LTACH vs. Clinic job

[Wolfe24]

Hi everyone,

I just need some advice/input from fellow nurses. I'm a relatively new grad (12/08) and am currently working in an LTACH. Its not my dream job and I'm pretty unhappy here, but its tolerable for a while. Recently I got an offer for a M-Th (some Fridays) job at a clinic that pays roughly the same. Eventually I'd like to get back into the hospital, but right now there just aren't any openings around here.

What would you do if you couldn't decide? I made a list of pros and cons, and am still undecided. Unfortunately, I need to decide Today!

Help!

[LPNHTNCM]

I would think that the LTAC job would leave you in a better clinical postition to get the eventual hospital job that you are looking for. Clinc experience won't count for much when you are competing against other nurses with hospital experience. what is it that you don't like about your current job?

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I would think that the LTAC job would leave you in a better clinical postition to get the eventual hospital job that you are looking for. Clinc experience won't count for much when you are competing against other nurses with hospital experience. what is it that you don't like about your current job?

yup....

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I am a clinic nurse and love it, but I tried to make sure that I get in some med-surg per diem every now and then so that I can use it on my resume. I don't know what the acronym LTAC means (I know LTC= long term care), but I can say that clinic experience alone may not bring you into the hospital.

I would weigh a few things; age, distance, what sort of place is this clinic (is it a free-standing clinic or is it part of a hospital?).

I am more leery of private clinics; I'd prefer a hospital. If I were older in age or had health challenges, wouldn't want to be bothered with floor nursing...those would be the way I would be looking at things. Good luck!

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

LTACH=Long term acute care hospitals. They're in between facilities. Patients go there when they need more complex care than what an LTC/SNF can provide but they are not acute enough to belong in a regular hospital for the length of time it would take for them to recuperate (usually about a 30 day stay).

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

LTACH=Long term acute care hospitals. They're in between facilities. Patients go there when they need more complex care than what an LTC/SNF can provide but they are not acute enough to belong in a regular hospital for the length of time it would take for them to recuperate (usually about a 30 day stay).

That sounds like a nice deal...right there in the middle for me. Thanks for the description.

[Rebecca Junkins]

I would have to say that the LTACH *Long Term Acute Care Hospital* experience would speak much louder to a STACH *Short Term Acute Care Hospital*. Clinics are good for certain experience but they cannot offer the hands on experience or the education that an acute care setting will give you. More so, if you are currently working in a LTAC hospital you would know hands on you as an LPN are exposed to so much more than even a STAC LPN would be... In an STAC you would not be exposed to ventilators and such critically ill patients, they would be in the ICU.. where most LPNs don't go. Good luck with your choice.. and either way you go.. ROCK IT!

Usually patients will come to an LTAC for a longer period of stay than a Short Term Acute Care can offer. Patients at an LTAC are usually more sick than the patients you will see in a Med Surg or TELE floor in an STAC.. this usually means they will be sick for a longer period of time. Average patient stay is 20-30 days. The patients you will usually see in an LTAC are critically ill patients with needs in many areas.