Transitioning from LTC to med-surge

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

I graduated with my associates in Nursing in May of 2008 and passed my boards in July. I started working in a LTC facility in September but really want an acute care position. At the time of graduation there were not a lot of full time RN positions and I wanted to pass my boards before I started interviewing. I am now actively persuing med-surge positions at a couple of different hospitals. Will my 5 months of experience in LTC help me or hurt me in terms of getting a hospital position? I really like my geriatric patients but I find most days I am scrambling just to get the med pass done, all of the treatments done, and the charting and Doc orders completed. I live in NH and full time hospital positions are not very plentiful for new grads without acute care experience.

Has anyone made the transition from LTC to medsurge? If so, was it a difficult transition to make? Thanks in advance for all replies.

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Specializes in lots of different areas.

I just passed RN boards in January, was an LPN working PRN at Skilled LTC before gettting my RN. I just started on a med surg floor. My experience definitely helps me, but the hospital is way different. I love it so far. I actually get to use my nursing skills instead of scrambling to do med-pass, nebulizers without adequate time for lung assessments, treatments, etc. I think LTC helps lay the foundation for learning basic skills, but the hospital is wonderful for actually USING those skills.

SO-yes, I think LTC experience helps. Plus, it's great to know how many different nursing facilities operate, not just the hospital..

Good luck finding a job. I'm still working PRN at the nursing home, but think I won't be able to tolerate it too much longer knowing how much better the working conditions are at the hospital.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

I'm currently making the transition from LTC and Psych positions to Med-Surg in the hospital and my LTC experience has certainly been beneficial. I did acquire good assessment skills in LTC over the years, I also learned some basics and like the other poster stated, now in the hospital, I get to use/learn more skills. I had 30 pts in LTC and have 4 in med-surg. I am just as busy with acute 4 compared to the ltc 30. lol I do love the learning right now though and continue to hope my orientation works out well. Good luck to you too.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds.

I feel that any experience helps, no matter what... You will find that in med/surg there are a lot of LTC patients that come into the hospital. We look to the LTC RN's who know more about wound care and have taken care of the elder generation more than us who have not... Good luck to you...

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surge.

i have been a nurse for 12 years worked in med surge from 98-2000 since then it has just been in LTC (nursing homes) i want to get back in med surge and all the hopitals i have interviewed with have all said " we want some one who has worked in med surge setting more recently" ( 3 diff hospitals told me this exact same thing) i have applied at 7 total and the other 4 sent me letters saying they have filled the position what do i have to do to get back in the loop ? nobody wants to hire me ?

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