LTC is not my cup of tea

mamablotto · Oct 25, 2009

one of my coworkers (an RN) went through the same thing. When she graduated college in the late 80's there was a recession and nobody was hiring nurses. She went to an LTC, didn't like it very much, but stuck with it until she could get something else. When hospitals started hiring again, it was easier for her to get a job because she already had job experience. Just keep applying for different jobs and you're bound to get something that's not in an LTC eventually.

nyteshade, BSN · Oct 25, 2009

You can move on to anything you want. It's all in how you market yourself. Like any slump, this one will soon pass. You have an advantage over your classmates and others who refused certain jobs, because it wasn't their dream job. The first job is rarely the last.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2009

I don't think many people go to nursing school thinking, "Hmm, demented, incontinent old folks. YES!" But it grows on you or not. Luckily, I feel a real pull towards caring for this population. But yeah, it certainly isn't for everyone.

Amiller0313 · Nov 3, 2009

I understand what you are saying, I have been in LTC for just about 2 Months, first job. When you are in nursing school you envision yourself graduating getting a job right off the bat in a great hospital on a floor that you wanted. Then.... it does not happen... the hospital is not hiring at all, so you go to LTC and you are not to fond of it , BUT ! you are a practicing nurse, using your skills and certainley learning time management skills there! You have to start somewhere along with everyone in the world. I thought to myself, i am not even able to do full assessments on these residents because they don't need it its LTC!! but as time went on I had a couple residents that would let me do full assessments on them, just to do it ( i explained to them why and everything). Stick with it for now and apply to hospitals and apply and call HR at the hospitals and bug the crap out of them, it gets you noticed and shows them you really really are interested. Eventually everything will turn around and you will get that dream job!! Goodluck!!!!!!!

knittingknurse · Nov 5, 2009

I'm in the same boat, DekagirlsRN. I keep applying to the local hospitals and have even gotten some interviews, but no job there yet. I keep telling myself that it will get better, that the right position is waiting out there for me somewhere. What is most frustrating to me is that most of my friends in my graduating class have gotten awesome hospital jobs. In the meantime, I'm scrambling to keep up with my LTC job because my orientation was so poor. At least we've got something!

jbjelus1 · Nov 5, 2009

Hi. I am a recent grad and have been working in LTC for approx. six months. This is my first job as an RN. To be honest, I don't love it. Don't hate it but don't love it. I won't go on and on about the things I dislike, i.e. med pass, patient load, etc., but I do have a question.
Just wondering where I can go from here. I'm sure I'll be in LTC for awhile since there are no jobs out there right now, but I was wondering what my options are for the future. Many of my classmates are unemployed because they refuse to work in LTC but I believe I am learning new things everyday and keeping my skills fresh. I just hope that there are other options out there for me when I decide to move on. Any suggestions? Thanks!

long term care definitely is not for everyone. When I first graduated from RN school I felt the total opposite as you. I never thought that i would end up working in the hospital, but i needed more experience, so i eventually transitioned. At first i did not think that i would get used to working in the hospital because i hated the fact of not knowing who i would be caring for everyday. In the nursing home you never had to worry about that because all of the residents were familiar to you, and you usually had a routine way of doing things. I am saying this because working in LTC is not the end of the world. You may have to deal with demented patients in the LTC facility, and chances are if you work in an acute care facility you will have to deal with the same thing, you just wont be admin. meds to 23 or more patients