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Discussion

Starting out in LTC?

I am completing an accelerated BSN program soon and will immediately be moving to an area that appears to be pretty saturated. I'm going to be applying to every new grad residency/program I can find within a 50-mile radius, but if those don't work out...

It seems like a lot of advice here points to the conclusion that "any nursing job is better than no nursing job" for new grads. Fine by me--I'm new, I don't know anything, and I'll take what I can get.

But my question/concern is: if I start my new career in LTC, will that hinder me from getting a hospital job in the future?

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    • Featured Replies

    Acute care positions typically favor acute care experience. Long term care experience is better than no experience at all, though.

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    • Experts

    Hi SiggyStardust! Welcome to AN.com!

    You know, from my experience, RNs and LPNs who start out are are successful in LTC have a tendency to be successful in other areas. LTC can be fast paced nuts and bolts kind of nursing.

    And as Sour Lemon said,

    Long term care experience is better than no experience at all

    Good luck!

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    Absolutely not.

    I worked in LTC for a little over a year as a new grad BSN RN. I quickly climbed the ranks and ended up working as the sole 2nd shift CN. Then I was orienting new grads and new CNs for a while. Then I was their admissions nurse and fulfilling the clinical coordinator duties.

    Let me just say, if you can handle LTC for a year, you can handle anything...including acute care. When I left LTC and went back to acute care, I had NO problems with time management. You'll also find that you become quickly skilled at things like skin assessments, wound care, and prioritization - all very important things in acute care, too.

    I've also met many, many nurses who worked in LTC before transitioning to acute care - including my current manager.

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    I started in a LTC facility that had a wing of orhto rehab. I had to work the LTC side some times. While I don't know if I would stayed there too long, it was a great environment and you learn time management skills pretty damn fast. I kept applying for the jobs I want and I ended up with my dream job after 10 months (which made me eligible for new grad reqs). I liked it and I think it gave me an advantage because I had experience in the field I wanted to be in (I am an ortho nurse).

    You will learn a LOT of stuff from the LPNs too. I worked with great staff: great aides and LPNs. They worked well together as a team. It was impressive .

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