How to obtain acute care experience?

[missdeevah, NP]

i am a new graduate lvn, in the dfw area (texas). i accepted and started a job in an ltc facility, but what i really want is to work in a hospital to obtain the "acute care experience" that will really help me as i work toward my rn degree through excelsior. now, my problem is that there are some hospitals that hire lvns, but they all want some type of "acute care experience!" some require as little as 3 months experience, but it is still acute care experience. the only place that i know that hired a few of my classmates, straight out of school, is one where we did clinicals, but it is a lifetime away from where i live. i mean where is one to obtain this experience if they all want experience? and this includes such facilities as lifecare and healthsouth...all the smaller hospitals...everyone! anybody got any tips for a new grad? oh, and i switched to nursing from the technical field. any suggestions will be appreciated.

p.s: i didn't realize that scrubs are soooo expensive!

[NC Girl BSN]

I am in the same boat as yourself. I wanted hospital experience but the closest hospital that hired LPN's was 1hr and 10min making 13.88 an hour. I have been working in LTC care for about a month. I am also registered to take Excelsiors first exam and I am actively studying for it. The way I see it, you have time to get into a hospital and gain experience in the future.There are a lot of things that you will learn in LTC that will help you in acute care in the future. For example, Practice and establishing a routine of giving meds, learning drugs(S&S), injections, catherizations, administering TB skin test,skin assessments, paperwork, managing CNA's, time management, improving communications skills, Dressing changes of all kinds, staging pressure ulcers. You get the picture. I think in the end, it will make you a better nurse because you will have accomplished all of these things. Don't feel bad because you cant get a hospital job right now. Once you get your RN you will have plenty of opportunities. One other thing that I am doing to keep me aware of my skills is to attend Nursing workshops on IV administration and practice workshops in my local area. Google your local AHEC at hospitals and go to local workshops that keeps you aware in your future career of choice. Not only does it look good on your resume, but it will help to obtain your CEU's. It also shows your employer that you are very involved and willing to learn in your profession. If you still convinced of trying to get into a hospital, just apply anyway and worry the heck out of HR. Also if you know someone that works in the hospital try to add them to your references and see if they can talk to your nurse manager. Good Luck!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I think that NCgirl 35 made some excellent suggestions. Good luck!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Plaza Medical Center hires LVNs with no experience, but the pay is low.

John Peter Smith Hospital also hires LVNs, but the pay is very low.

Baylor Hospital hires LVNs, but I'm not sure about their pay rates.

The long term acute care hospitals such as Lifecare and Kindred quickly hire LVNs at good pay. The local rehab hospitals such as Healthsouth and Regency also hire LVNs.