LTC vs SNF vs SUBACUTE??

[superlivyRN]

I'm currently working for a Skilled Nursing/Rehabilitation Facility. I always thought that a SNF is the same as an LTC facility, which are both completely different than a subacute facility. But I recently read some posts that started to make me think differently?

Can anyone clarify the difference between the three for me? And as far as wanting to later on apply for a hospital that "requires acute care experience", does subacute qualify? Thank you!!!!

Olivia, RN

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

I currently work in a SNF/LTC, the skilled units we have people who are recovering from surgery, strokes or they are weaker from their illness and need to recover sometimes they have IV antibiotics, however they are working to return home, this is not thier long term home.

On the LTC units, it is their home, they are stable and not progressing to return home, usually dementia patients, the little old ladies.

We also have a vent unit that is a mix of long term and skilled as we do have a few patients who are vent weaning and may eventually go home

I just interviewed for a LTACH (see thread "worst interview" ) which is a Long Term Acute Care Hospitals and it is for patients who have run through their allowed days at the hopsital and are not quite ready for a SNF where the ratios at the SNF can be 18-25 at the LTACH it is 2-7 depending on how sick they are.

At the LTACH I interviewed at they had a tele/ICU unit where the ratio was 2-3 and on the medical floors 4-7. Patients can stay for months at a time or they become slightly more stable and are transfered to a SNF.

I believe that if you get hired into a LTACH then it would count toward acute care experience as that was the reason why the DON of the LTACH wouldn't hire me because he wanted nurses with acute care and I didn't have acute care experience.

[FLmomof5]

You could always try Encore Health facility. That is where I am going to work. They have LTC and SNF that houses both subacute and acute care. Their direction is heading towards the focus on LTAC which may help you get that coveted hospital position later.

Good luck!

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I currently work in subacute... way different from LTC. The patients are more sick and have acute issues. I have patients that just came from the hospital in an acute care setting. The patients also require a different skill set than LTC. I also have less patients due to the acuity.

[RhondaIndyRN]

Hi There!

I agree with NurseLoveJoy. Subacute or a Medicare Skilled Wing is where you'd get the type of patients that are most like acute care hospital patients. This type of unit would prepare you for a job at an LTAC or a med/surg floor in a hospital.

Good Luck!

[elb252]

Forgive my ignorance, but is subacute the same as LTAC??

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

No. Subacute units are usually a dedicated floor or wing of a skilled nursing facility. Stay there is relatively short.

An LTAC is LONG term ACUTE care...not sick enough for the hospital but not stable enough for sub acute.