53 y/o going back into LTACH

Specialties LTAC

Published

HI all! I'm 53 and have been out of critical care for 5 yrs. I've got 20+ years in Critical Care and have worked the last 5 yrs in Informatics (electronic health record). I just can't do the travel anymore and the world of informatics is not all it's cracked up to be. We'll leave it there.

I want to get back into the clinical area and so I am taking a job as an RN in an LTACH. I've heard it's hard work and can be very stressful. Any advice for an "older" nurse going back into the clinical area with bad knees???

Call me crazy but it's what I know best!

Thanks in advance!

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Find a LTACH with adequate support system. I do not think it would be a good idea to ask directly on interview how many aids, COTAs, PTAs and others are on floor at any given day - or, rather I do not believe you will be told the truth. Seek an "insider" to figure this out but these guys can make or break your back and your day. 600 lbs. patient in LTACH for the reason of ICU not physically able to manage him, totally bedbound on vent and stuff plus C.diff. - you won't like to do PROMs on him twice a day, all alone.

For the same reason and some more, choose days if you can. LTACH has extremely diverse patient population and correspondingly diverse care, so you need to be comfortable with things like complicated wounds. LTACHs may have rather short orientation as you are highly experienced nurse, and days just have more resources and more help when needed.

Good luck, LTACH is much more fun than most people think.

I am a 50+ year old new grad starting my first job, also at an LTACH. I'd like to hear your insights once you have had a chance to get to know your unit.

Thanks for the advice, Katie M. From what I've been told, I have 6 weeks of orientation and a CNA with you and 4 patients. Occasionally it's 5 to one but rarely. We'll see how "rarely"! I'm going to give it a shot. Recruiters are still calling about jobs in informatics. So we'll see what happens. I took a huge pay cut but I may find it's worth it if I like it well enough.

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