Newer Nurse with little options

IHeartPeds87 · Oct 9, 2010

You have to sell your skills.

First off, if you believe that LTC isn't challenging enough how are you supposed to convince other people that it gave you adequate experience?

You did gain skill set working in LTC, and it is YOUR JOB to sell it.

For example, when the nurse recruiter states "Well, did you actually learn anything in LTC? Didn't the aides do everything?"

State:

" While the aides were really helpful and I can't speak for anyone else's experience, I am confident that my experience in the LTC helped me hone my skills and prepare me for most work environments, including hospital nursing. As a nurse in the LTC, I was responsible for xxxxxx number of patients at a time, and the workload, while stressful, helped me learn to effectively manage my time and hone my organizational skills. I became skilled at core nursing skills like passing medications, assisting with ADL's, and being a team player with other health care professionals (like doctors, therapists, etc). I also was able to emotionally mature in a sense because I learned to deal with loss of patients and helped their families through rough times. I also developed my critical thinking skills, since we didn't have a doctor on staff all the time (if this is true, i'm making an assumption here) my assessment skills were definitely put to use! Also, we not only focused on the patient's medical needs but also their rehabilitative needs, so I have a better sense then most new nurses of where a lot of patients are sent after their time in acute care. I'm grateful to have had my LTC experience, but my true dream is to work in a hospital setting, specifically xxxx unit (whichever is the recruiter's unit). I am confident that I would make a great addition to your team. Please take a look at my resume and let me know. Do you have any suggestions for how I can better prepare to become a member of your team?"

SELL your skills. There are people who have been waitresses who state they are used to the 'customer service' mentality of nursing. Whatever your background is, it is your job to do your best to SELL your skills and make yourself look like a perfect fit.

If you wanted to work say on a cardiac floor...obviously the best experience would be previous experience on a cardiac floor. But everybody had to start somewhere, and people make 'switches' all the time....the vast venues to practice nursing is a big reason I'm going into the field!!

JenniferSews · Oct 9, 2010

I totally agree! Do you actually push papers all day long? I know I sure as heck don't! Just because they don't understand what your job is doesn't mean you should just walk away and give up. Push your organizational skills. Focus on how important it is to be able to accurately assess a patient since there is no doc in the house. Tell them you work well with a team. I never understand why people say subacute/ltc is a step down from hospital nursing. The nurses who come from patient loads of 5 at the hospital struggle just as much if not more than the new grads in my experience. My coworker said that he still had the same amount and type of things to do, but for way more patients.

AtomicWoman · Oct 9, 2010

Oh, heck, I hear that nonsense about acute rehab nursing, too! It's our responsibility to inventory our skills, no matter what our job is, and sell that to the interviewer by educating her/him about all the wonderful things we have learned and can do. :)

AXIDRN · Oct 9, 2010

Thanks for the feedback. I think that many times I dont give myself the credit I deserve either.. I work damn hard and hell no pushing papers is not all I do.