Is it hard to get into med surg if you stay in LTC/SNF for yrs?

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Ok this is my situation. I'm currently at my second RN job. I work at a LTC/SNF facility and I love it! I am charge nurse of this great little facility and am learning a lot. Even better, because I am charge nurse I work M-F 7a-3p! Since my last job was 11p-7a this is a dream... I don't mind weekends but with my oldest going into high school it would be easier to have weekends off for games etc. also, as I said I'm learning so much, I have tons of responsibility and I love that! My fear is that if I stay too long I won't be able to get into med surg when I'm ready. I've heard two years in LTC and hospitals don't want you. Any truth to that? I am IV certified, do trach care, g-tubes etc daily. Any advice? I do love my current job and the schedule BUT I want to think of the future too...

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In a word, yes. However, it is not impossible. I have been told straight up by HR representatives that they don't like to hire nurses from LTC. I live in an area where they are sometimes forced to do so anyway, but there you have it. Some nurses stay in LTC/SNF forever and like it just fine. I used to do SNF, but acute care is much better for me.

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Thanks. I definitely don't want to do LTC/SNF forever so maybe I need to start looking...

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

What? My hospital won't hire new grads but they will hire people with one year of SNF/LTC experience.

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O dear, I hope this is not the case. I have been in LTC for three yrs, supported my hubby through school and had a baby. I hope I did not sabotage my career!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

LTC will not "sabotage" your career. It is a specialty in its own right--many do not give it much credit. Also, I am living proof that you can get hired in acute care after working LTC/SNF. I worked in a SNF for four years and when I decided to transition to a hospital I was hired on at a Level II Trauma center on the hepatobiliary/transplant floor. I have been there for a year and had very little trouble adjusting. Since I am used to much higher ratios (11:1 on a subacute rehab floor) I have exceptional time management and had no trouble adjusting to a load of 3-5 acute patients. Go for it when you are ready!

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LTC/SAR is a very skilled position that many nurses love and do it forever. I spent my first 2 1/2 years in LTC facilities. But, depending on your market, you can get stuck as a nursing home nurse. I did not want five 8 hour shifts and I wanted to try acute care, so I left. From what I saw and heard from recruiters I was just on the edge of being considered LTC.

Having done both I would say LTC/SAR is the harder position. I felt I would learn more and have more opportunities and schedule flexibility in acute care,

Good luck!

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I've only ever met one RN who was able to move from a snf to acute care. I've always heard that you need to start your career in acute care if you ever want to work in acute care.

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I know lots of nurses who started in SNF or subacute rehab. I'm in ICU now and had no problem transitioning from the nursing home to my first MedSurg position. I consider SNF to be the most difficult work environment as well and am so glad that I got my start where I did.

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I worked in LTC for almost 2 years, because hospitals here weren't really hiring new grads when I graduated. Then, there was a huge demand for tele nurses in all the hospitals around here, so I applied and got interviews and hired at each one! (I only took one though, obviously). One of the girls that got hired after me has been in LTC for eleven years before getting that job.

So no, not impossible. I think the experience is beneficial. You probably will never be hired above someone with acute care experience (unless you just have that dashing personality, haha) but when there's a demand, I'm sure your experience will help earn the job, not hinder it.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

I work with a nurse who did 1 year of LTC and then moved to the ICU. It's possible!

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I worked in LTC/SNF as a new grad for a year, then was readily hired at a small LTAC Hospital. Completely different settings. This is basically a step-down ICU with high ratios. I realize that LTC does have a certain "reputation" but I also think an interviewer can get an idea of whether or not you know what you're doing. Sell yourself.

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