Trying to be excited

Hi everybody, I am new to posting here but have always read alot of posts and found them very helpful. I graduated in May 2010 and passed the NCLEX in July. I have a pretty good back ground as an EMT and ER tech and have always dreamed of being an ER nurse. The budget fell out at the hospital where I worked as a tech and they stopped all training programs. So I have applied to every hospital system in a 70 mile radius for any possible open position and nothing, not even a phone call!

So now, I have finally gave up and started applying to anything I can find and today a nursing home called and gave me an interview. So here's the point: I really don't want to work in a nursing home (especially our local ones), I want to at least be in an acute care environment. I feel so guilty because we are so behind on our bills that I have to take whatever I can get or else we are going to starve! But I feel guilty taking a job I just don't even know I can be passionate about. Don't get me wrong I will always provide the best care possible no matter where I am or what I am getting paid (I was a volunteer for years). I had so many issues with the place when family members were there. My husband tells me that he knows if anyone could change them it is me, but I don't know if I even want my name associated with the place!

Just hoping someone could give me some insight on LTC nursing and if I am making the right decision. I can do anything for a little while, I am just really scared that if I stay too long I may never get into a hospital setting.
At this point in time an LTC job is better than no job. I can only hope that my local hospitals will start hiring new grad RNs by the time I graduate. But if that's not the case at least I'll still have my LTC job.

The SAME thing happened to me when I passed the NCLEX in Feb. of 2009. It took three months for me; applying EVERYWHERE in my state, calling recruiters. I had bills to pay, and was getting very bored! I decided that I would apply to one LTC facility that was part of a hospital in my area. I definately had reservations, but what was I supposed to do? Well, the day after I applied, they called me for an interview, which I had two days later, and they ended up offering me the job as I was driving home from the interview. It definately wasn't my dream job, but I knew it would get my foot in the door and get that 'new grad monkey' off of my back. I told myself that I would stay there for a year, and then try to get another job after that. I stayed for about 10 months before I began applying to other hospitals and the hospital that the LTC facility was affiliated with. After a few weeks of searching, I did get hired at a hospital and I love it! I felt like a new grad all over again though, because it is a different atmosphere.LTC will give you the experience that other facilities are looking for, and you will also love your patients that you have. I NEVER thought I would enjoy LTC, especially how much they are bad mouthed. You will be surprised how these particular patients will touch your heart though So gain some experience, tough it out; there will be a light at the end of the tunnel!

The whole jobs situation these days really stinks and I know you are disappointed. If anything, go to work and do your best everyday because at least your bills are getting paid! If this place has such a bad reputation, those poor residents need someone like you there to advocate and care for them!

Quote from April, RN If this place has such a bad reputation, those poor residents need someone like you there to advocate and care for them!

Dont feel bad wannabe. This is the world we are living in now, new nurses will have to suffer more before it all comes together now thats all.I DID score a hospital job but i have to move away from NYC to a town 5 hours away. I wont have any family or friends in ill be living in some tiny town. You need to earn experience somehow and sometimes that means hard choices.

I don't have any advice for you, but I want to say that I understand how you are feeling. My dream is to become a mother/baby nurse, and at this point I have no idea how I am ever going to get there.I hope you enjoy your LTC job and learn a lot from it, and I hope you someday find your way to ER or wherever you decide you want to be.

Thank you all for your support! I hope that your dreams come true too! Our local job market for RN's just fell out this year, I was 1 year too late. I am going to pray I get this job and keep on looking while at it. Like you said, at least I can pay my bills, that alone beats sitting home on my rear and broke. This is the first time I have been unemployed since I was in middle school. But I am still proud to be a RN and proud to be the first in the family to have conquered it and I am going to put it to good use somewhere!

It is easier to find another job when you already have a job!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep looking.. Also, with your experience can you work for EMS while you find a job as an RN?