Dilemma: Should I settle? Is it worth it in the long run?

[Mariposa2009]

Ok, so after a month or so of not hearing anything from hospitals, I decided to expand my search to clinics, Dr's offices, and LTCs. I've accepted a position at a Dr's office for a full-time Flu clinic position which is a temporary position from Oct-Dec. Just today, I received a call back from an LTC facility and was offered a full-time RN position. However, I am not sure if I should settle for the LTC or hold out for a hospital gig (which is what I really want). I mean I know that I do not have to stay @ the LTC for long, but would working in a nursing home ruin my chances of advancing in the future? A nurse manager I spoke with told me that she is hesitant to hire nurses from nursing homes because she feels that RNs from nursing homes do not really utilize the skills needed to perform on a "regular" hospital floor. Is this true? If so, this hurts me because to me experience is experience, but I do not want my choice to work @ a LTC facility to hurt my chances of obtaining a hospital position in the future. Hospitals are just not hiring new grads like they use to. Also, with many LTCs, an RN is more of a supervisor then a nurse and this scares me. So, I was thinking about turning down the LTC offer and staying with the Flu clinic. That way if a hospital gig comes up, I could just leave the clinic since it's a temporary position anyway. On the other hand, I need a job and the LTC offered me a permanent full-time position. Plus I know how hard jobs are to come by for new grads and it might be another 5 months before I hear anything. What do you guys think????? I honestly don't know what to do. Please help!!!I welcome any advice. I hope I am making some sense in this thread b/c I know I've been all over the place. Thanks in advance.

[Celia M, ASN, RN]

I am the nurse manager of a med/surg/tele floor and an ICU. I have in the past few months hired new grad RNs and LVNs, LVNs with LTC exp only and RNs with only HHA experience. SO if you need the money go with LTC, as a manager I would take that experience over a seasonal fu clinic job.

Good luck Celia

[leslie :-D]

instructors need to stop scaring prospective nurses about ltc, and how they won't be appreciated.

they are doing a gross injustice to a critical specialty of nsg.

with folks living longer AND with our ubiquitous fear of dying (and so, grasping at any/all interventions to prolong life), old people are in our future.

no escaping it.

and mark my words when i warn you folks, that geri nsg is the wave of the future.

these ltc facilities are their homes.

it is the top-notch geri nurse, that will recognize the critical signs of subtle decompensation.

when someone mentioned multi-system failure (husker was it?), so very true, where the geri nurse will observe the impact of declining renal, hepatic, cardioresp systems, while still maintaining pts function to extent possible.

when are hcp's going to realize that a geri pt CAN be septic and afebrile???

that if the geri nurse wants a cxr or ua, give them what they want, for they know what they speak of!

i would definitely encourage you to take the full time job in ltc.

you will develop assessment skills like no other.

you will quickly distinguish betw critical and baseline, and set your priorities accordingly.

most important (this is for ONLY those who love our elderly), these folks will be receiving the excellent care that they so deserve, AND going to bed at noc, knowing they are loved.

feeling loved, is (likely) more important than their physical health.

i truly believe that.

if you are receptive to it, you will develop some of the most intimate and loving relationships with these folks.

to many nurses, it feels like their 2nd home.

so to heck with what you were told.

and shame on them.

and for those who wouldn't hire you r/t lack of acute care experience?

shame on them too.

because in the end, it really makes little difference.

stay true to what and who you are as a new nurse.

and wishing you the best of everything.

leslie

[ajaxgirl]

Ok, so after a month or so of not hearing anything from hospitals, I decided to expand my search to clinics, Dr's offices, and LTCs. I've accepted a position at a Dr's office for a full-time Flu clinic position which is a temporary position from Oct-Dec. Just today, I received a call back from an LTC facility and was offered a full-time RN position. However, I am not sure if I should settle for the LTC or hold out for a hospital gig (which is what I really want). I mean I know that I do not have to stay @ the LTC for long, but would working in a nursing home ruin my chances of advancing in the future? A nurse manager I spoke with told me that she is hesitant to hire nurses from nursing homes because she feels that RNs from nursing homes do not really utilize the skills needed to perform on a "regular" hospital floor. Is this true? If so, this hurts me because to me experience is experience, but I do not want my choice to work @ a LTC facility to hurt my chances of obtaining a hospital position in the future. Hospitals are just not hiring new grads like they use to. Also, with many LTCs, an RN is more of a supervisor then a nurse and this scares me. So, I was thinking about turning down the LTC offer and staying with the Flu clinic. That way if a hospital gig comes up, I could just leave the clinic since it's a temporary position anyway. On the other hand, I need a job and the LTC offered me a permanent full-time position. Plus I know how hard jobs are to come by for new grads and it might be another 5 months before I hear anything. What do you guys think????? I honestly don't know what to do. Please help!!!I welcome any advice. I hope I am making some sense in this thread b/c I know I've been all over the place. Thanks in advance.

Take the LTC job.