by Thank_You_RNs

Has anyone been turned down by a hospital nurse recruiter because you work in a long term care (LTC) facility (not an Acute experience)? Also, has anyone been told by a nurse recruiter that you might not be eligible to apply as a newly RN grad anymore because you are currently working at LTC? Or been told that you might not be eligible for the Versant Program because by the next hiring date (assuming feb 2010), it will be past 12 months from your graduation date from nursing school (a program criteria)?

The reason why I am asking is because I had this experience with a nurse recruiter and its really frustrating. I really wanted to work in a hospital setting. The problem is that they wanted experience nurses only. For new grads, they have these criterias which makes it hard for some of us, who have no choice but to work in LTC so that we can pay the bills, to set our foot into their doors.

Please share your experiences.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

It doesn't surprise me that hospitals are looking for nurses with acute care experience, it is a tough job market and the hospital can save time and money by hiring experienced nurses. To make your self more marketable, you may want to try some different strategies. Have you read through the stickies in the nursing career forum of allnurses? There are lots of good ideas on how you can make yourself more marketable in those stickies.

regards
dishes

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

I gradusted in may 2008. I live in the Northeast and the job market is tight for new grads here. I took a LTC position. I worked there for 5 months just basically passing meds on 23 residents. I rarely even had to take vitals.
In March 2009 I was lucky enough to get hired in a hospital for 16 hrs a week on an ortho/Neuro floor. I usually work 40 hours a week though based on need.
When I got hired there I got a week of classroom stuff, policies of the hospital and brief introduction on some of the paperwork required to do my job as an RN. From there I got 3 weeks of on the floor training with the charge nurse of the day. Within these 3 weeks of "training" I had to go to computer class, IV pump class and CPR training amongst other various classes. All in all I received probably just over 2 weeks of training on the floor. I was told because I already had experience as a nurse I would not get extensive training. The hospital looked at my 5 months of passing meds as experience. I am still behind all of the time and get out late. I have management breathing down my back all of the time to get done on time. I feel if I had the proper time to train as a new grad I would not be having as much dificulty as I am now. So I fully understand the dilemma of many new nurses.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

To Thank you...

Since you are currently in a LTC....consider getting assigned to their "skilled" unit (trachs/vents) if they have it. If they don't, consider a part-time job at a LTC on a trach/vent unit---even if only 1-day per week.

You're not the only one in this same situation. I have friends who went the route of LTC but they took jobs on the trach/vent unit of the LTC. After 4-5 months most hospitals in the area are interested in hiring them---in an ICU as a new grad!!!

Stay positive... More and more facilities are listing nursing positions with "less than 1 year of experience." Although you may not qualify for the "new grad" openings, you will have opportunities soon.

Hang in there!!!

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

But if you don't get trach, etc experience the hospitals still treat you as a seasoned nurse and then you are screwed. I know this sounds negative but it is the truth. It happened to me and another nurse I work with and we both are struggling. Hopefully there are hospitals out there who realize that LTC skills are not the same as what is needed as a hospital nurse.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

Sistasoul:

You are not reading my post properly...regarding trach/vent care in a LTC....note the reason WHY I indicated.... get a PART-TIME JOB in LTC on a trach/vent unit if only for 1-day a week!!!! Additional experience never hurt anyone.

I am not sure where you and others reside but the hospitals in my area are snatching up new grads with 4-6 months of trach/vent experience in LTC before they look at the new grads!!!!

Additionally, hospitals in Arizona, Texas, Washington and others have many, many positions that seek an RN with "less than 1 year experience." Again, I am not sure where you all live; but you might want to consider applying for RN positions out-of-state in order to get a job.

No facility will ever identify any nurse as "seasoned" after only 5 months of experience!!! If this pertains to you....when you get your annual review, you may be in for a rude awakening if you "think" you are "seasoned" with the small amount of time you have been working. If your facility considered you as a "seasoned" nurse, they wouldn't be "breathing down your back."

Let me also state, TIME MANAGEMENT is a very important concern for all nurses. Again, if I had management "breathing down my back" while at work, I would definitely schedule a meeting with management to get their HONEST feedback on how I was doing. You may be in for a "surprise." You seem to "think" that management considers you as "seasoned"; but you may recieve other descriptives for your work habits. Your few months of experience and current work habits may not be what you "think" it is!

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

Originally Posted by smn2009

Sistasoul:

You are not reading my post properly...regarding trach/vent care in a LTC....note the reason WHY I indicated.... get a PART-TIME JOB in LTC on a trach/vent unit if only for 1-day a week!!!! Additional experience never hurt anyone.

I am not sure where you and others reside but the hospitals in my area are snatching up new grads with 4-6 months of trach/vent experience in LTC before they look at the new grads!!!!

Additionally, hospitals in Arizona, Texas, Washington and others have many, many positions that seek an RN with "less than 1 year experience." Again, I am not sure where you all live; but you might want to consider applying for RN positions out-of-state in order to get a job.

No facility will ever identify any nurse as "seasoned" after only 5 months of experience!!! If this pertains to you....when you get your annual review, you may be in for a rude awakening if you "think" you are "seasoned" with the small amount of time you have been working. If your facility considered you as a "seasoned" nurse, they wouldn't be "breathing down your back."

Let me also state, TIME MANAGEMENT is a very important concern for all nurses. Again, if I had management "breathing down my back" while at work, I would definitely schedule a meeting with management to get their HONEST feedback on how I was doing. You may be in for a "surprise." You seem to "think" that management considers you as "seasoned"; but you may recieve other descriptives for your work habits. Your few months of experience and current work habits may not be what you "think" it is!

My God,

You sound extremely angry, downright rude, and childish. It was not my intention to raise your blood pressure or put a twist into your knickers. I do not believe I am a "seasoned" nurse in any respect. My experience is that I was told by my nurse manager that caring for nursing home residents was the same as caring for the hospital patients. I was also informed by my manager that I was a good nurse and that time management was not an unusual occurrence on my review. Enough said. End of discussion.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

Extemely angry, rude, childish....not me. Please...my blood pressure has not increased in any way; and never will from a thread/post. Now...check YOUR blood pressure because no one is "breathing down my back" while I'm at work...

As I initially stated, you did NOT read my post properly.

"My God" ...interesting...you elaborate more (or should I be more to the point and state....you MORE CLEARLY STATE...) on what you truly meant in regards to your initial response. Had you elaborated appropriately initially, your post would have made more sense. Your explanation now in no way compares to your previous posts. Whose fault is that?

Try to refrain from referring to others as rude or childish. My comment/response was based upon the initial thread followed by your post---and nothing else. Let me also state, my inital post was POSITIVE in that I was letting all new grads realize that working in LTC was not a negative if they worked the position to their benefit...skilled facility working with trach/vent residents.

I was not the first to use the term "seasoned" within a post for this thread. Additionally, I was definitely not the individual who used the "very mature" term "screwed" in a post either.

Again, my response was intended to let new grads working in LTC know that LTC can work to their benefit. Do not be too eager to make a comment/post a thread when you are not thoroughly reading what is put before you.

New grads....LTC is not a negative way to start your career. While others may not be positive about it, keep in mind that there are areas within LTC that can be used to your own benefit in order to boost your experience level BEFORE you move on to a hospital/acute care facility. A skilled nursing facility with a trach/vent unit can and will help your career tremendously... Also, do not let the negative experiences of others deter you in what you need to/have to do. AGAIN, my suggestion is simple: in regards to LTC for a new grad, go the route of a trach/vent unit at a skilled facility to get experience under your belt.... This is the point that I was attempting to make in my previous posts.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

Originally Posted by smn2009

Extemely angry, rude, childish....not me. Please...my blood pressure has not increased in any way; and never will from a thread/post. Now...check YOUR blood pressure because no one is "breathing down my back" while I'm at work...

As I initially stated, you did NOT read my post properly.

"My God" ...interesting...you elaborate more (or should I be more to the point and state....you MORE CLEARLY STATE...) on what you truly meant in regards to your initial response. Had you elaborated appropriately initially, your post would have made more sense. Your explanation now in no way compares to your previous posts. Whose fault is that?

Try to refrain from referring to others as rude or childish. My comment/response was based upon the initial thread followed by your post---and nothing else. Let me also state, my inital post was POSITIVE in that I was letting all new grads realize that working in LTC was not a negative if they worked the position to their benefit...skilled facility working with trach/vent residents.

I was not the first to use the term "seasoned" within a post for this thread. Additionally, I was definitely not the individual who used the "very mature" term "screwed" in a post either.

Again, my response was intended to let new grads working in LTC know that LTC can work to their benefit. Do not be too eager to make a comment/post a thread when you are not thoroughly reading what is put before you.

New grads....LTC is not a negative way to start your career. While others may not be positive about it, keep in mind that there are areas within LTC that can be used to your own benefit in order to boost your experience level BEFORE you move on to hospital/acute care facility. A skilled nursing facility with a trach/vent unit can and will help your career tremendously... This is the point that I was attempting to make in my previous threads.

The only and final response I will make is: Thank you for the chuckles. Your post made me laugh. Have a great evening. Best wishes. Heather

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

smn2009 - if you want to appear calm in your posts, consider omitting some of the formatting. All the bold, underscored, capitalised and coloured additions convey agitation and high emotion. Particularly when the post you referred to didn't actually contradict yours.