Help, Need some advise about Job Hunting!

[SkeesB]

I recently graduated in December and passed my NCLEX the end of February:yeah:. I decided that I was going to concentrate on studying for boards before I would search for a job. Now I have been searching for a job (Central Wisconsin) for two months. I am trying to get into a hospital because I would love to be in Cardiac in a couple of years. A lot of the jobs are asking for experience. I do not have any!!! I was a stay at home mom for the last 6 years and just concentrated on school and my children the last two. Here is my question...I know of a lot of long term care facilities that are eager and desperate for nurses, but I am afraid that if I get into a long term care facility that know hospital would ever give me a chance in the long run. I would love to work with the elderly and I am a very compassionate person, but my true desire is cardiac. Would long term care be considered experience, the experience the hospital wants? Please post back, I am curious. I am so eager to begin my career as a nurse! Thank you ahead of time for reading and hopefully answering my question. I will quit babbling now.

[Nurse-E Girl]

Hi, Congratulations on passing the boards! I too recently graduated (last May) and passed the boards in August. I have been looking for an RN job for the past 8 months. I was told that working at a long-term care facility is good experience but not necessarily considered "acute" care (unless they have things like IV's) However, I've also heard that it's great to get the experience with passing meds.

I had decided to wait for a job in the hospital to start my first year of med-surg nursing and I'm happy to say I start my new job next month. I've spent the last several months catching up on everything I've neglected for the past two years! I wish I could give you better advice but I'm new at this too! Good luck to you! : )

[JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN]

It's really going to depend on the hospital you apply to. Yes, LTC is definitely experience. And when they interview you and ask why you think LTC prepared you to do cardiac, you say because in LTC the nurse has to be an expert at assessment. You have to be able to see the subtle differences in your patients/residents so that you don't sit on them for too long before it's too late to get them to the ER. At least, that's what I'd say.

We have a nurse in our CVICU who was a transfer from our LTC facility. She's worked out fantastically, has become one of my best friends, and recovers immediate post-op CABG patients. So yes, LTC can be a stepping stone to something else if you don't allow yourself to become complacent and not pursue other things.

ETA: It might not be the best route, but if it's the only one open to you right now I would not turn my nose up at it!

[caliotter3]

One time when I applied for a job, I was told that my experience in the subacute area of long term care facilities was just as good experience as in acute care hospitals. But that was one hiring manager. Most hospitals do not consider LTC experience, but that does not mean that you should also devalue LTC experience. Better to be getting experience in a LTC facility than sitting at home unemployed.

[aura_of_laura]

I don't know if you're willing to travel, but I got a job with Gunderson-Lutheran Hospital (LaCrosse) right out of school (2 years ago). Very nice facilities, and they are pretty new-grad friendly :-)