Come and tell me what you think? Please :)

[Lisey]

Hey all,

I have a question

I am currently a nursing student, in my second of three years and I work as a care assistant in LTC. The thing I'd like some comments on is being a LTC nurse when I graduate.

I really love where I work and I'm interested in starting my nursing career in a similar facility but EVERY SINGLE person tells me I will never advance in my career if I start it in LTC:confused:

Even the RN's that work there say I should do hospital based nursing for a few years before even thinking about LTC nursing, and that I would lose my skills and not earn as much blah blah. It's really quite annoying. But anyway Can I have some opinions from ppl who have "been there done that" or even ones who havent! lol

Thanks

[starryx2]

I am going to graduate in 4 months, and I work in the ER at our facility and I've heard similar tells because i really like med-surg. This is what I think... If you like what you do and that is where you want to be. Then go there... If you ever want to go elsewhere... you'll be able too....

Good Luck!!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I completed an LVN program 4 months ago, and all of my instructors told me to land a job in med-surg if I wanted advancement in my career.

However, I hated my med-surg clinical rotations and have difficulty seeing myself doing that kind of work in the near future. If LTC is something you think you'd like, then work LTC. Go with your instincts.

LTC work is deserving of more respect.

[Lisey]

yeah it seems as if med/surg is where it all happens

I guess I am a bit confused on the idea that one you start something like LTC then it means you are pretty much stuck there as the other areas would be too hard to get into as you haven't been using certain clinical skills as much as other areas would?? Or is that a big loada bull lol

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Work where you want to work, period. You can always start elsewhere later. I worked in LTC and a CNA and an LPN. I then worked psych as an RN. Now I am working Med/Surg as an RN. It is sometimes difficult to make a switch. But I feel you will learn a lot in LTC. You will be doing foley's, trach care, tube feedings, numerous dressings, suctioning, ostomy care, enormous med passes, etc. Some LTC places even do dialysis. You will will learn time management like in no other area! You will have many (30+) residents to take care of. They may not always be sick, but sometimes they do go bad fast and you do have to know what to do! So if after awhile you decide you don't want to stay in LTC, you will have gained a large amount of knowlege to take elsewhere.

[weetziebat]

Alrighty, Lisey, I'll tell you what I would say if you were my daughter. When you graduate from nursing school, the license you're given is not a license that you know everything you need to know in order to function as a good well-rounded nurse. You are rather given a license to learn.

Traditionally, and in my opinion, still the way to go is to spend ~ 3 years working on a med/surg. unit, learning the 'basics'. The meat and potatoes of nursing. Some people may suggest another year in ICU and/or ED to complete your education, and with that under your belt, you can tackle anything.

I commend you for knowing what area of nursing you enjoy, and Lord knows we need good LTC nurses, but the problem may come down the road when you may feel a need for a change. Once you've been in LTC for a while it can be difficult to find and function in a job in acute care. The procedures, equipment, medications and technology changes so fast that it is wickedly easy to fall behind, no matter how you try not to.

So for this reason alone, my suggestion would be to get at least a couple of years med/surg. experience first, then branch out in whatever direction your heart takes you. Best of luck to you!

[mustanggirl]

Hi, I here where you're coming from. I worked in long term care as a CNA while I was in nursing school and enjoyed the experience and decided to work in the same nursing home as an RN once I graduated from nursing shool. I am thankful and proud of the time I spend working in the nursing home. I learned about so many different medications and treatments working there and have found that knowledge useful now once working in a hospital. Frankly, nursing homes these days seem like a med-surg unit sometimes. I have since switched to hospital nursing, working first on a med-surg unit. Currently I work in critical care in the PACU. I have enjoyed each area of nursing I have worked in, they all have there advantages and disadvantages.

[Lisey]

well thanks heaps for your replies.

I guess it comes down to the individuals experience and also what care the facility provides eh.

It just drives me nuts thinking about it already lol when i have a while to go before I need to make a decision :chuckle

[Zee_RN, BSN, RN]

I started in long-term care. Then went to med-surg. Then to ICU (still there). It can certainly be done; it depends on what YOU want.

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

One thing I can think of, is that it seems like LTC nurses have to have a lot more autonomy a lot quicker than acute care nurses- like they are the only nurse, or one of very few, in a facility, so it might help to have a few years in a unit with other nurses around to get your confidence up? Just a thought, take with a grain of salt since I've never worked as an LTC nurse.