Acute Rehab Hospital or Subacute Rehab for new grad?

[Hibbzem17]

Hello,

I am a recent RN graduate who has just started at a Subacute Rehab within a SNF. I've been working there on orientation for a little over a month and so far I like it, but I feel like there are too many patients to give them the attention they deserve. I have about 20 patients maybe a couple less if there has been discharges. I work nights so its not as fast paced as days, but theres still a lot of "busy" work such as paper chart checks and adding up I+o's, etc. I don't have exposure to skills I'd like to hone in on with the exception of hanging IV's and maybe a couple wound dressings. Lots of meds are passed.

I recently received a call from HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital regarding a job, and I'm feeling very interested. What kind of differences would I expect in patient load, responsibilities, pay and benefits? I'm in Massachusetts if that makes a difference. I'm already feeling a sense of obligation to my current job, but I think I would jump ship if HealthSouth offered better pay or working conditions. My research so far has revealed that there are less patients, but higher acuity. Like I stated before, this job in subacute is ok, but I still crave more connection with my patients.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I've worked in subacute rehab as well as acute rehab. In subacute, you'll have a larger load of stable patients, whereas you will have a smaller load of slightly sicker patients in acute rehab hospital settings such as HealthSouth.

You'll also perform certain procedural skills in the acute rehab setting that do not occur in subacute such as blood transfusions, peritoneal dialysis, and perhaps insertion of the occasional NG tube.

[Road2CNO]

If you got a call from HS regarding acute rehab, I would definitely follow up with that. I feel as an RN, especially a new grad, acute care is a better place to develop your skills. As a new grad, you need to develop those skills and experience in order to move up later. You just don't typically see enough at a SNF in order to become a well-rounded RN.

Just my thoughts!