Looking to re-enter the field via LTC

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I'm curious to hear people's opinions: Would LTC be a good re-entry point for an RN (me!) who has been out of the field for >10 years (raising my kids)? I have 6 years nursing experience total, the first year as a new grad spent in LTC, the remaining in hospital. Or should I just scrap the idea of returning, and explore different career paths?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

First, take a refresher course. A lot has changed in 10 years.

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Wow, I would never presume that nursing hasn't changed, or that I wouldn't need a refresher. What I am questioning is whether LTC would be a good re-entry point as opposed to some other specialty.

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It all depends.

I'm a LTC nurse and some days I want to run for the hill. Head over to the LTC forum and read some of the posts to give you an idea how LTC has changed. 10 years ago, I would have said that LTC would be a gentle transition back to nursing, but now days, many of the LTCs are understaffed and have higher acuity residents with a high patient to nurse ratio.

If your goal is to get back into acute care, I think you should look there instead of a LTC. In the hospital setting you will be given and orientation and preceptor to get you back on your feet. LTC..maybe a few days of training if you are luck.

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Thank you for your feedback! I was actually thinking of just staying in long-term care, but I'll be giving that more careful consideration.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Go for it. If it doesn't work out you can explore other options.

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Bless you, CrunchRN! Thanks for the encouragement--I can really use it!

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i'm not sure I will ever get out of LTC or if i do it would be for hospice/ home health setting. Its just different. When I see nurses with a goal of "working in a hospital" I tell them do it, but if you think you will give LTC a serious try...do it too! Realize that it is a "different world".

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Very helpful! Thanks! Way back when, the LTC setting was more peaceful than hospital, at least in my experience. But, yeah, that was a very long time ago! I can't even imagine how hard you nurses work now! I have a little experience in inpatient rehab--thinking about that possibility as well.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In the area where I live and work, LTC facilities have increased in acuity over the past decade. This change has been made to combat the dwindling Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates.

Many LTC residents receive IV antibiotics around the clock, central line maintenance, peritoneal dialysis, wound vacs, nephrostomy tubes, tracheostomies, TPN drips, and other time-consuming procedures.

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I would maybe go where you were most successful/comfortable as a nurse?

I have a larger number of patients, all of them with multiple comorbidities and many with time consuming treatments, than I did when I worked in the hospital, but, for some reason, this job works better for me than my hospital job did.

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Thank you, purplegal! Are you in long-term care? How long did it take for you to feel comfortable where you are now?

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