I am a new grad RN who has been desperately trying to land my first acute care position. My goal is to work on a Med/Surg floor for a few years and eventually transition to ICU. I graduated eight months ago and have since been aggressively job searching with no luck. I have an opportunity to work as an RN at a long term care facility. I have heard that once a nurse works in long term care, he/she will have a difficult time acquiring a position in a hospital. I am not sure if this is true or just a rumor I've been hearing along the way. I am worried that I have been out of work for too long as well... (eight months plus one year while in nursing school)
Has anyone found this to be true? Is it better to get ANY RN experience?
What you need to understand is LTC experience, is Med/Surg experience, and that can work in your favor. When I passed my NCLEX-RN last year, I waited a week and saw that the lucrative hospital job that I thought was waiting on me was not there, I went straight to LTC and was hired that day, I knew it was not where I wanted to be, as I had been out of nursing for 3yrs and needed more updated training/orientation. So on my days off, I hit hospitals and I sold myself and my experience.
Most hospitals are not hiring nurses without experience, and if they do, I can assure you it is from a friend's recommendation.
Take the LTC job, it is hard work, but the experience is invaluable, and it will keep you focused to move forward.....
Good luck.............
I agree. I saw 2 RN's I work with in LTC go to the hospital after they went to the hiring manager and said "I want the job, I will work wherever/whenever you need," Both had about 2 years experience in LTC (right after graduating) then landing jobs in the hospital. Take the job in LTC and get experience. Then get out there and make yourself known!
i am a new grad rn who has been desperately trying to land my first acute care position. my goal is to work on a med/surg floor for a few years and eventually transition to icu. i graduated eight months ago and have since been aggressively job searching with no luck. i have an opportunity to work as an rn at a long term care facility. i have heard that once a nurse works in long term care, he/she will have a difficult time acquiring a position in a hospital. i am not sure if this is true or just a rumor i've been hearing along the way. i am worried that i have been out of work for too long as well... (eight months plus one year while in nursing school)
has anyone found this to be true? is it better to get any rn experience?
any input would be sooo appreciated!"
i am going through the same dilemma right now. i'm not exactly a new grad rn since i graduated march of last year, moved to the states december then passed the nclex may this year. i've been applying like crazy since i passed the exam, still no job offer and i only had one interview where i wasn't selected. i also have an opportunity to work as an rn in a long term care facility, and i'm still contemplating on whether or not i would take the job or continue on waiting for a response from hospitals i applied at. >.
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I agree. I saw 2 RN's I work with in LTC go to the hospital after they went to the hiring manager and said "I want the job, I will work wherever/whenever you need," Both had about 2 years experience in LTC (right after graduating) then landing jobs in the hospital. Take the job in LTC and get experience. Then get out there and make yourself known!