LTAC (Long Term Acute Care) facility?

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Specializes in Ortho Rehab, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry.

I recently attended a job fair at a local facility (SE Texas) that's called a "free standing LTAC". They're apparently a step down from the hospital and provide care for patients who need care that lasts anywhere from 20-60 days. The acuity level seems to be pretty high (post MI, CABG, CVA, Sepsis, Burns, MRSA/VRE, Chronic Pain, multi-system failure, vent dependent, etc). There's even an 8 bed ICU.

Anyhow, this is a new concept for me. I don't even know that there are facilities like this in California (where I started my nursing career). If there are, I've never heard of them. I used to work on the Skilled Rehab unit of a Long Term Care facility that had patients with similar acuity levels, but this place I attend the job fair at was really nothing like my former job.

This place has a 4-1 ratio in Med-Surg and Med Tele. And in the ICU it's 2-1.

Do you have LTAC's where you live? Has anyone worked at one before?

Just curious because this place offered me a position and I'm seriously considering taking it. It almost sounds too good to be true though... LOL :lol2:

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I've never heard of this in NY.

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It figures you are in TX coz there seems to be one on every corner. (kindred, lifecare, gulf states, select are just some examples)

I currently work in a LTAC and like it much better than a LTC.

I like that they hire LVNs without problems (unlike hospitals where it's almost impossible to get on staff as LVN)

Their staffing ratios are comparable to regular hospitals

Pay is (at least here) more comparative to LTC than to regular hospital for LVN

I get to practice my skills here and my patients are more long term than regular hospital......

Bottom line, I think Ltacs offer a good mid point between hospital and LTC, both for patients and for staff...

Good Luck!

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I am interested in this as well. The company I work for has 2 LTAC's in my area and I am seriously considering a transfer because I want more clinical experience.

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Specializes in Ortho Rehab, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry.
It figures you are in TX coz there seems to be one on every corner. (kindred, lifecare, gulf states, select are just some examples)

I currently work in a LTAC and like it much better than a LTC.

I like that they hire LVNs without problems (unlike hospitals where it's almost impossible to get on staff as LVN)

Their staffing ratios are comparable to regular hospitals

Pay is (at least here) more comparative to LTC than to regular hospital for LVN

I get to practice my skills here and my patients are more long term than regular hospital......

Bottom line, I think Ltacs offer a good mid point between hospital and LTC, both for patients and for staff...

Good Luck!

Thanks for your input Alibaba! I'd say that this place has no problems hiring LVN's either. I attended the job fair and left with an offer letter for a full time position pending bg check and drug test. I told my mom "This is the easiest job offer I've ever had." To be honest that put me off a little. Made me wonder if they are desperate for nurses or just impressed with me. LOL

At any rate, I was just wondering what peoples experiences in this sort of facility are. It seems like this particular place has advanced acute care patients who need more recovery time. I did a tour and it seems nothing like a LTC/Nursing Home facility. Granted there are a few much older patients, but the majority are not elderly.

PS- This isn't associated with any of the companies you mentioned. Although I have worked for Life Care Center before when I was a CNA.

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Specializes in Emergency room, med/surg, UR/CSR.

I'm a night shift charge in an LTAC. I like it for the most part because I've seen a lot of success stories; i.e. patients that came in on vents, sedated and out of it and ending up walking out with a healed stoma. I've seen patients come in that we end up doing a terminal wean on which is sad. We take vent patients, head injury patients, patients with extensive wounds, patients that are there for ATBS therapy. We also see a span of ages in our facility. Our youngest at this time is a 19 year old head injury, and our oldest I think is like late 80s. You will see all kinds of patients, and if you can make it in this type of facility, you can make it just about anywhere. Our hospital has never had less than a 5-1 day shift ratio, more often it is 6-1. Nights the ratio is 7-1. Our Special Care Unit has a ratio of 3-1. Most of the time we don't have extremely acute patients but it seems like we end up getting a lot of "busy" patients. (is it time for my pain shot yet?) Our facility is just like everywhere else, there are good points and bad points. The best thing I like about working at this type of facility is that you really get to know these patients and can get really attached. Course, that can also be bad, if they crump on you and die. Sorry if this is rambling; I worked last night and I guess I'm still a little groggy. Good luck with your job. I hope you have a good DON at that facility because a good DON is what makes or breaks the facility.

Pam

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Specializes in Ortho Rehab, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry.
I'm a night shift charge in an LTAC. I like it for the most part because I've seen a lot of success stories; i.e. patients that came in on vents, sedated and out of it and ending up walking out with a healed stoma. I've seen patients come in that we end up doing a terminal wean on which is sad. We take vent patients, head injury patients, patients with extensive wounds, patients that are there for ATBS therapy. We also see a span of ages in our facility. Our youngest at this time is a 19 year old head injury, and our oldest I think is like late 80s. You will see all kinds of patients, and if you can make it in this type of facility, you can make it just about anywhere. Our hospital has never had less than a 5-1 day shift ratio, more often it is 6-1. Nights the ratio is 7-1. Our Special Care Unit has a ratio of 3-1. Most of the time we don't have extremely acute patients but it seems like we end up getting a lot of "busy" patients. (is it time for my pain shot yet?) Our facility is just like everywhere else, there are good points and bad points. The best thing I like about working at this type of facility is that you really get to know these patients and can get really attached. Course, that can also be bad, if they crump on you and die. Sorry if this is rambling; I worked last night and I guess I'm still a little groggy. Good luck with your job. I hope you have a good DON at that facility because a good DON is what makes or breaks the facility.

Pam

I welcome the "rambling" Pam. Since this is such a new kind of facility to me I'm all for learning more about it. Most especially from nurses who have experience in them, so THANK YOU!!

Are you in Texas too?

I'm not sure about the DON there. I've not yet met her, but I did all of the interview/tour stuff with the HR Director and the ICU Nurse Manager. Seems to me like the staff is happy there. The job fair had a pretty decent turn out and the facility itself is VERY nice.

I've been a LVN 4 years and prior to that was a CNA 6 yrs. I know that MOST places are what you make of them. Nowhere is ever ALL good, but if it's mostly good... then I can learn to handle a little not so good.

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Specializes in Emergency room, med/surg, UR/CSR.

Your welcome! I'm in central Indiana. I'm glad that the facility looks good. I hope you enjoy working there. It can be a rewarding place, that's for sure. We use a lot of LPNs, and, in fact, some of our LPNs could run circles around some of our RNs! Again, good luck!

Pam

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Specializes in Ortho Rehab, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry.
Your welcome! I'm in central Indiana. I'm glad that the facility looks good. I hope you enjoy working there. It can be a rewarding place, that's for sure. We use a lot of LPNs, and, in fact, some of our LPNs could run circles around some of our RNs! Again, good luck!

Pam

Part of the appeal of the place was that they have an ICU and I'll have an opportunity to work there from time to time. I'm an LVN now, but I don't plan on staying one for long. The more specialized care I can experience the better I'll be when I do get my RN.

My bestfriend lives in Indiana! :)

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am in North Texas, and LTAC hospitals are a "dime a dozen" around here. There's Kindred, Lifecare, Regency, and a whole slew of others.

These places tend to pay very well, offer good benefit packages, and entail plenty of nursing skills. However, the nurses who work at these types of facilities are expected to perform full care on their patients, at least in my area.

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.

I had my last quarter of clinicals in school at a Kindred Hospital in Fort Worth. I loved it, and they do readily employ LVN's there. It's defininetly fast paced and not at all like a nursing home. It's more like med/surg with sometimes very acute patients. This particular facility did employ CNA's, so the nurses did not have to do total care. From what I understand, the pay in LTAC's is far better than in a traditional acute care hospital. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Psych/Corrections.
I am in North Texas, and LTAC hospitals are a "dime a dozen" around here. There's Kindred, Lifecare, Regency, and a whole slew of others.

These places tend to pay very well, offer good benefit packages, and entail plenty of nursing skills. However, the nurses who work at these types of facilities are expected to perform full care on their patients, at least in my area.

so commuter you are saying there are no cna's in these places

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