LTC, Hospital, or both

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Hi everyone,

I am graduating June 19. I currently work as a tech in a hospital and was offered a position TCU unit after graduation. The pay is $11.11/hr. I was also offered a position in a LTC facility with starting pay at $19/hr plus shift differential for nights and weekends. The hospital position is an hour from my home, the LTC is in my town. My question is as a new grad should I work at the hospital for less pay but gain experience, work at the LTC for more pay or work both? BTW, the hospital job is part time 3 days a week and the LTC job is part time nights. Thanks for all advice!!:coollook:

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

$11.11 an hour???? Do you live in the boonies? I graduated from nursing school in 1982 and the hospital was paying almost that. If you have the energy, I'd do both jobs. You might learn you love the hospital and don't like LTC or you might really find your niche in LTC. I think you're one of the lucky new grads to be offered any job!

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I know. I am just concerned I will lose my skills working LTC. The pay sucks but the experience is worth it. In about a year, I want to go on to get my RN so I don't know if working LTC is good experience for that?

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Assessment skills, critical thinking, IVs,time management,PCAs...if you have these skills you won't lose them and if you don't have them, you'll learn.

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Specializes in LTAC, Wound Care, Case Management.

I'm a recent grad working LTC. I was afraid I wouldn't use any skills either. Learning to manage 30 patients, med passes, wound care, IV, assessment .. believe me, I'm learning a LOT more than I expected!

I would work both. All experience is good experience. You may find you love LTC or vice versa!! Count your blessings for a job offer ... let alone two. Many new grads have been looking for months where I'm located!!

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

Just make sure your schedules are compatible and that you don't have to work a night shift at one facility and then do a day shift at the other without any time off in between. Sixteen hours plus your commuting time would make for a very long, exhausting day and could hamper your ability and judgment as a nurse.

To keep your body on a somewhat regular schedule, you might want to sleep evenings, regardless of whether you're working days or nights.

Would you be working every weekend? Two out of three? (Days at one facility, nights at the other?) Are you okay with that?

I feel like I'm such a mom answering your questions here! love-smiley-027.gif

Good luck with your decision!

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LOL Moogie! My mom isn't a nurse so I welcolme the advice! I have some flexibility with the LTC job. Both jobs are e/o weekend so unfortuntly I'll be working every weekend working both jobs. Uggh. I don"t know if I want to do that and my husband and I can't afford for me to just take the hospital job. What's a girl to do??

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

TCU is pretty much LTC in a hospital. I would take the higher paying job.

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