Once you work in acute care you can't go back to LTC?

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I have been a nurse for a couple years. I started out in LTC. When I was a new grad, I and a lot of my class operated under the advice to start in LTC, work there for a year or so, and then move on to acute care. Because acute care would be better all the way around. After working in LTC for around 2 years and acute care (med-surg) for about 8 months, one of they only things I have seen to be better is the pay rate.... and not by very much (after taxes, lol).

Anyways, after some harsh experiences in med-surg, I am feeling like I want to jump ship and go back to LTC. I have interviewed at a few places and they kind of act trepidatious. I'm getting interviews, but no calls back and this makes me wonder if I won't be welcomed back into the world of LTC!

When I was a new grad, the LTCs were all over me. I

Finally got my call. Happily running back to LTC! :)

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I worked in both Ltc and homecare as a new grad Rn in 2009,but by 2011,Ltc facilities would not hire me.

I finally asked a DON and she said home care nurses might have time management issues.

That's her opinion. Keep trying...

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Specializes in Dialysis.

You couldn't drag me back into a hospital! Only as a patient or visitor...

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You couldn't drag me back into a hospital! Only as a patient or visitor...

Me either... gonna put my notice in the minute I get this offer in writing. ;) I'm still just shocked at how much I hate the hospital work setting! For so long, I thought it was the be-all, end-all. The BEST place for a nurse. Kind of have to laugh at how wrong I was. Either I was really wrong about what I'd like, or really wrong about what hospitals are like!

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.
Me either... gonna put my notice in the minute I get this offer in writing. ;) I'm still just shocked at how much I hate the hospital work setting! For so long, I thought it was the be-all, end-all. The BEST place for a nurse. Kind of have to laugh at how wrong I was. Either I was really wrong about what I'd like, or really wrong about what hospitals are like!

Congrats to you. I love it when people get exactly what they want. Whatever it is.

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Personally, I prefer either new grads or nurses that have LTC experience over an acute setting. What I have found is that nurses find it hard to come back or go to LTC after the Acute because the case loads are vastly different. Understandably their clients in the Acute are less stable and need special attention... It is still hard to go from a case load of 4 or 5 (6 at the most) to 25 (+).

Im not saying I won't higher a nurse coming from the acute, but this is definitely a point that is brought up in the interview.

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well you do have acute nursing skills now, Have you ever thought about acute rehab? I made my move from Ortho/Trauma/Spinal to and acute Rehab hospital. The average stay was about 10 days. These are still acute patients with a nice blend of long term, in that they aren't kicked out in a day or two. You have the chance to establish personal relationships with the patients' while still being in tune for subtle changes that do occur more often in acutes. I worked in spinal cord injury for awhile, where the patients' stay longer, as they are learning to deal with their new changed lives. Really liked it, just a thought. Oh and i got paid the same as the Hospital

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Have you considered Dialysis, which is a combination of LTC, acute care, case management. It might appeal to your needs.

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I to started out in LTC and went to work in a ER. I liked working in a ER but decided I liked the LTC setting better. Now I am the DON of a 120 bed subacute rehab four years later. Most of the nurses that I hire, all previously worked in the hospital. I can only name one of my nurses that have only worked in LTC their whole career. It isn't the fact they have to pay you more. At the LTC I went to I made more then what I did at the hospital. I also had nurses who got job offers at hospitals and it would be a pay cut. They are probably busy or another reason besides money and experience in subacute setting. I personally am more likely to hire nurses that come back from the sub acute setting. They have tried it out but realize they like LTC better and are more focused.

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Here's what's up... You're not getting any call backs right? That's a little on the cut throat side. These places should have the common decency to call you back and say we are going with someone else, and maybe even offer a suggestion or two to you in your future job searches if you ask if there is anything you could do in the future to make yourself more hireable. With me? Unfortunately, yourformer boss is getting asked, " Would you hire them again?" And for whatever reason they are saying, "NO!" If you need or want me to elaborate just hit me back.

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