Would this be considered acute care experience?

Specialties LTAC

Published

Specializes in Telemetry.

Hello,

I'm a new grad in Los Angeles and like everyone else I'm having a super hard time finding a job. I have an interview tomorrow at a long term acute hospital. It's like a hospital, they have med-surg and ICU and telemetry, the only difference is that their patients require long term care. I'm wondering if this would be considered acute care experience and would help me finding a job in a hospital after I gain my 1 year experience.

I also have an interview in a week at a cardiac hospital, the only thing is that this hospital is in another state and I would have to move far away.

Any word of advice?

Thanks.

Daniela

P.S. I already posted this in the graduate students forum but I figured I'll have more replies (hopefully) here :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Advice?

Interview for any opportunity.

In the absence of any other offer; if you can in any way, shape or form see yourself thriving in the offered position, TAKE IT!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I don't see why this would not count as acute care experience. But when you say it's LTC, does that mean they are all dementias perhaps? Because working in a hospital with a high turnover of say med/surg patients would be different from people who only need turning or PEG feeds. It doesn't really sound right what they've told you, but maybe hospitals are different over in the US from Oz. I would find out more about it, but the experience will still be invaluable.

Can you ask them if you can do 6 months LTC, then go somewhere else to get more acute care experience, is that possible?

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Specializes in Telemetry.

No they don't usually have dementia patients. They told me they have patients recovering from acute illnesses or trauma. Like multiple organ failures, ARDS, COPD, heart attacks etc. These patients need hospital-level care for relatively extended periods. I guess the only difference between this and a "regular" hospital is the length of stay. They said their patients might stay for up to 20 days.

It seems to me a great opportunity but was wondering if a short-term care hospital would consider this experience. Because I would like, eventually, work in a CCU in a hospital.

Thanks for your replies.....

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Specializes in ICU.

I manage an LTACH. It sure is acute care. The only thing long term is their length of stay. We have patients now intubated on multiple pressors. With good experience in an LTACH, you will be considered critical care.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Thank you so much for your reply!!!!!!! I feel much better to know that it would be considered acute care experience!!! Now let's just hope I do well in the interview and get the job :D

I manage an LTACH. It sure is acute care. The only thing long term is their length of stay. We have patients now intubated on multiple pressors. With good experience in an LTACH, you will be considered critical care.
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Specializes in ICU.

Oh, and everything is right. Length of stay for an LTACH is average 25 days. Wide range of patients. I am an ICU nurse who turned nurse manager where. It's a great expereince as in you get to see some really sick patients who were getting no where in short-term acute care hospitals get weaned off vents and their stage 4's healed.

Take the experiece because ICU's will take you as an experienced critical care nurse from an LTACH, if that is your ultimate goal. But you may find you really like the LTACH. Good luck!!

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I'm not into long-term (like more than four hours lol) care, but a heart hospital would be a pretty neat environment. I think cardiology is cool though.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Thank you! :)

I'm really excited about tomorrow now!

Oh, and everything is right. Length of stay for an LTACH is average 25 days. Wide range of patients. I am an ICU nurse who turned nurse manager where. It's a great expereince as in you get to see some really sick patients who were getting no where in short-term acute care hospitals get weaned off vents and their stage 4's healed.

Take the experiece because ICU's will take you as an experienced critical care nurse from an LTACH, if that is your ultimate goal. But you may find you really like the LTACH. Good luck!!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

:D

Cardiology is where my heart is! (no pun intended :)). If the cardiac hospital was in Los Angeles I wouldn't really think about it but unfortunately it's 1500 miles away from everyone and everything I love. I'm just not sure I want to move and start over again........ but we'll see, if tomorrow doesn't go well then I'll have no choice hehe.....

I'm not into long-term (like more than four hours lol) care, but a heart hospital would be a pretty neat environment. I think cardiology is cool though.
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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Sounds great, go for it!

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:D

Cardiology is where my heart is! (no pun intended :)). If the cardiac hospital was in Los Angeles I wouldn't really think about it but unfortunately it's 1500 miles away from everyone and everything I love. I'm just not sure I want to move and start over again........ but we'll see, if tomorrow doesn't go well then I'll have no choice hehe.....

Geez. I'd rather chunk newspapers than move 1500 miles.

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