Breaking out of LTC

[mehitabela]

Hi everyone. As a new grad in the current economy I took the first (and only) position available as an RN on a TCU in a hospital. I have stuck it out for a year on a unit with a truly awful culture, consistently understaffed, management that has long since forgotten what it's like to be on the floor, coworkers that run on the not my patient not my hall theory. No matter what shift I work, the nurses are sweet as pie to each other and trash talk any nurse that isn't currently working that day. I leave feeling emotionally drained and out of sorts from the drama, not to mention the patient load which averages ten patients each, usually with no aid. I am desperate to get out! One of the only good things I can say about my time here is that it has taught me time management. I feel I would be capable of almost anything! The problem is that I have put out about fifty applications and have not received so much as a nibble. I have heard that people do not like to hire RNs who have only had LTC experience and even though we are a hospital based unit that gets a much higher than average acuity patient, new employers think that we would not be capable of dealing on a med surg unit. How do I get around this??

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

I don't know what TCU stands for? half the battle is in how you present what your job is, Is it long term care or long term acute care? if its the latter sell the acute side, and the skills you have gained. also working in a hospital could you transfer to a different floor? good luck!

[WillowNMe]

TCU, in my neck of the woods at least, is Transitional Care Unit.

To the OP - are you flexible on area? A lot of the students that have graduated the year or two before me have recommended that I leave the state for at least a year or more... work in a hospital and then come back. Thats how the majority of them got jobs in this area a year or two later.

[j464335]

Just wanted to say.... your not the only one in this prediciment.... My plan is to keep trying, there is teaching universities in my State that offer "internships" for 12 weeks (generally in the summer) If I can find no other way to break into the field I'm going to try to get one of these internships just to get some experience and hopefully "break-into" one of the local hospitals... Internships are hard, 12 hr shifts that turn into 14, and no pay. But, "ya gotta do whatch gotta do", right? GL to you!

[nightengalegoddess]

I would suggest signing on PRN at a hospital. Also amping up your resume with specifics about what it is you have done which resembles Med-Surg work. It sounds as if you have maybe..run I'vs, used central lines and piccs, have followed flushing protocol, have changed and asssessed wounds, have dealt vastly with coordiantion of care amongst discilplines, assessed for changes in s and s, have used and maintained stomach tubes, tpn lines, etc etc..also to mention excellent time management skills....etc..you get the idea. And writting a thorough letter of interest that refers back to your resume for specific situations you used these skills; your competency using adjectives about your standard of nursing care, any changes you have made within the standards of your nursing facility, and make sure to mention you patient advocacy. Just be detailed. Give them a full picture of you working a day on a med-surg unit and how flawlessly you can carry this out....Make sure they know you have carreer directives which mandate you move to med-surg...let them know your heart is in it, not just your pocketbook...usually there is PRN work around and that will get your foot in the door....keep inquiring back every week to the same HR person....make them so that when something opens, you are the first person they think of....good luck...I love med-surg..

[sweetnurse63, BSN, RN]

If you are truly interested in med-surg, ask if you can do a shadow day, following another nurse around to see how the unit is ran, because med-surg is no piece of cake either, often short of staff which over work nurses, seems to be a problem nationwide, I wish you the best with your job search, hang in there and you will get something

[*Posh*]

Make sure you have a killer resume! Why don't you sign up with an agency? That's how I started networking when I moved to a new city. Had a great time working in different hospitals and received several job offers after they saw what kind of nurse I am. I chose a hospital and they paid $6000 to buy out my contract with my agency. Just a suggestion. Hope you get out of there

[NaKcl, BSN, RN]

"I chose a hospital and they paid $6000 to buy out my contract with my agency. "

wow, that is pretty impressive. I wanted to try out agency nursing but somewhat hesitated.

Is angency nursing pay much more than working as a perdiem nurse in a hospital?

[skyblue77]

I worked on a TCU for six months after graduation and started applying for jobs in hospitals. I made sure my resume had all the skills I used on the TCU, assessment, dressing changes, Charge Nurse, TPN, IV's, Tube feeding, etc. I landed a job on the med/surg ortho floor at a local community hospital and I love it. I actually miss the TCU too so I pick up PRN hours there as well. Good luck and work on that resume!

[mehitabela]

Thanks everybody, I am willing to go anywhere in terms of med surg, icu, ortho, and will definitely be reworking my resume. I'll let you know how it goes! Agency is an option...I figured at least I could get a good idea of how the staff is on different units that way. My major concern is being able to find a unit that has decent people on it! I wouldn't even mind another TCU unit if my coworkers were mostly concerned with their patients instead of this high school BS I'm dealing with now!

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Ring all the agencies near you. If you have enough experience, then you can probably work where and when you want (depending upon the agency). Be prepared to travel though. Can you even catch buses/trains or fly in/out for work if you are flexible?

You need to get out of that place. I hate LTC, it doesn't suit everyone. You need to try different areas to see what suits you and agency is a great way to do that. Better money too!

[mehitabela]

It has been two months since my last post on this topic. Last month I was fired after a bizzarely rapid succession of write ups...two regarding issues that I rectified quickly as they were brought to my attention (tasks...not patient care or charting). Then I became very ill for three days. My doctor wrote two letters. One excusing my absence due to illness, and one informing my employer that my illness was due to environmental conditions at the hospital that exacerbated an existing medical condition. I called off the day before my scheduled shift to give adequate time to cover the unit and told the DON that I was on antibiotics, had a note, needed three days. She said fine. After this I worked for another week, came to work one day and was handed my termination letter and escorted off the premises. I appealed. Denied. Saw a lawyer who told me I had a good case for wrongful termination but since it was employment law would not work on contingency...cant afford

$350/ hour to retain him. The most peculiar part of this sad tale is that two days prior I had finally landed an interview on the unit of my choice. Now that I'm fired however, I am ineligible to work for this company.