New Grad in LTAC

Specialties LTAC

Published

Just wondering if anyone out there can let me know what to expect. I've heard that if you can last here for at least a year, you can go anywhere. I don't know how I should prepare or anything!

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I had never heard of LTACHs until I moved to Iowa. Been at my job for almost a year, and having a SNF and HH background, it was a ROUGH transition for me. Completely different mindset, tons of equipment and monitors and bells and whistles you aren't used to. It's a high stimuli environment. That being said, I happen to work for one of the best LTACHs in the country, and I LOVE my job. Once you learn the ropes, you're at least not as stressed and generally terrified. I loved SNF and HH, but LTACH has been the most challenging and rewarding job of my career.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
LTC and LTAC are two different areas of nursing. LTC is usually geriatric care of very low acuity patients. LTAC is also a lot of geriatric care with some younger patients, but is generally MUCH higher acuity d/t the patients being very sick and needing more than the 5-6 days of hospital care that the hospital has resources to care for.

My LTACH had way more young and middle aged than geriatric, although I'm sure that varies.

But yeah, LTC it ain't. It's a step between ICU and step-down as an average, with some true ICU in the mix.

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