Should I do LTC as a new grad?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

(I'm not posting this in the LTC forum because I need responses from non-LTC nurses, too.)

I've been having trouble finding a job as a new grad. I've applied with the county as well as at hospitals, but until now I haven't looked at LTC jobs. To be honest, I'm not really interested in the work; it isn't what I want to do long term; and I don't know if it will really help me get an acute-care or community clinic job in the future. If I worked LTC for awhile, would hospitals consider I had anything more to offer than I do now as a new grad? Do LTCs really want nurses who aren't interested in the work? (Obviously, it goes without saying that if I WAS hired for an LTC job I would absolutely give it my all.)

I've also been nervous about things I've heard about working conditions in LTCs. I don't know that I'm prepared for a load of 30 patients, without much training.

Any thoughts very much appreciated!

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm in the same boat as you. I've been applying everywhere in and out of state and can't even get an interview. The closest I got was a telephone interview for one position with 156 applicants!:bugeyes: I need to provide for my family but have the same reservations about LTC. I wonder if even sub-acute rehab might be a bit better but it's still not acute care experience which is what the hospitals seem to want you to have when applying for SNII positions down the road. I've been told to come back in mid-April by multiple hospitals who say there might be something available in June but they're just too impacted with new grads right now. Would it be totally unprofessional to take a LTC position for 4 months until an acute care position came up for a new grad?

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

Where have you guys been applying? Are you applying to areas that are the "norm" for new grads, like med-surg? Are you having a hiring freeze in your specific area and if so, could you commute to a different town/city for work? I'm sorry to hear you guys are going through that, I personally wouldn't go into LTC if you want to be in the hospital because I've heard once you go into LTC it is harder to get back into acute care in the future (I could be wrong). Have you tried actually calling the hospitals you're interested in and talking to recruiters or HR? Good luck to you, I hope you find something soon :)

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I've applied for everything I have found/thought of, to be honest, except LTC.

I've done a bit of emailing to nurse managers and HR, bu the consensus around here really seems to be that they prefer to apply via the website and leave it at that.

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Hey,

I've been a LTC RN for a little under two years. I began here as a new grad. I've applied recently to various hospitals, and I always get the same response. We'd like someone with at least a year of acute care experience. Ooops! :icon_roll

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