A soon-to-be new grad who actually WANTS to work in geriatrics!

[busymommy]

Okay, so I'm graduating in December and I'm seriously considering geriatrics/LTC as a career option. :loveya: I've got a knack for working with older folks (which makes me an oddity in my class of 23) and just don't like med-surg that much.

How do I find a job in one of these places? I've been looking online and no one seems to advertise for RNs in my neck of the woods (tourist destination in the southwest) but it could be that I'm looking in the wrong places. Should I just walk in and fill out an application? What about assisted living facilities? Do they hire RNs?

How would you advise a new grad in this situation? Also, I'd love to hear why you like this kind of nursing, because I haven't met many RNs who LOVE working with older adults.

Thanks!

[egglady, LPN]

LTC is not what it used to be! You will love it, and contrary to popular belief- you wont lose all your skills!!

[Nurse456]

CapeCod Mermaid: Your LTC facility sounds wonderful, and rare. Are you hiring? :) I live very close to Cape Cod!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Nurse456,I don't live on Cape any more. But I am hiring. Send me an IM if yiu want details.

[Nurse456]

I do want details!!! But I can't IM b/c I only have posted twice, and I have to post 15x before I can IM. Can I forward you my resume?

[busymommy]

I'm so glad to hear that, egglady! :yelclap: I've talked with one of my nursing instructors and she said essentially the same thing. Another told me that LTC/geriatrics is just "another type of med-surg" and I can see the logic in that. I've seen lots of older adults get dc'd/transferred from the med-surg floor to the hospital's rehab unit, or to another LTC facility. Most all have their IVs dc'd too, but I'm glad to hear that there are G-tubes, etc. My only experience on the floor with that kind of stuff was in ICU and I did not have a good experience there. First, I've never been interested in ICU to start with, and second, my nurse felt my BSN program (and me, by extension) was inferior to hers (other country, different methods, etc.). Not the best way to recruit others to the profession.

The more I think about it, the more I see geriatrics in my future.....thanks everyone!! :heartbeat

[wearinwhite]

Do your research before you accept any position! i wish i asked to "job shadow" before actually accepting my position. I am only a few months into what i thought would be my dream job: 3-11pm (so basically all day with my toddlers at home), great pay, benefits, and the dementia wing (i love psych). i learned day one, that turnover for my position has been high and moral on the wing low. i am the kind of person that says, i can be a positive part here but, im starting to question it all. i love that we have picc lines, wounds, etc, but with 37 residents to my self i am barely able to get meds passed, literally throwing treatments on, and cannot get everything done that is "required".

[tokidoki7, ASN, RN]

I just recently went from working in a hospital to a long term care facilitly. It's definetly different and I feel like a new graduate all over again, even though I've been an RN for nine months. I'm learning a lot and I actually look forward to going to work. Sometime down the line I will be working on some type of acute floor with trachs and vents. I haven't heard too many good things about that floor and I've been told the facility wants only RNs to work on that floor. I like hands on learning and challenges, but I'm not going to be pressured to work on a floor with 20+ high acuity patients unless I receive an adequate orientation. From what I've heard from other nurses, that particular floor has a high turnover rate and the facility is desparate for nurses (mainly RNs) to work there. Other than that I like long term care (so far). I love the hours that I work too as I have a life again. The best thing is that I get paid WAY MORE at the LTC than at the hopsital I worked for.