Transitioning Out of Long Term Care

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Hello friends,

I'm currently working in Ontario in long term care homes (e.g. ministry supervised nursing homes). I've only had my license for 2 months now, but would like to work towards getting my foot in the door of a hospital job. I am in good standing with my employer. Note: I am not applicable for the new grad program.

I was informed today by a nurse recruiter that nursing managers look down on Long Term Care home experience and don't find it relevant towards acute care settings.

Do you have any advice or insight into overcoming this barrier? I feel like I metaphorically shot myself in the foot for taking one of the few positions offered to me to get work experience.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Could you not try and get casual in the hospital?

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It wasn't a barrier for me.

the manager who hired me for my first acute care job explained to me that LTC nurses had great time management skills, knew how to prioritize, thought fast on their feet, and had decent people skills.

two months is no time at all. It took nearly three years for me to make the move. Learn from your time in LTC. The vast majority of acute patients are over 50.

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In area where there is a nursing surplus, acute care manager can be selective and reject applicants who lack acute care experience, in areas where there is a nursing shortage, acute care managers cannot afford to be picky and accept all types of applicants. Look for an area that has a true shortage of acute care nurses.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I'll definitely look into that when I get a car! I'm not opposed to moving to rural Ontario for work.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Agree with Dishes and Fiona. Most small towns are desperate for nurses and acute care will accept anyone willing to work in those towns.

Also, it depends how you sell your experience. Community based care is where the greatest demand for nurses will be. Knowledge of the geriatric population is valuable since 70 percent of your acute care patients are 65+.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Agree with Dishes and Fiona. Most small towns are desperate for nurses and acute care will accept anyone willing to work in those towns.

Also, it depends how you sell your experience. Community based care is where the greatest demand for nurses will be. Knowledge of the geriatric population is valuable since 70 percent of your acute care patients are 65+.

I totally agree with you on the fact that it's valuable experience, I'm just planning ahead and figuring out how to sell it so I can try to jobs alongside the soon to be graduating nursing students. I also province hopped and have over a year gap between graduation and licensure...which is a resume deterrent.

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It depends nowadays. I also applied to rural areas as a casual 3 years ago and they said because of my LTC exp they are not going to hire me (their acute care beds were less than 30 at the major hospitals).

They start frowning on your ltc exp I'd say after the 6 month point. Before then you are still considered "fresh" and could possibly get a casual hospital job. If you pass the 1 yr mark, a lot of the hospitals will make you do a refresher course. I bypassed this by applying to rehab unit at the hospital. After working there I applied for the medicine unit but took a long discussion with the manager regarding my "ltc experience" being a huge disadvantage.

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May I ask what are the specific reasons you are leaving? Just personal preference?

I'm interested because I have been looking into nursing jobs in homes run by the ministry and would like to get some insight on how it is.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
May I ask what are the specific reasons you are leaving? Just personal preference?

I'm interested because I have been looking into nursing jobs in homes run by the ministry and would like to get some insight on how it is.

I want hospital experience so that I can pursue community nursing/ public health nursing and ideally a masters degree as a nurse practitioner. I know that long term care nursing isn't for me in the long term at this point in my career.

There's nothing wrong with the job itself, you get to act in a higher capacity and you never know what you'll come across each shift. If you work evenings/ nights, you're basically in charge of the LTC and need to manage the RPNs and PSWs while addressing any acute situations with your 80+ residents. It's ideal if you have hospital experience and want something different to pursue, less physically demanding. I only see patients for med pass and assessments. However, a lot of the job consists with 'making due' with understaffing, minimal resources (supplies and healthcare professionals), and a disorganized environment.

I'm happy to provide more insight into the job if you want!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
It depends nowadays. I also applied to rural areas as a casual 3 years ago and they said because of my LTC exp they are not going to hire me (their acute care beds were less than 30 at the major hospitals).

They start frowning on your ltc exp I'd say after the 6 month point. Before then you are still considered "fresh" and could possibly get a casual hospital job. If you pass the 1 yr mark, a lot of the hospitals will make you do a refresher course. I bypassed this by applying to rehab unit at the hospital. After working there I applied for the medicine unit but took a long discussion with the manager regarding my "ltc experience" being a huge disadvantage.

Good to know! I have a lead on a job at a psychiatric hospital, which can get me into the psych units of most hospitals with a few months experience.

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Yes, please! I can't message you first bc I don't have enough posts or something but please message me! I'd love to get more insight. Are you based in Ontario?

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