I'm a new-ish grad (RN-Dec, 2005) and am considering a position in LTC. Long story short, I started in an ED and decided it wasn't for me as a new grad after 3 months. Since I left, I've spoken to my manager there and can come back if I want to (=left on good terms).
In March I took at job on an IMC (lots of tele) unit. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. Unfortunately, I got sick. Really sick. Hyperthyroid w/episodes of a-fib plus an ear infection that turned into pneumonia (which I have now). I would be off orientation in about 3 weeks. Unfortunately, HR has a very strict policy about orientee absenteeism. I'm allowed 3 absences. Too bad I had to take 2 for the thyroid and ear infection and now I'm on my 3rd w/pneumonia (ear infection turned into that after 20 days of 2 different antibiotics). I'm pretty sure I'm going to be let go (with eligibility for rehire as I've been doing a good job). Don't really want to go back to doing nights in the ED, although I could.
Anyway, this bad break comes hard to someone who had her 1st child during nursing school without skipping a beat and actually took a psych exam the day I buried my mother (also during school). I'm normally pretty responsible.
Of course, I'm concerned about having 2 jobs in 6 months and how bad that looks. The first one was no big deal but I expected to stay in my current one.
I was offered a position at a local nursing home--day shift, 5 minutes from my house (yes I interviewed sick!). The DON didn't tell me much about the position and we were constantly interrupted during the interview!
Can someone tell me what the typical RN responsibilities iare n LTC? She mentioned "lots of regs" and I'd be on a "skilled unit"--no vents, though.
I'm struggling w/this as I have an interview at another hospital for a tele unit and am hoping I can explain away this horrible situation I've gotten into through no fault of my own ;( It's an hour drive and in a big city (current --well, probably ex-position, is in a community hospital).
My concern about taking the LTC job is that, in the future, I may not be able to get back to hospital nursing because of the popular belief that RNs lose their skills in LTC. I don't mean to sound insulting to RNs working in LTC but this is all I ever heard in nursing school. I certainly do not share this belief as I applied for LTC.
This job would work better w/my family life and health than the tele job in a big city. But, again, I'm concerned about future jobs when I'm ready to move on--hopefully NOT soon. Geez, I'd like to keep a job for longer than 3 months!
Any LTC RNs that can tell me what their responsibilites are?
Thanks for your help and for educating me about LTC
