How many of you RNs started in LTC, SNF, or rehab environment and moved on?

kiszi, RN · Oct 17, 2014

It sounds like you are getting great experience, and assuming your resume contains all of the info you listed, I would guess the reason you are not getting calls yet is due to the quantity, not quality of your experience. Once you hit that year mark I think more doors will open for you. If major hospitals in your area are not giving you the time of day, I also suggest googling to find all hospitals in your area and apply like crazy to all of them, no matter how small.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2014

After several years of working in LTC and subacute rehab, I was offered two acute care positions at two different hospitals, both in med/surg oncology. But because of the noncompetitive pay being offered, I decided to not accept the positions.

I now work at a freestanding rehabilitative hospital, where the nurse/patient ratios are better than LTC and subacute rehab.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2014

There are a lot of stereotypes related to LTC nursing unfortunately.

LTC can be a great learning experience and there are some managers in other departments who appreciate this when interviewing candidates.

Not only can you get familiar with a variety of equipment/ procedures, but you also learn to prioritize very quickly. Assessment skills, leadership/ supervision/ delegation, and documentation are just a few of the skills that you learn in LTC.

I am currently leaving LTC for a Hospice nursing position. Never in a million years would I have ever thought about Hospice, but it was in LTC that I developed an interest in hospice. And I think it helped me land the position because several of the hospice nurses, Social Workers and Chaplains were familiar with me and my work.

So, if you don't think that LTC is truly what you want to do, look at LTC as a opportunity to "taste test" some other areas of nursing, take every opportunity to learn additional skills and focus on networking when the opportunities present.

Good Luck:)

eggyweggy, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2014

The unofficial standard in my area is that unless you have hospital experience as a CNA, or are related to someone who already works for a particular hospital system, you pay your dues by working in LTC or TCU while you gain your year of experience. You also can't get into most of the major hospital systems in my area without a BSN. I love the variety I'm getting in the TCU -- while I'm not getting as specialized as some of my peers who went straight to a specialty floor out of school, I feel like I'm getting a well-rounded view of a lot of different types of nursing. We get ortho patients, oncology patients, cardio patients, renal patients, respiratory patients, hospice patients, psych patients, and everything in between. I'd actually be content to stay in LTC/rehab if only I could have a smaller patient load. That's the only thing that I think I would leave my current facility for -- I'm getting paid slightly less than my peers who are working in acute care, but I work straight days as a new-ish grad and my schedule offers some semblance of work-life balance. My co-workers are great and so is my commute. My plan is to stick with the status quo and soak up as much experience as I can until I finish my BSN in May, then I figure I'll be a much more attractive candidate should i decide to pursue something different. I've been pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoy the rehab side of LTC, though.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Nov 2, 2014

I left snf/rehab after 11 months for a clinic position (which is not listed as a sub specialty on an--kind of disappointing, but I digress). So yes, there is life after ltc and it doesn't have to be acute care!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2014

I left snf/rehab after 11 months for a clinic position (which is not listed as a sub specialty on an--kind of disappointing, but I digress).

Clinic nursing positions fall under the wide realm of ambulatory care nursing, which is listed as one of the specialty forums.