LPN-BSN do you stay in LTC?

[Etana85, BSN, RN]

Hi everyone,

I'm an LPN with over 14 years of experience in LTC, and I recently earned my BSN. I'm currently working toward my Master's in Nursing Education as well. I'll be turning 40 next month, and I'm at a crossroads in my career. I'm unsure if I should stay in LTC, where I feel comfortable and experienced, or if I should try transitioning into a hospital setting.

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about working in hospitals, some horror stories that have left me feeling intimidated about whether I'll be able to adjust. The pace, the complexity, and the fast-paced environment are all things that make me second-guess whether I can handle it.

Has anyone here made a similar transition, especially after spending many years in LTC? How did you adjust, and what advice do you have for someone who's a bit nervous but ready to take the next step? I'd really appreciate any insights or experiences you can share!

Thanks in advance!

[LTCPhD_Nrs, MSN, RN]

I have 2 questions for you. Have you ever worked in acute care and what do you envision for your nursing career? What you ultimately want to do or what you want your next chapter to be will be the decider? 

[fsudmbRN, ASN]

I think it honestly depends on what YOU want to do down the road. I went straight for my RN and ended up working in a LTC facility and worked in it for several years. I switched to psych, acute, and home health, but went back to LTC because it was what I liked. I progressed through the floor and ended up in management. Recently, I did choose to leave and go back to psych. (the only reason I originally left psych is because my unit closed. Now I am working on a unit that will have little to no chance to closing.) As I am currently nearly 45, I do plan on going back and getting my PMHNP, so going back to psych was my best plan. I just found that I no longer wanted to work in LTC nurse management... and if I applied for any floor positions, I got kick back and asked if I wanted to be in management, which I don't. Maybe in a few years from now.... but my youngest is about to graduate from high school and then my husband and I will be solo and it will be nice to have some time with just two of us. (we had our first child very early in our relationship.) I am going back into the hospital with a very little pay cut and not having to be on call or deal with staff problems. 

Again, it just depends on what YOU want your career to look like. I did have some issues with trying to convince hospital staff that I knew what I was doing. They see long term care and think that all we do is sit and eat BON-bons and gossip all day. They don't know of the actual work load that it does entail. Little do they know, alot of the patients we are getting now a days are like the med-surg patients in the hospital.