Question about applying to hospitals after working in LTC

[Allison47]

Hi, this is my first time posting. I wanted to get some advice. I graduated with a BSN in May 2007 and I hadn't passed the boards till April 2008 because I failed and I also had some family obligations, which delayed it even more. I had been working at a nursing home all through nursing school and when I had finally passed the boards they had offered me a charge nurse position. I accepted and have been working there since, it'll be 8 months at the end of January. I really wanted to start out in a hospital, but I figured I'd rather gain some experience as a nurse while searching for a hospital position rather then stay in housekeeping, but I got comfortable and in a routine, that I ended up staying way longer than I wanted to. I am now starting to apply to local hospitals on Long Island NY. Will the hospitals not look at my 8 months in LTC as real experience? A lot of people at my job are saying the longer I stay in LTC the more the hospitals won't want me. I'm just so nervous now cause I feel like I wasted time and should have just went into an orientation program at a hospital. Any advice is welcome. Thanks! :wink2: