Does LTC experience effect your chances of getting into a hospital?

NYRN08 · Jan 4, 2009

I'm currently experiencing the same problem you are. I too, am a recent RN (passing boards in November) and have been in the LTC field as an LPN for 4 years. Being that I have am now an RN - I would like to try the acute care field. I am worried that if I stay in LTC, the harder it will be for me to move out to try new areas of interest. I have an interview tommorrow at one of the local hospitals but it is for their SNU unit....I really do not want to be in this field anymore and am pondering the thought of calling them back up to cancel the appointment.

Is anyone else experiencing the same as MelodyRNurse and I??? Are there any suggestions???

MLF · Jan 4, 2009

I have also been turned down by hospitals due to my LTC experience. In my case, I have been in nursing for about 17 years. When I first began nursing, I wanted to be in NICU. My dream job. When I started nursing school nurses were in high demand. Three years later demand went down (demand tends to go up in down) and I found myself having to accept LTC. Two years later, I began applying at hospitals but they refused to hire me because I had "no experience." My advice-keep trying. Find a small hospital which is willing to give you a try. I finally, a few years ago, found one that would hire me. Unfortunately, I was having some personal issues in my private life (which led to a lot of life changes) and wasn't able to continue at that hospital. Good luck

Ms.RN · Jan 4, 2009

i'm currently experiencing the same problem you are. i too, am a recent rn (passing boards in november) and have been in the ltc field as an lpn for 4 years. being that i have am now an rn - i would like to try the acute care field. i am worried that if i stay in ltc, the harder it will be for me to move out to try new areas of interest. i have an interview tommorrow at one of the local hospitals but it is for their snu unit....i really do not want to be in this field anymore and am pondering the thought of calling them back up to cancel the appointment.
is anyone else experiencing the same as melodyrnurse and i??? are there any suggestions???

i'm with you guys. i'v been a lpn for 2 years working in ltc facility, went back to school and obtained rn degree. i thought i'm not going to have any problem finding a job in the hospital and i thought i was more marketable but no 6 monthes passed, now a year passed and i still havent been able to find a job. i think in some part its my fault too because i dont want to work midnight shift and most of job posting are for the midnight shift. i just wonder if there is a reason nurse managers from hospital are not willing to hire nurses from ltc. is there sterotypes against ltc nurses? who knows.

so now i'm working in ltc owned by a large hospital and after 6 monthes i'm eligible to transfer to the hospital, but i still have to go through interview etc.. i think other ways to find job is to go to job fair or networking through friends or family members who are working in the hospital.

kythe, LPN · Jan 4, 2009

I'm really surprised by this. I plan to go back to school next year for RN, and I would expect that my previous nursing experience would give me an edge over other new grad RN's. To think experience as an LPN is percieved negatively seems really backwards, especially since I can list skills I'm very comfortable with now that I couldn't perform independently when I first started. I don't see why this wouldn't be an asset in moving to a different specialty. RN's who were never LPN's still can change specialties when they want, so why is going back to school for different job possibilities so problematic?

caliotter3 · Jan 4, 2009

I had the same problem when I applied to acute care hospitals as a CNA. Now that I am happy in home health, I don't even care to bother with getting a hospital job. I get paid decently to have just one patient, so I don't feel compelled to put myself back in that type of work environment. And as far as I'm concerned, my time spent in subacute and being the only licensed nurse in charge of a LTC facility was experience enough to work in a hospital, so I won't let anyone denigrate my experience.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2009

I'm having a similar issue, but with a twist. I was an LPN in acute care for a year before obtaining my RN licensure. To me, I have been a nurse for a year and a half. To prospective employers, my LPN year does not count, and I have only been a nurse for six months. It would seem that a lot of employers look at how long you have been an RN as a measure of your experience.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 5, 2009

I say to keep trying. In addition, one may have to become a bit more flexible, if that is possible regarding the shifts, but I know it is hard for those that have childcare or health issues that bar this option.

What I am wondering is due to the economic crisis, the market may become super-saturated with nurses that are returning to the bedside because of spouses that lost their jobs, lay offs and downsizing. Good luck, everyone!

amjowens · Jan 5, 2009

Many hospitals are in financial trouble in my area. There are hiring freezes at some, and at others, even new grad RN ONLY students are having trouble getting jobs.

The trend in health care is outpatient care. As a new grad LPN who is starting a RN (regular, not bridge) program this month, I first read this post and felt a little down. Then, I thought about the bigger picture, and see that whether a new RN has been a waitress, an LPN, a CNA, or has never worked, the ability to get a RN hospital position is fiercely competitive in many regions at the moment. The only mystery to me is why the concept of a "nursing shortage" is so rampant. I mean, it's making me see firsthand that media news requires a little research before trusting, not to mention the Johnson and Johnson group that promotes such a shortage.

southernbeegirl, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2009

i never had a problem when i applied to acute care.

working in LTC as long as you are working on a SNF unit, your skills will get perfect because you will use them so much.

when i took a job in a hospital, i had worked for 10 yrs in LTC as a cna andthen RN.

i didnt have any problem at all. if it was something i didnt know...like hanging blood....one of the nurses would always be there to show me how.

MelodyRNurse · Jan 5, 2009

i'm with you guys. i'v been a lpn for 2 years working in ltc facility, went back to school and obtained rn degree. i thought i'm not going to have any problem finding a job in the hospital and i thought i was more marketable but no 6 monthes passed, now a year passed and i still havent been able to find a job. i think in some part its my fault too because i dont want to work midnight shift and most of job posting are for the midnight shift. i just wonder if there is a reason nurse managers from hospital are not willing to hire nurses from ltc. is there sterotypes against ltc nurses? who knows.
so now i'm working in ltc owned by a large hospital and after 6 monthes i'm eligible to transfer to the hospital, but i still have to go through interview etc.. i think other ways to find job is to go to job fair or networking through friends or family members who are working in the hospital.

i too, have been a little choosy with my shifts. that might be part of the problem with me.

NYRN08 · Jan 6, 2009

SouthernBeegirl....

I'm sorry for sounding dumb but what does SNF mean??? I have always referred to LTC as just LTC. I have an interview at my local hosp in which they have a SNF unit in their hospital. My plan is to ask the recruiter is I am able to transfer out onto their med/surg floor when the opportunity arises. I'm just worried that I won't be able to get off this floor or out of this field for the rest of my nursing career. Thanks for the advise though...I will keep pushing and asking around until someone is willing to move me over to their floor or get a position in a hosp.