from hospital to long term care

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been a nurse for over 10 yrs. Experience in ICU, Med Surg and management. Wanting a change and am considering a position with a LTC doing staff education. My first love is patient care but am thinking this could be a good change after all these years. My question is could I do this since I for one have no long term care experience and no staff education experience. I am thinking as a nurse I know the education part it would just be hard at first. Please send me your ideas.:confused:

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Specializes in LTC.

Not to be harsh, but it's highly unlikely you will be accepted and/or respected by the floor nurses without having ever worked in LTC before. My two cents? If you take this job, tell them you want a week on the floor with a nurse so you know what they do. LTC is drastically different from hospital nursing. Good luck.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

It sounds like there are cliques that only accept "experienced nurses". I have tried to get informational interviews and to shadow. I was denied a shadow experience due to liability and confidentiality issues. Which is bull! I just don't think that they wanted to be bothered. However, I was told to apply and that I get to shadow once I am hired.:confused: But, that does defeat the whole purpose of wanting to shadow. I would hate to orient to a job and find that it was not a good fit for me.

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That is one of my fears, being accepted since I have no LTC exp. I also think it would be a good idea to work the floor to see what they do and work on getting a little acceptance. Keep the advice coming, I need it. Thank- you to those that have replied, it helps.

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I have been a nurse for over 10 yrs. Experience in ICU, Med Surg and management. Wanting a change and am considering a position with a LTC doing staff education. My first love is patient care but am thinking this could be a good change after all these years. My question is could I do this since I for one have no long term care experience and no staff education experience. I am thinking as a nurse I know the education part it would just be hard at first. Please send me your ideas.:confused:

LTC is a much slower atmosphere. You'll be fine- with 10 years critical care and management exp. you will be more than capable of staff education. just know it's a big difference going from a hospital to LTC. It's a nice break from the hustle and bustle of ICU, but it was welcome for me.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

Actually my Education Director's previous experience was all hospital work in ER and ICU. Get to know the regs and you will do just fine. I am a DON that believes in giving everyone a try.

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Thank- you everyone. I am so use to bedside nursing that I am hesitant in giving that up to give inservices. Like I had said I am a quiet person and do not know if I have what it takes. I can get nervous when it comes to public speaking. Again, am I borrowing trouble? I really want to get out of hospital nursing.:confused:

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