need help

[almostarn]

i am a new graduate nurse and i start my new job in a nursing home in a couple of days. they are putting me in charge of the entire west wing, involving 25 patient bed, 3 cnas and 1 lpn. i will have a preceptor to train me for 1 month. my goal is to become a director of nursing in either a hospital or nursing home; and then maybe a chief nursing officer of a hospital. my question to you guys is that you do you see me going the right path, by going into this management position in nursing home. is my experience equal to the experience in the hospital? can you guys give me advice on the correct ladder to pursue both positions as a don and a cno. i am pursing my mba and will graduate in 16 months.

[lashuna1028]

I am currently a LPN and working in a LTC nursing home. My advice to you is to try to get into acute care, either long term acute care (LTAC) or a hospital first because I don't see you gaining any experience in a nursing home. Plus, when it comes to your resume it would look better if that was your first job... For some reason, companies have a stigma against people who have worked in a nursing home then wanted to switch into acute care. But if you worked in acute care and wanted to switch to nursing home then you wouldnt have much of a problem.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

If you want to be a CNO in acute care....start off in acute care.

If you want to be a DON in LTC...yes, you should start off as a staff nurse.

[familychick, BSN]

You should start out in acute care. As DON you would be the one the others look to in a crisis. Work in Med/surg for while to get the good clinical experience before switching to LTC and/or management.

[NurseExec]

Congrats to you on having a clear vision of where you want to go! I have found that my acute care background has been extremely helpful in my career in LTC. The assessment skills that you learn in acute care, with its more critical patients, will stick with you throughout your career. I never thought I'd leave acute care, but here I am, and love it. Best of luck to you!

[achot chavi]

Lots of Luck- Do yourself a favor and write down now why you want to be a DON or CNO because I doubt you will remember later on!!!

[noc4senuf]

I don't really agree with the suggestions of working in acute care before heading to LTC. The only place I have ever wanted to work and have worked is LTC. I started as a staff nurse and climbed the ladder to my DON position. This is the way to learn LTC regs first hand.