LTC Nurse ... Am I Stuck???

[MissRNBlue803]

I have been doing LTC nursing for almost a year. I have been trying to get a job at the hospital but when I go for an interview the nurse manager always say we don't count LTC as experience...WTH??? Will I ever get into a hospital??

[jkr2020788]

I'm assuming LTC is "Long Term Care"? As long as you are getting nursing exp, this should help with your interviews. This is not on the basis of, "I'm an LTC nurse, so now I can titrate dopamine", its more on the basis of, "Im an LTC nurse, Ive seen the long term effects of ______" Try to sell yourself on patient care based on what you've seen in LTC and that you know all the basic nursing tasks. Everyone starts out somewhere. I personally started in an ICU, unlike you, I had absolutely NO nursing exp. So if someone like you who has even a small amount of nursing exp, has a leg up on someone who was in my position. Just demonstate that you can take care of multiple medical patients.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

After 4 years of experience as an LVN in LTC, I earned my RN license 2 years ago and was offered a med/surg position at a regional hospital located just outside the city where I live. The nurse manager was willing to consider my LTC and rehab experience when deciding to hire me. However, I declined the job offer.

I would say that no one is 'stuck' anywhere unless they want to be stuck. You've been at your current job for less than 1 year, so perhaps the hiring managers are looking for more signs of stability.

[rita359]

One year does not stick you anywhere. It will not be impossible to get a job in a hospital but, if you read enough on this site, you know all kind of people are having a hard time getting any job.

Experience in ltc doesn't necessarily translate to hospital experience. You will need as long an orientation as any other new nurse. Orientation will be easier for you since you DO have some experience. You will know more about meds. Will be more oriented to skin care and other long term problems you have seen the result of than a nurse with no experience.

Keep interviewing. Someone will see your potential.

[minnymi]

where in the hospital are you trying to work?

lots of new grads here start out in med/surg. i'm sure you probably wouldn't have a hard time getting a job there because you would need to be trained the same way as a new grad. almost a year might seem like an eternity, but it's not very much experience to consider when changing jobs.

be careful what you wish for though! at least in my area the hospital is a much tougher job and the pay is less.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I experienced a similar problem. I decided to "assume" that people in management probably haven't worked in LTC as bedside nurses in years if at all. I decided I had to "educate" them on all that I did. So I emphasized my time management skills (alone with 43 residents at night), how resourceful a nurse is when pharmacy and doctors aren't 24 hours a day like in a hospital, how great my assessment skills are since I have to keep track of so many people and notice when something is wrong with one of them, etc etc. I found that very helpful. :) It seems that most NM thought I was hanging out with grandma and grandpa all day and that my job wasn't challenging.

[MissRNBlue803]

I started out as a CNA was on the job for 8 years before getting my RN...I don't have a problem working LTC but for further educational purposes n career advancements I want to work at a hospital...I'm willing to work on any floor to get my foot in the door....

[OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN]

My LTC experience counted for me. I got hired as a new grad RN into ICU after working as a LPN in LTC. I even got payed extra for my LPN/LTC experience.

[OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN]

You just have to sell yourself to them. Focus on prioritizing, teaching and customer service.