Is LTC really a kiss of death for new grads?

[studentchar]

So, I'm a third year RN student and I have a chance to guarantee myself a full-time job after graduation. The only problem? It's in LTC, and I'd have to commit to a year, maybe 2.

I'm in Canada, so the shortage hasn't quite hit us yet, I'm sure I could pick up fulltime hours in one of the local hospitals. It would be nice to have the guarantee though. I'm just wondering how nurse managers would react if they saw that was my only work experience after graduation if I decide to apply to a med-surg unit, ER, mom and baby, etc after I'm done with my LTC commitment.

I don't follow the idea of losing my skills in LTC. The important skills such as analytical thinking, critical care, evidence-base decision making, etc. will always stay with me no matter what health care field I go into. I will never forget the reasons why someone may need an IV, even if I need a refresher to put one in, KWIM?

I work as a PCW in a LTC facility right now, and am fairly sure that I don't want to spend my nursing career in a LTC facility. However, this opportunity just seems too good for me to turn down until I do some long and hard thinking and investigation about it.

What do you think? Would nurse managers hold that year against me in future job possibilities?

Thanks for your input!

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Re: Title of this thread.....

Answer: NO. :)

Any job is what you make of it.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

People need to consider that as the population ages, there will be fewer hospital positions all around. LTC, hospice, and home health.....it never hurts to acquire experience with seniors, because they make up a huge segment of the population.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

I worked for a hospital that completely shut down their new grad program two years ago - still haven't restarted it. However, they hire a lot of nurses of LTC Transitional Care Units.

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

I'm in total agreement w/ the OP re: skills in LTC. I don't think I've "lost" any skills, but I know I've gained a few... It's refreshing to hear someone with this outlook.

I started my nursing career in LTC - by choice. It's hard work, but it's worth it (most days anyways:)

[JenniferSews]

I am going to go with- it depends. In my state the hospitals don't count nursing homes or SNFs as any experience. They state it right in their employment listings. 18 months into my career and I am still stuck in a SNF. However some places here in the US are happy to hire nursing home nurses. Some are also happy to hire new grads.

I also have to ask what they are offering that means you must commit 2 years right now. How can they hold you to that?

But overall I've said it before and I'll say it again: working at a non nursing job with your brand new nursing degree is more a kiss of death than LTC. You may not have "seen" yourself as a ltc nurse but at least you wanted to be a nurse, right? If not, you wouldn't have gone to nursing school (we hope.) So even if you aren't working in your dream field, you are still doing what you went to school and worked so hard for, and that isn't the end of the world. Getting your nursing degree and not using it is the only "kiss of death" for new grads.

[studentchar]

Sorry guys, I should have clarified things a bit more:

-the commitment would because they paid tuition fees, I'm in my third year right now so they would just pay for the last year.

-the facility is not the one I currently work at, but I am very familiar with it. It is well-respected, and I would ask to shadow an RN before I made any decision just to see what the workload is like.

Thanks for your input! I am leaning towards it, but of course won't make any decision until I know all of the facts!

[jimthorp]

So, I'm a third year RN student and I have a chance to guarantee myself a full-time job after graduation. The only problem? It's in LTC, and I'd have to commit to a year, maybe 2.

I'm in Canada, so the shortage hasn't quite hit us yet, I'm sure I could pick up fulltime hours in one of the local hospitals. It would be nice to have the guarantee though. I'm just wondering how nurse managers would react if they saw that was my only work experience after graduation if I decide to apply to a med-surg unit, ER, mom and baby, etc after I'm done with my LTC commitment.

I don't follow the idea of losing my skills in LTC. The important skills such as analytical thinking, critical care, evidence-base decision making, etc. will always stay with me no matter what health care field I go into. I will never forget the reasons why someone may need an IV, even if I need a refresher to put one in, KWIM?

I work as a PCW in a LTC facility right now, and am fairly sure that I don't want to spend my nursing career in a LTC facility. However, this opportunity just seems too good for me to turn down until I do some long and hard thinking and investigation about it.

What do you think? Would nurse managers hold that year against me in future job possibilities?

Thanks for your input!

I imagine not all LTC facilities are created equal. I work in a nursing and rehab center and the patient accuity is more complex than the med-surg rotations I had in nursing school.