non-acute care experience

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

So I am still searching out for jobs. I have applied to multiple positions in multiple places in and out of state. But now I am realizing that leaving my area is just not realistic. My mom and brother need me.

I have continued to apply to places but I am starting to lose hope on the acute care position. As a new grad, I know I shouldn't be picky but I want to go to grad school and be a APRN. Nearly all the NP programs I am looking at require or strongly prefer acute care experience.

Now I am looking at long-term care facilities and non-acute care positions. I can't help but think that once a person starts in LTC it is hard to get out or advance into a NP role.

For those of you who started in non-acute care positions but wanted acute care experience, did you find it difficult to get into the hospital? Is advancement into a NP program an option or is a dead-end in terms of advancement?

Thanks.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I've never worked in acute care. I had my chance, but turned the job offers down because the pay rates were downright piddly.

I worked as an LVN in SNF/LTC for four years before earning my RN license in 2010. After earning my RN license I continued to work PRN in LTC, but accepted full-time hours at an acute rehabilitation hospital. I still work at the rehab hospital to this day.

In 2010 I received two job offers in acute care. One was for a med/surg floor with oncology overflow at an outlying suburban hospital 30 miles from my city of residence. The other offer was for med/surg oncology at a level I county hospital in the city where I live. I rejected both offers due to the pay and potentially increased workload.

Four of my coworkers are enrolled in FNP programs. Three of them have never worked in acute care. With the proliferation of NP programs, many will overlook a candidate's lack of acute care experience. Good luck to you.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

One of the RNs I work with started out in LTC. I also know some geriatric NPs who have only done geriatric nursing.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Many of my fellow cohorts took jobs outside of acture care (LTC/SNF, doctors offices, school nurses, out-patient clinic settings, etc). They gained RN experience and then applied for acute care, they have all since landed acute care positions. I am among that group. I worked for 6 months in an outpatient clinic setting for a hospital, I then got an offer (and accepted it) for an acute care position in another hospital.

I found it more difficult getting my first RN position than I did getting an acute care position. I'd suggest getting any RN experience regardless of where its from now. From there you have RN expeirence and are more appealing to acute care hiring managers. You really only have two options. Continue applying for and hoping to land an acute position and build up no RN experience as you wait..or also apply to settings outside acute care. Get that position and start gaining that valuble RN experience many acute care positions require.