Is it REALLY necessary to start your nursing career in LTC

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I have a confession. I HATE LTC. And even hate skilled nursing facilities. I have interviewed for jobs at a couple of them and already know I feel strongly bc of the smells, attitudes, and apparent despiration of the hiring managers. However, I've been out of nursing school since May and passed NCLEX in July. No hospitals have called.

I'm stalling bc I really, really, really, really DON'T want to work at a scary LTC facility. Do you think that I will HAVE to go through working in dangerous LTC conditions before getting a hospital offer??

The stories I hear about sub-par care and working conditions scare me so much that I feel frozen and unable to accept employment with one of those places. Please help with any advice!! xo

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A lot of hospitals don't count LTC as relevant experience, either. They want acute care experience. Is it possible for you to move to a less saturated market for a year or two?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

LTC is a completely different practice environment than acute care (hospitals).... the same can be said for community health or home care. RN education in the US is focused on acute care, so naturally that is the area that new graduates want to be in. However, the ACA is a catalyst for change - into an era when hospital jobs are shrinking at the same time that they will be growing in non-acute service areas.

I just hope that nursing education can catch up & begin promoting ALL areas of nursing practice so new grads do not feel like failures if they are unable to land a hospital job.

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No it's not necessary

start applying out of state if you have not yet done so

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look into other areas where you can be a nurse such as mental health facilities or even schools. If you don't feel safe in a facility you should not work there.

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i know in my area i live in it is necessary to start your career in LTC because most hospitals in this area will not hire a new grad RN without at least one year nursing experience. unless you know or have an inside connections straight to HR then it maybe possible. i recently finished nursing school (RN) and i am working in a long term care facility because for new grads in my area it has become extremely difficult to find work so i am going to stay put until i get my one year experience then try and move on if i decide. good luck to you!

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