LTC - Subacute vs speciality hospital, vs nursing home vs rehab?

[mag_new]

I'm a new ADN in New Jersey. I graduated in June 2009, got my license in Sept. I don't have any prior work experience in health care field. I've been looking for jobs, mainly in hospitals and so far no good. As you all know, it's extremely hard for new graduates to find a hospital jobs in New Jersey. I regret not started applying earlier. I'm lucky that I still have a non-nursing full-time job to fall back on. Paying bills is not a problem. But I cannot just keep doing something else and let my nursing license get stale.

My ultimate goal is to work in an RN pool for a major hospital, that means I can work in Med-surg, ICU, ER, L&D. etc. I really enjoy doing different things.

Sooner or later I know I may either have to move out of the state, or start looking at LTC. My understanding is: if I have to start in LTC, sub-acute or shot-term nursing home stay is a good place to start. Assisted living is the last place I should look at.

I've seen some specialty hospitals, are they the same as subacute care? although these special hospitals in NJ do not seem to hire either. I am also thinking about applying for specialty hospitals in PA.

I've also seen some recruiting events for Nursing and Rehab centers. These Nursing and Rehab centers are affiliated with the same major health care system, which have some real good hospitals. Is it better to start in a rehab center like this? so chances of moving to the affiliated hospital will be bigger, compared to an independent nursing home chain?

For Rehab center, vs long-term subacute care, is that long-term subacute care is much better? Seems more iv skills, wound change, G-tube, tache-care used in long-term subacute care. Am I right? If so, I'll probably concentrate on looking for a subactue facility first.

My classmate who worked in a nursing home for many years as a LPN told me to try to get a hospital job, and not to work in a Nursing home, she said nursing home sucks.

Another option is home care. I know a foreign language, which may place me on some kind of distant advantage in looking for a home care job in new york city. But I heard home care experience do not really count. So it's may be better to start with long-term subacute?

The order would be:

Specialty Hospital > Long -term Acute Care > Short-term subacute care > Nursing Home > Rehab > Home Health Care > Assisted Living.

Is my order right? Any suggestions? Greatly appreciate.