LTC facility vs. hospital

Nurses General Nursing

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I just got my vn license and I'm having trouble finding work in a hospital. Is it easier to get hired in a long term care facility or convalescent home?

I am not a nurse but I have been reading and learning that yes it can be easier to get work in LTC. From what I read most hospitals want some one with experience but LTC is more flexable and will take a new grad. Good luck in your job hunt!

:w00t:

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Maybe it depends on where you live. Here, the majority of LPNs working in the hospital are second year RN students working as LPNs until they get their RN license. The hospital will hire them in a temporary position based on the condition that they will be getting their RN license.

Specializes in Med/Surg.

To answer your question, yes it is (probably)easier for LVNs/LPNs to get hired in LTC. However, depending on where you live, the facilities in your area, and/or your scope of practice as a LVN/LPN(as determined by your state), it may be possible to find a job in a hospital, too. The catch is whether or not an LVN/LPN working in a hospital would be utilized in their "true" capacity.

However, as words of encouragement & proof of what I just said, I am an LPN and currently work in a hospital on a Med/Surg unit(although I've worked at this hospital & on this unit for 4 years, starting out as a CNA). In addition, my manager recently hired 3 more, just-out-of-school, LPNs to work on my unit, and another one started back in September. All of this is related to management's desire to revive the LPN position, to treat & recognize them as nurses(because that's what they/we are), and to utilize them in the way they were trained and to the degree that their license will allow, just like with RNs.

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