career path after LTC as first job

[wannabemurse]

I would like to hear some stories from nurses who started in LTC and made their way into acute or critical care. Some advice and tips would be great. But before that, here's my story:

I graduated with a BS in nursing in December of 2011, received my RN license in March of 2012 in Hawaii. I moved to Oregon basically to get away from HI after living there all my life, and to attempt to start my career. After a year, I was unsuccessful in getting a job in OR, so I accepted a job in an Assisted living facility back home in HI in April of 2013. After about 3 months, I was offered another job, in a Long term care/acute rehab facility (nursing home), and worked at both facilities until the end of 2013. I relocated AGAIN to the vegas area in January 2014 (because Im just tired of Hawaii, theres a whole world out there), and now currently working in a LTC unit within a small hospital. So now its been a little over 2 years since graduating: the first year was spent unemployed, the second year was spent in LTC. I feel like I've lost a lot of skills and knowledge since graduating. Acute and LTC are 2 completely different worlds.

Half of me is content with my current job that, so far, seems stable. Spending so much time looking for a job after graduation is very discouraging, so this half of me is just happy that I have a job.

The other half of me wants to get back into acute care. My passion in nursing school was cardiac tele. I took ekg classes during nursing school, but I have not read a strip ever since. There is just no exposure to these types of skills in LTC, so I feel that I need to re-learn them. My ACLS will also be expiring soon (again, no use or exposure in LTC). I just feel like I would have to re-learn everything, mainly because certain skills and knowledge were not used for so long, or because I've learned bad habits in the world of LTC.

I would like to hear from nurses that were in similar situations of starting in LTC, and making their way out into acute, or even critical care. How did you adjust into your new jobs, and how did you prepare yourself in entering a different scene? I do realize that it might be difficult finding an acute care job because a lot of managers frown upon ltc experience, but I may be able to transfer internally at my current job. Thanks in advance.

[psychgeribuff]

I had two friends that worked LTC out of nursing school for one year and then both recieved full time positions in one of the best ICU's in our area. Experience is what managers are looking for. And not to be snippy but what do you mean "Loosing your skills" nursing school isn't where you obtain your nursing skills it is where you learn the basics. IE the reason why graduate nurses have trouble getting hired. My advice to you is to be proud of what you have done for the past year!, LTC is not easy!!! And follow your heart and apply to what you believe is your dream job!! Good Luck!!

[NurseQT]

My first question is: why in the world did you want to move away from Hawaii????? Sorry, I live in Wisconsin and much of the state got up to a foot of snow dumped on them yesterday and today so I can't imagine why anyone would want too be away from somewhere like Hawaii!

If acute or critical care is where you want to be than don't let yourself get comfortable. I made that mistake over 10 years ago and now I can't find a job in anything but LTC because I lack the experience in anything but. I'm bored, unchallenged, and feel stuck.