New Graduate ADN needs advice about job offers

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all,

I am new to the forum, but have been using this website as a resource for awhile now! So I graduate from a ADN program in Minnesota on May 11th. After putting in countless applications, I recieved 2 job offers. Option A is a long term care facility in St. Paul, where I'd like to move as my fiance is moving there to finish his school (will take 9 months to finish). Option B is an acute rehab and skilled nursing unit at Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa on a seperate campus from the hospital but affiliated with the hospital. Here I would do blood draws, trach care, ventilator care, IV antibiotics, TPN, wound vacs, PICC lines, central lines, and much more. Would option B count towards acute care experience? I'm looking for to gain 1 year of acute care experience. Option A is mostly medication pass and 1 tube feeding. My heart says move to St Paul and take option A and be close to my fiance. My head says move to Mason City and take option B for the learning experience. If I take option A, does this limit my chance of eventually landing a hospital position? I've heard rumors that hospitals don't like LTC experience so much. I also have 4 years of LTC experience as a CNA then as a LPN.

What do you experienced nurses think? Thanks for any advice!

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Specializes in LTC and School Health.

First, welcome to All nurses!!!! So glad to have you. I have worked in both settings and agree that option B would give you a greater skill set than LTC. LTC is not a dead in. While you won't utilize as much skills it is still nursing experience.

You have to decide what is more important to you right now. Is your priority to gain clinical skill or be closer to your fiance? Only you can decide this.

When I'm faced with a difficult decision in addition to coming on AN for advice, I write a list of pros and cons on paper and start to weigh each.

Good luck with what ever you decided.

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Thanks for the advice! Right now I'd say my priority is getting the best experience to start my nursing career. My fiance is very understanding too. Do you think this would qualify as acute care experience?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Option B would be more experience but I am stunned how often hospitals will not consider an LTAC to be acute experience.

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I asked the Nurse Manager if this was considered a long-term acute care hospital, she said no. It's an acute rehab and skilled nursing unit. I accepted the position as of today, but have an interview at the same hospital on the med/surg floor this monday. I am praying for the med/surg position!

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Hello all,

I am new to the forum, but have been using this website as a resource for awhile now! So I graduate from a ADN program in Minnesota on May 11th. After putting in countless applications, I recieved 2 job offers. Option A is a long term care facility in St. Paul, where I'd like to move as my fiance is moving there to finish his school (will take 9 months to finish). Option B is an acute rehab and skilled nursing unit at Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa on a seperate campus from the hospital but affiliated with the hospital. Here I would do blood draws, trach care, ventilator care, IV antibiotics, TPN, wound vacs, PICC lines, central lines, and much more. Would option B count towards acute care experience? I'm looking for to gain 1 year of acute care experience. Option A is mostly medication pass and 1 tube feeding. My heart says move to St Paul and take option A and be close to my fiance. My head says move to Mason City and take option B for the learning experience. If I take option A, does this limit my chance of eventually landing a hospital position? I've heard rumors that hospitals don't like LTC experience so much. I also have 4 years of LTC experience as a CNA then as a LPN.

What do you experienced nurses think? Thanks for any advice!

The "A" in LTAC stands for acute.

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