Switching from hospital to LTC or other area?

[NurseK93, LPN]

Hi all,

I have been working acute care in the hospital for the past 3 years. I worked in a large city hospital for about 2.5 years, before moving and switching hospitals a few months ago in my new town. I hate it. The hospital is so unorganized and poorly run to the point of being dangerous and unsafe. It’s horrible to its staff, morale is extremely low, and as I said, I find it very unsafe for the patients too.

So long story short, I am still very young in my career, but I do not see myself being happy working here long term. But my options are limited. So now I have started to consider what different ideas may be. LTC, home care, clinic setting etc. I only have experience working in the hospital in acute care so my knowledge of what is like to work in these other settings is sporifice. I am open minded to a change, I also don’t think working in the hospital is as cracked up as people make it out to be. I am open to trying different areas of nursing, for me it is most important that I actually enjoy my job and feel I am actually making a difference and helping.

So, have any of you made the switch out of hospital to other areas? Any experience moving from hospital to a long term care setting?

Any thoughts and experiences are appreciated!

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

32 minutes ago, NurseK93 said:

... The hospital is so unorganized and poorly run to the point of being dangerous and unsafe. It’s horrible to its staff, morale is extremely low, and as I said, I find it very unsafe for the patients too.

IME you've just described many LTC facilities so there's one answer for you.

[beekee]

I’d do just about anything before LTC. As a society, we have decided it’s OK to warehouse the elderly. Staff barely has time to attend to their basic human needs. It’s shameful.

[Golden_RN, MSN]

After working in acute for years I made the switch to LTC & have always loved it. I've working in different areas of LTC, such as MDS, management, wound care, informatics, consulting and in higher acuity LTC vent/trach unit. Once you learn the regs and how facilities are run, there are opportunities away from the bedside.

You do have to find the right employer though. I read many posts here about nurses being worked to the bone, in what they feel are unsafe conditions in LTC.

Edited to add: I had friends in acute that went to home care & clinic work and have been doing that happily for many years.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Try wound care clinic or dialysis clinic. With LTCs, if you get with the wrong company, you will dread every day at work. Also, maybe corrections or surgery center. School nurse

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

You may find some of the suggested specialties that have been mentioned extra difficult to break into at the LPN level. Are you considering advancing your licensure to RN?

[StrwbryblndRN]

I made the switch to LTC from acute after almost 10 years. Loved it. But I made sure the facility was a good one. Great pay and residents well taken care of. Staffing is exceptional. Short staffed is still better than most fully staffed facilities. My only regret is I get bored. If we are busy, it is not stressful. Hope you find the right place. It can happen.

[rymanell, BSN, RN]

I left bedside nursing after 2.5 years for a case manager position at the same hospital. I love it!! Just another idea. Good luck!