First Job: LT Care or Hospital??

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Hello all -

I'm hoping some of the more seasoned RNs out there can give me some advice -- and thanks in advance :wink2:--

I'm graduating May 13 from my ADN program, I'm 40yo, and I have 3 young kids (and a good husband).

Background: I've just been offered a job at a LT care facility nearby my home (30 min) for decent pay, also student-loan reimbursement if I stay for 2 yrs. It's also a SNF, so they do IVs and wound vacs, etc.(how many, don't know). They seem very excited about me. (I have a previous Bachelor's in Business, and they see me heading toward a staff educator position, IV specialist... but I don't know how much of that is to just get me in the door.) They want me to start right away and would like an answer on Monday.

My Problem: My dream is to be an ER nurse; possibly even a flight nurse.

I've applied to 3 hospitals which are also in the same commuting range, and have so far been called for an interview with one, but then had to decline because they only wanted days, even tho I applied for eves/nights, and haven't heard from the other 2 (but honestly it hasn't been that long since I applied-within a week).

My Question: If I do go to a LT facility first-off in my career, how will I be looked at by hospitals when I want to make the switch a couple years down the road? What are the advantages to working LT care?

Will I be doing myself a dis-service by accepting the first job I've been offered?

Thanks, Everyone - I hope someone takes the time to read this and help me out. :nurse:

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Specializes in Many.

Id say stay away. I will be starting advance placement to ADN in Aug and also want to be a flight nurse. See my thread and see what I mean. " they terminated me"

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Specializes in Many.

Sorry I meant my thread..."I got terminated should I put them on my job history"? Start in the hospital on the floor. There you will learn alot of the disease process and more. Many ER nurses told me to and I am glad I listened.

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The answer I got from all of my nursing instructors was "Do at least one year of Med/Surg before you do anything else". I worked in Med/Surg before I accepted a position in LTC and I am really glad I did. My LTC job works for my family now (days, flex hours) but I really miss acute care. It depends on the facility you are considering, but in my experience, LTC is not really the best place to learn. There are not as many resources to draw from as there are in a hospital, so in my opinion, you will feel more comfortable going to LTC with an acute care background. That being said, when I worked in the hospial, there were nurses who worked in LTC for years then came to med/surg with no problem. The nurse to patient ratio in LTC is much higher so you do learn time management skills, which helps. Plus, as you mentioned SNF's are hopping these days with IV's, wound V.A.C.s, trachs, you name it. I don't mean to speak badly of LTC, I am sure some facilities are better organized than the one I am familiar with. Just be sure as a new nurse, that you have resources and that you don't just get sucked in and thrown to the wolves!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck.

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Thanks for everyone's feedback, and you've all pretty much said what I've been thinking, too; but I think I am going to look more into the LTC job only because of my family's schedule. There is really no way that I can accept any "new grad" job from a hospital knowing that I'll have to do a number of weeks orientation during the day - we have no family around us and do not know of any good day-care places around here (very small town, rural...).

So I think that because of that reason, I'll have to go to a LT facility first... until the youngest is in full time school or something....

thanks again!!

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