is this considered acute care? pls help!!!

[MyMystudentRN]

Okay so i need at least one year of acute care experience to be able to work in a hospital of my choice. i have been an LVN since june 2011 and have been working as an LVN since july 2011, the only thing is i had 6months experience working with children who are disabled physically and mentally dependent on w/c's and gtube feedings basically everything. Now im at an elementary school district (cant you tell my dream is to work with children) where there are kids with spina-bifida, thyroid, problem, diabetics, adhd, allergies, you name it. I just don't know if what i do as a school nurse is considered acute care. please shed some light on my situation. I am trying to get my experience rate up but if working as a school nurse is going to prolong it im thinking i should look else where.

[Seas]

School nursing is not acute care. Acute care experience pretty much means hospital experience. I think they meant to tell you to work another hospital until you're experienced, and then come back to them to work.

[Jolie, BSN]

I strongly encourage you to apply anyway.

Employers can not legally refuse to accept an application from anyone, whether or not they meet the sated qualifications for a position. When a hiring manager places an ad to fill a position, s/he typically lists the "ideal" qualifications. If no candidate with those qualifications applies, s/he may be forced to consider other candidates whose experience is less than "ideal."

At best, you may be considered. At worst, your application will get filed. No harm in trying :)

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

so i am just a little lost so let me recap - you want to work in a hospital (presumably with children) and you are currently working in a school as a nurse and you want to know if your time as a school nurse would be considered acute care so you have a better shot at getting the job in the hospital. Is that the gist of it?

Hospitals don't usually consider school nursing acute care (despite the wide array of procedures we do in a school and the various medical issues). But Jolie is right, don't let that dissuade you from applying for the job you want. The worst they can do is not call you for an interview

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I agree. Although we do see many cases of acute illness, school nursing is not considered acute care, mmainly because you are dealing with a generally well population. I also agree that you should apply, and highlight in your cover letter how your experience will translate into an acute care setting (i.e talk about the times that you did provide nursing care in acute situations). Good luck!

[MyMystudentRN]

thanks you guys! this was very insightful and disappointing at the sametime. it won't stop me from applying to openings in the hospital though, it is going to be harder since i still do not have the 1 yr exp.