New Grad in LTC considering to transfer to hospital

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2020

I worked in LTC for 3 years before going into acute care... it will be like starting from scratch all over again... but with only one year into your nursing career, you're still pretty new anyway so the learning curve wouldn't be that much different from being an actual new grad. Are there any specific questions you have about going from LTC to a hospital? What area of the hospital are you moving into?

Rose126 · Dec 7, 2020

Thank you for your response, I got an offer for a full-time position on a medicine unit. I like the LTC facility I currently employed but I work part time 8hr shifts. I want to get a hospital position since it will be like equivalent to working full-time hours but also to gain more experience as a new grad. I've considered applying to part-time hospital positions to keep my job in LTC but due to the pandemic right now, even hospitals they're not allowing people to work in 2 different facilities. I know the decision is totally up to me but I would like some insight whether to let this opportunity pass or just take it now considering that it's hard to apply externally to hospitals. I thought to myself I'll wait until the pandemic settles down although it's uncertain when it will be but this opportunity came. It would probably be easier to accept the offer if I don't have a job to loose but I do have one so I'm just trying to make a decision whether to leave my current job for this offer.

Emergent, RN · Dec 7, 2020

You will do fine. I started out in long-term care and went to acute care when opportunities arose. Now is the perfect time because there is a big need for nurses. That's how it worked for me.

Don't let this opportunity pass you by because, once this crisis passes, the job market might tighten up again. It always goes in cycles.

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2020

Since they're not allowing you to work two jobs, I would take the full-time hospital job now, but maintain good relations with the LTC you're in so when the pandemic blows over you can go back and work part-time at the LTC on top of your full-time hospital job if you want. I would definitely not let the full-time hospital job opportunity pass just because I like working at the LTC.

Rose126 · Dec 7, 2020

Thank you I appreciate the responses!! I have decided to secure this full-time offer for now and see where this will take me. I will talk with my manager and explain things well and if it's possible if I can possibly go back there to work part time again once the pandemic settles and who knows from full time I can go down to part time at the hospital too. Once the time is right, I may be able to work out both.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Dec 8, 2020

I went to acute care after 5 years in LTC. As others have mentioned they are very different in many ways, but many people make that transition and are successful. Good luck with your new position!

Dani_Mila, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2020

On 12/7/2020 at 1:56 PM, SquishyRN said:

I worked in LTC for 3 years before going into acute care... it will be like starting from scratch all over again... but with only one year into your nursing career, you're still pretty new anyway so the learning curve wouldn't be that much different from being an actual new grad. Are there any specific questions you have about going from LTC to a hospital? What area of the hospital are you moving into?

How was your transition? I have been planning to transition from LTC/SNF to a hospital setting. however, I feel scared to do so. I have almost 3 years of experience in skilled/rehab unit, STC, and LTC.