New grad in need of some advice...Pleaase

[menardca]

Hi everyone,

I am a recent New grad from a LPN to RN program. Before I graduated I was working at a HMO in an ambulatory setting. I graduated in Nov and then the economy took a dive.....so I have been unable to find a job in an acute care setting in my area.

I live in Denver and all of the hospitals are on hiring freezes. I was able to get a job at the HMO I was working at.

Before all of this I was certain I would be in a hospital, but after many tries and talking to many recruiters it didn't work out that way. After I accepted my current position a position became available at a LTAC.

I was thinking of waiting the recession out where I am and learning all I can. The place I'm at is really busy with several chest pain walkins a day, constant phone and patient triage, and IV's. Once hospitals are hiring,I want to start applying to gain acute care experience. I realize the importance of acute care experience.

My question, Will my ambulatory experience be helpful to my future career? Will my experience look good or bad when I apply for hospital work? Would I still be considered a new grad because was never in an actue setting.

I want to do case management but I would like to do some hospital work also. I have to be realistic....I needed a job.

What about LTAC experience. How is that looked upon by recruiters?

Thanks for everyones advice.

Courtney

[3boysmom3]

I'm not sure how recruiters would look at it, but I would think that you could make your ambulatory care experience look really good for you on your resume. After all, you assess all sorts of situations in a day; have triage experience, and have to multitask constantly. I work in a busy ambulatory clinic also, and we also deal with lots of walk-ins (esp. first thing Monday morning, what's up with that?!?!?) and far more phone calls than I would have ever thought possible before I started working there.

I would look at the long-term-care issue carefully before you jump into it. I am sure it's good experience, and I wholeheartedly admire those who work in it. I've never done it, but I have friends who have, and you need to be sure that you have a true love for the elderly and others who reside in ltc facilities- it's difficult work, and you need extreme patience and love to work there. I love the elderly, and I love all my patients, but I have always been a little intimidated by the idea of working in long-term. It's a long-term committment- you have the same patients for a long, long time. You deal with families constantly. Of course we do in hospitals and ambulatory settings as well, but it's different. If you have any difficult people, it's still a long-term relationship.

I know that recruiters look favorably on someone who stays with a job and appears reliable, and that frequent job changes don't look so good. I don't know what others will say, but my vote is, if you're happy- stay put. Besides, in layoff situations, it's usually last one hired, first one let go- so get some time under your belt. Good luck to ya!

[Shell5]

What you are doing now is considered acute care. That is almost as acute as you can get if you are dealing with chest pain patients. In some small towns that is like ER patients. In some small towns you may get a few chest pains a night. You are getting good experience. LTAC? not sure what that is. I'm assuming it is long term care? Any experience is experience and better than none at all. Don't try to compare yourself to others. You are where you are. Just do the best with what you are doing right now. You have the rest of your life to learn. Learn what you can where you are. You don't have to be #1. Just do your best where you are.