Any advice on getting hired at a LTC facility as a new ADN grad?

pinkiepinkPN · Dec 6, 2013

Hello I am very interested in starting my career in LTC. I really enjoyed my clinicals in LTC and love the geriatric population. I will be graduating with my ADN at the end of April and am planning to get my BSN by 2015. I have no healthcare experience, which I know is a big disadvantage. I am 21 years old so my resume doesn't have much else on it besides being a restaurant server for 5 years (still am) and volunteering 100 hours at a hospital. Any advice would be wonderful. I really admire this type of nursing and would love to start my career in it. What do hiring managers tend to look for in a new grad RN? Thank you so much for reading.[/quote']
Will you be applying anywhere that you did clinicals? I just started my first job at the very LTC facility I did my first clinicals in, and I really like it so far, and they loved hearing in my interview that I liked clinicals so much there and felt so welcomed that I wanted to work there.

bluegeegoo2, LPN · Dec 6, 2013

I applied and was hired at one of my clinical sites as well fresh out of school.

sunshyne17 · Dec 6, 2013

I didn't have an previous nursing experience and had clinicals at hospitals - no LTC facilities.

I would recommend highlighting exactly what you did during clinicals not just where. They want to know what you are capable of. Knowledge of medications, time mgmt and leadership are good for any job. Knowing eMar and writing orders to me is the most difficult part of LTC.

The things I mentioned above is what got me in the door with no experience and being new to nursing and a new grad :) Oh and be open to working ANY shift!

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2013

I'm the SDC for a 188 bed facility, among my responsibilities is hiring new nursing staff. When I am interviewing recent grads, I am looking for someone who has good critical thinking skills and is willing to learn. It is also important that the candidate also enjoys working with geriatrics and is willing to supervise CNA's.

Our facility has had good success with new nurses - they haven't been to every other facility in the county (and surrounding ones) and learned lots of bad habits;)

I try to ensure that when I am hiring a new nurse that the unit already has several experienced nurses on that shift that are willing to answer questions/ identify resources. I don't want to have too many new nurses on the same unit at the same time. I also make sure that they orientate with an experienced nurse who follows protocols/ policies/ procedures. We try to keep new nurses on the same assignment when possible - to allow them to establish a routine.

I'm still working on strengthening our orientation process, I've identified some areas that new nurses would benefit from additional training. This is a work in progress though. I try to check in with all our new nurses (new grads and seasoned nurses alike) frequently and offer myself as a resource. If there is a learning opportunity and I'm available I try to take advantage of it.

LemonAide · Dec 7, 2013

Work there as a CNA while in school. Knowing someone that already works there helps at my facility.

pinkiepinkPN · Dec 8, 2013

I'm the SDC for a 188 bed facility among my responsibilities is hiring new nursing staff. When I am interviewing recent grads, I am looking for someone who has good critical thinking skills and is willing to learn. It is also important that the candidate also enjoys working with geriatrics and is willing to supervise CNA's. Our facility has had good success with new nurses - they haven't been to every other facility in the county (and surrounding ones) and learned lots of bad habits;) I try to ensure that when I am hiring a new nurse that the unit already has several experienced nurses on that shift that are willing to answer questions/ identify resources. I don't want to have too many new nurses on the same unit at the same time. I also make sure that they orientate with an experienced nurse who follows protocols/ policies/ procedures. We try to keep new nurses on the same assignment when possible - to allow them to establish a routine. I'm still working on strengthening our orientation process, I've identified some areas that new nurses would benefit from additional training. This is a work in progress though. I try to check in with all our new nurses (new grads and seasoned nurses alike) frequently and offer myself as a resource. If there is a learning opportunity and I'm available I try to take advantage of it.[/quote']
I got my training from 5 different nurses, 3 of whom only had a few months on me...and I was scattered over 3 different units. All the nurses I trained with coached me to do something one way but "do xyz when state is here." Learning the paperwork is the worst...knowing what form gets used for what and when. There's a bajillion forms for everything and they all get filed 50 different places and all the forms for one thing do not exist in one location. Really frustrating.

sunshyne17 · Dec 8, 2013

pinkiePink - you nailed it. Everything you said is so true!

Cynnie24 · Dec 10, 2013

Thanks everyone for the replies. I will keep all of this in mind.

KellyRN2013 · Dec 12, 2013

You should have no problem getting a job in a LTC facility, depending on where you live. I know here in VA, the LTC facilities usually do hire a lot of people as New grads. Also, you could try to get in as a CNA PRN or something like that to help you get your foot in the door. If you can't get in the door by being an aide then see if they have a volunteer service or receptionist opening just to get you behind the doors and in good with the staff. You need a great resume with a competitive cover letter when you apply. I don't think you should have a problem you just have to be on your game and be professional when you go to your interview. Usually LTC facilities hire RN's as the supervisors but there are some that hire RN's as floor nurses. you will do great!! Just take a deep breath and work on finishing school. I know when I was in school we had a "job fair" and there were a lot of LTC facilities there taking applications and that would be good if you could find a job fair and go and talk with the administrators or DON that is there and talk to them about applying!!!