unnecessary delays.

soooo. . . . what are the odds of the apap showing up?

sorry this was so long but thanks in advance to all that take the time to reply!

[mlok]

I say take the job and keep applying to others.

[R.NICU]

Even if you're young, you are going to hate those hours. It's going to be stressful and you won't be getting adequate sleep between your two shifts. Personally, i feel it's a recipe for exhaustion. Yeah you'll get 5 days off, but i feel you will start to dread those two days on. just my two cents.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

Try it and see how it goes. that's the only way you'll know. If you end up hating it, look for another job or ask for a scedule change.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

i was going to advise against, until you posted you are a six-hour-a noc sorta girl, lol.

limit your caffeine intake to the first shift, have everything set to go on friday for both shifts, ie clothes, meals etc....make it clear to husband and anyone else that that time period is not to be disturbed! is there anyplace you could stay really close to the job? good luck

[lisamc1RN, LPN]

Take the job. Ask for more orientation, though. 3 days is not enough. You are always going to be the direct supervisor of the CNAs when you work LTC. During the week, you can keep looking for something else. In the meantime, a better position might open up where you're at!

[BSN_after_40]

I would also suggest you take the job and try it out. Any experience is good, even if it is a hellish situation. My first RN job was a Unit Manager straight out of school. I must say that it was a dream come true but I had to run my butt off. Being young is to your advantage as far as sleep deprivation and ability to run, but don't let it come between you and the staff. One of the worst mistakes I made was to make close friends with those I supervised. They took advantage of it and made it hard to delagate tasks or disipline. For example I caught one of my friends (an LPN) stealing pain meds. It was hard to blow the whistle on her but I had no choice.

Best of luck to you my dear. You are entering the dog eat dog world of nursing. Let us know how this turns out for you.

I think we should start a post for the husbands of us nurses. They really feel the stress of our crazy schedules, working long hours, and weekends or holidays we have to work. I know I would not be where I am without my supportive hubby!