New grads working for LTC

huyenchau · Oct 8, 2009

Hey,

your wage is different depending on the geographic locations, company size, and your experience. In Wisconsin, it's about $ 20.00/hour. Also, don't forget to negotiate. Other things such as patient load, staff support...you should ask your interviewers. Don't forget to tour the place to get the feeling of how it is.

smn2010, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2009

if your goal is to eventually work in a hospital setting, i would suggest you try to work at a skilled nursing facility that has trachs/vents. new grads that get experience in ltc working with trach/vent patients seem to be more skilled and prepared for the hospital environment. many new grads that i know that could not get hired as a new grad at a hospital (lots of competition for very few positions) took the route of ltc at skilled nursing facilities. after 4-6 months, they now work at local hospitals in icu and other critical care units.

think about what your ultimate goal is...med/surg at a hospital...critical care at a hospital...then decide upon what type of ltc will work best for you. some people get "stuck" in the ltc environment merely passing meds and doing routine vitals and other things and wonder "why" they can't get into a hospital setting.

good luck! :up:

huyenchau · Oct 19, 2009

Thank you very much for your advice.

nursemimi08 · Oct 26, 2009

Are there other new RNs out there working in LTC that feel stuck?! I also need to vent and I'm about to pull my hair out! I am over worked with 25+ patients, 10+ rehab patients (on vents/post-surgical/stroke), and not enough CNAs. I'm scare I'm going to lose my license and I can't find a job in a hospital. HELP! Does anyone else feel this way?! I'm getting no support from the other LPNs who scorn me because they think that I am taking a job away from "one of their own." I don't respect my manager because she may be an RN and my manager, but she's never had any hospital experience and there has been more than one occasion when she couldn't recognize the patient's symptoms as being problematic. The only upside of the situation is that I get paid decently well- $25/hr. I'm at a loss since the job market is so difficult.