Transitioning to Acute Care

InSchool4eva20, MSN, RN · Jun 8, 2020

I don't think you'll have any problems going into critical care, you have a good knowledge base with rehab requiring good organizational and prioritizing skills. They will train you in orientation as they will know where you are coming from. You of course would benefit from general med/surg it will be very similar to your rehab experiences but with emphasis on medicine, but with your experience I don't think it is necessary. I personally love med/surg and will always be one at heart., It seems you are drawn to a higher challenge and that is why I think you would do well in the more critical areas. I'm not from the Chicago area so I can't speak for that. I hope this is helpful!

Ime_7895 · Jul 27, 2020

I am a SNF/rehab nurse who just got a BSN. I too am on the edge of trying to decide whether or not I am even cut out to ever work in a hospital. I feel like I have no confidence to move to acute care, though while working in a SNF I feel like I have learned a lot & learned to do a lot with nothing. (Almost no resources, no staff no equipment, no time). I have mastered many skills such as IVs, G tubes, bolus feeds, TPN, wound vacs, plaurx chest drains, wound care, interpreting labs and reporting, med pass, insulin, COVID units, code blues, falls, first aid of injuries, staple/stitches removal, being weekend supervisor, PICC lines, colostomies, trachs, hydrodermoclysis & so more. With being extremely familiar with all of that how can I not be ready to move on? I have friends that work and hospitals and cant believe the amount of work SNF nurses actually do. With having 20-30 skilled patients who are all sub-acute and having to document vitals for all, and complete multiple assessments and skilled notes that determine what/how insurance will pay. it becomes a pretty significant workload. Long story short, I guess I am looking to hear that I am ready to move on and should not feel guilty if I leave the very few good people who work here behind.

Dani_Mila, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2021

On 7/27/2020 at 10:30 AM, Ime_7895 said:

I am a SNF/rehab nurse who just got a BSN. I too am on the edge of trying to decide whether or not I am even cut out to ever work in a hospital. I feel like I have no confidence to move to acute care, though while working in a SNF I feel like I have learned a lot & learned to do a lot with nothing. (Almost no resources, no staff no equipment, no time). I have mastered many skills such as IVs, G tubes, bolus feeds, TPN, wound vacs, plaurx chest drains, wound care, interpreting labs and reporting, med pass, insulin, COVID units, code blues, falls, first aid of injuries, staple/stitches removal, being weekend supervisor, PICC lines, colostomies, trachs, hydrodermoclysis & so more. With being extremely familiar with all of that how can I not be ready to move on? I have friends that work and hospitals and cant believe the amount of work SNF nurses actually do. With having 20-30 skilled patients who are all sub-acute and having to document vitals for all, and complete multiple assessments and skilled notes that determine what/how insurance will pay. it becomes a pretty significant workload. Long story short, I guess I am looking to hear that I am ready to move on and should not feel guilty if I leave the very few good people who work here behind.

I could definitely relate! I'm so with you about having no confidence to go to acute care. I'm nervous but I really need to leave my job. Even though I learned so much I feel stuck and not progressing at all. Most of my friends and classmates are now in acute care settings. I have a few that hated it and went to a different route. I really want an acute care experience but Im just not confident at all. Have you successfully transitioned to acute setting??