Clinicals in nursing homes?

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I have just started a nursing program for a general RN associates degree, 2nd quarter in. Its a new program at ITT-tech, completely legitimate, 2 year program. I just found out the clinicals I start in quarter 4 are in retirement homes. I told my aunt this, who is an RN, and she seemed very upset- saying it will be difficult to get hired once I graduate because hospitals will consider clinicals in nursing homes to not offer adequate experience. Does anyone else have additional information to this topic and think this is true, that I'll have a difficult time getting hired?

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Specializes in Emergency.

I can't say for sure whether or not you will get hired based on this, but know that the environments between acute care facilities and long term care are worlds apart. Acute care can be fast-paced and require skills of all sorts that will test your time management. Long term care is much slower paced, includes mostly only the general nursing care like IV's, med administration and wound management.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

At some point I think every nursing student does clinicals in a nursing home. Usually it's in the beginning of a program when all that has been learned is basic nursing care. Are you doing ALL of your clinicals in a nursing home or just that quarter?

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I am entering my senior year of a 2 yr program at a community college. The first semester, we were all placed in LTC clinicals...some were at hospitals such as the VA while others were at individual nursing homes. We do 6 weeks of LTC, two 8 week periods of Med/Surg, 8 weeks of OB/Maternity, 8 weeks of Psych. I believe senior year we get to chose a site for community nursing and we also do ER/ICU I think for a short period of time.

I'm curious, each semester do you guys get a different clinical location? There is no way you can only be doing clinicals at nursing homes the entire 2 years.

Starting off in LTC wasn't too much fun, but it definitely taught us how to be great CNAs which was the point of the first semester. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I'm curious, what's that ADN from ITT going to cost you?

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Its around $40k. I dont have the information on whether or not we do different clinicals each quarter. The nursing chair is being kind of shy on the subject. I believe the school is still trying to get licensed with the hospitals, which is why all clinicals are starting in nursing homes. Thanks so much everyone :)

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Specializes in Emergency.

You start in nursing homes or end in one? Most start out in one but you stated the following:

I just found out the clinicals I start in quarter 4 are in retirement homes.

My impression was your preceptorship will be in a nursing home.

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Yeah, we do 3 quarters of classes and dont start clinicals until quarter 4. There are 9 quarters all together, I'm still a bit iffy on the details of the clinicals.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Oh, quarters.... :)

As long as you don't end up in long term your skill set will grow. Starting there is fine. I wouldn't worry about it!

That said, since it is a newer program, I wonder how hiring managers will look upon your graduating class. Not a lot of history and successful graduates to base their decision upon. As long as you succeed, shine and network in your clinicals, you will better your chances of a job.

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This is common practice even with BSN programs - for first semester of clinicals to be in LTC facilities. You'll be learning basics so there's no need to have a more complex medical environment.

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Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.

You are smart to question this. I would be very concerned about any program that did not seem to have the details worked out for clinical. Even if it is a new program, they should know where you will be doing clinicals - maybe not which quarter but they should be able to say you will be at hospital A, B, and C at some point in your schooling. If they do not know that yet, how can they be sure they will be able to provide the needed clinical hours? Clinical is something they can't set up a week before you start.

Even though you already started, you might want to check the program out to be sure it will get you where you want to be. It might be helpful to check with the Board of Nursing in your area to see what they tell you. Find out if the nursing credits from ITT will be accepted at other colleges. It is likely that you will want to do a BSN in the future and it would be a bummer to find out that none of your credits are accepted(especially since you are likely to come out with a LOT of debt for a program that is charging you $40K). If ITT has had a class complete the program, find out how many of the original students actually finished the program and how many passed boards. If the information you find out is not favorable, I would strongly encourage you to reconsider continuing there even if it means postponing nursing school until you can get into another program. You want to be sure you get a good education as you prepare to start your career as a nurse.

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Absolutely, the uncertainty bothers me. I know that they have set up the clinicals for the nursing homes, but what about later in the program? I would really like some clinicals in hospitals too.

I did, also, actually find out that the credits do not transfer to other colleges, BUT ITT themselves are offering a BSN program. So should I choose to further my education, I can aquire the bachelors degree through the same school. We still have no graduates, I believe the classes ahead of us are just beginning their 5th quarters in September.

Again, thank you all so much. I never knew blogs could help a person out so much haha.

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