LTC does not equal RN experience?

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I see so many recommendations here to work in LTC after RN graduation to get experience and then move to a hospital job....I was talking to the career advisor at my school and she said that LTC does not equal RN experience? THere are a ton of hospitals here who have suspended the new grad programs until next summer ('13) and she said just do LTC for money since that isn't considered RN experience and then apply for the new grad programs next year. WTH? If LTC (where from my understanding we are BUSY and really in the mix) doesn't equal RN experience then how does one actually get into a hospital at all?

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

I see so many recommendations here to work in LTC after RN graduation to get experience and then move to a hospital job....I was talking to the career advisor at my school and she said that LTC does not equal RN experience? THere are a ton of hospitals here who have suspended the new grad programs until next summer ('13) and she said just do LTC for money since that isn't considered RN experience and then apply for the new grad programs next year. WTH? If LTC (where from my understanding we are BUSY and really in the mix) doesn't equal RN experience then how does one actually get into a hospital at all?

I totally disagree with what your career advisor told you. RNs can gain valuable experience working in long-term care environments, such as prioritization, delegation, people skills, patient advocacy, understanding complex geriatric conditions and syndromes, MDS, and multiple skills. (They call it "skilled nursing" for a reason, as the residents in nursing homes are becoming more complex every day. You see residents on ventilators, with IVs, G-tubes, etc. - The acuity is going through the roof.) I would suggest you talk to some of the nursing recruiters at various hospitals in your area, to find out what they think about new grad RNs working in nursing homes and then transitioning to the acute care environment. You also may want to consider shadowing in the nursing facility for a day, just to get a "feel" for the place, the residents, acuity, workload, etc. Best wishes to you :)

[FLmomof5]

My first job was in LTC and I was only there for 3 months. I highlighted the high acuity patients in our facility on my resume. I was able to get a hospital job. No one said that my experience in LTC is not RN experience.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

OK, Cause I thought that was a bit off too. My grandmother before she passed was in an LTC and she had a g-tube and was completely paralyzed from a stroke...you can't tell me that that isn't acute! She had a picc line and eventually a central line, she was a total care patient with a million medications. I also remember seeing other people like her there. How did you go about finding LTC places that were more acute? Just calling and asking?

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I totally disagree with what your career advisor told you. RNs can gain valuable experience working in long-term care environments, such as prioritization, delegation, people skills, patient advocacy, understanding complex geriatric conditions and syndromes, MDS, and multiple skills. (They call it "skilled nursing" for a reason, as the residents in nursing homes are becoming more complex every day. You see residents on ventilators, with IVs, G-tubes, etc. - The acuity is going through the roof.) I would suggest you talk to some of the nursing recruiters at various hospitals in your area, to find out what they think about new grad RNs working in nursing homes and then transitioning to the acute care environment. You also may want to consider shadowing in the nursing facility for a day, just to get a "feel" for the place, the residents, acuity, workload, etc. Best wishes to you :)

I think that's a great idea! How do you suggest I go about setting that up? Just calling and expressing interest in working there and asking if I can shadow someone?

[sbostonRN]

I have never heard of shadowing before getting hired, unless it was as a student. JMO but I would think that would be a huge liability for the facility with the risk of HIPAA violation...

I worked on a rehab unit in a LTC/SNF for a year before getting my current job in a LTAC hospital. It did prepare me well but I do see why hospitals can be reluctant to hire LTC nurses. The difference in the two environments is way larger than I even imagined! But all of the nurses I worked with at LTC either stayed there (because they were happy there, not because they couldn't get out), or were able to transition to acute care. As far as I'm concerned, any experience is better than sitting around sending out tons of applications!

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

For LTC---I have a friend who is working at an LTC facility and he does all admin stuff, and supervises the LVNs who take care of the patients...are their hospitals where the RNs actually do things and not just admin? I really dont want to do admin and even cringe at the thought of being a charge nurse. The floor is appealing and that's where I wanna be. How do I distinguish between which places will have the RN on the floor and which places will want the RN to supervise?

[lanellrn86]

I took Nclex this month and passed. I must say, it's hard getting a job in Louisiana. I been applying since May.

[newRN2012]

I applied jobs in NH. I ve seen nurses got jobs at the hospital who used to work in the NH for many years so I do think it counts.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I took Nclex this month and passed. I must say, it's hard getting a job in Louisiana. I been applying since May.

I dont know if Louisiana is different than California, but just a degree and not a license will get you an immediate rejection from any job you are applying for (unless its specifically new grad)...that may be why you haven't found anything.