Losing my skills?

[AXIDRN]

I graduated in December 2009 and have applied everywhere but the only job i landed was in a LTC facility. I feel everyday like I am not learning very much, besides all the paperwork, and I am wondering if I will EVER be able to get that elusive hospital job. I am a good nurse and I have gained alot of confidence in this area but will an employer care about that? I have never put in an IV in my facility so I feel like I would be useless in the hospital. The hospital recruiters I have talked to said that they won't even look at any RN without at least 1 years experience. I guess my question is How do I keep up my skills and How else can I market myself and my skills to a hospital? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Finallydidit]

Do all the foleys, wound care, trac care, labs, tb test, IMs, cultures, feeding tubes, learn to work the monitors, pumps and machines, (anything that is a "skill") that you can do. Im sure the nurse on the floor will be glad to the help and if you can't do them, take every opportunity to watch it being done

[Sparrowhawk]

Yep..ask to help/do every single procedure you can that happens there..you'd be surprised how many are done...wound cares, foleys...LTCs are becoming more and more acute.

[SitcomNurse, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN]

Look online and in nursing magazines, I got my Phlebotomy thru the state, not thru the facility. Look for skills classes if you think you are losing assessment skills, but I tell you this, Skills assessments are essential at every job, and enhancing that at the LTC is done every time there is an admission, or transfer from another unit.

I dont know what state you are in, but here in NY, at my LTC facility, we do PICC lines, Nephrostopmy and SPT tubes, trach caqre/changes, foleys, IV's and phlebotomy. You wnat to learn some skills, come work for us!! More strange things that NEVER were in LTC before, are common place now, 48* s/p major surgeries, reconstructions and strokes. Sometimes I am the stepdown for the hospital across the way.

[limey]

Hang on to that LTC position. I started as a CNA at the facility I'm now an LPN. At first it was a little overwhelming and I so wanted to work in a hospital because I was frustrated and thought I would never do anything else but pass meds and call the coroner when needed. I WAS WRONG. It is beginning to seem like a hospital with all the acute care we get. I've done IVs, PICC lines, foleys, straight caths, wound care, pacemaker checks. My only frustration now is that the time goes too fast and I want everything done before I leave my shift. It is said that 'If you enjoy what you do, you'll never have to work another day in your life'. Well, it's true, and I am enjoying every minute of it and I love the residents. I have finally learned to let all the 'drama and politics' just roll off my back. It's great!!!

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

You are gaining very important skills that will help you greatly in a hospital position. You are gaining organizational and prioritization skills that all nurses need. If you facility is like mine you pass a lot of meds each day and have become very familiar with the adverse side effects.

I am sure that you have become familiar with how to help your residents with multiple diseases manage their disease and the adverse effects related to their diseases. I bet you can spot the LOL or LOM with a UTI in just a few minute of talking to them.

There are a lot of skills that a nurse in the nursing home are excellent at and you just need to continue to look for the learning opportunities that are out there until you can land that hospital job that you want. Good luck and keep learning new things every day!