What does a LTACH look for when hiring RNs?

Published

I'm confused on how LTACH hire. Do they tend to hire New Grads? Do they want previous acute care experience?

I have read on allnurses that people go from LTC to LTAC .... which is great, but if it is this acute, I would think LTACH prefer acute care experience. Also, if you have LTACH experience, then I would think you would be a good fit for ICU in a STACH. It seems like it should go both ways.....but does it in the real world?

I'm bascially trying to see how these hospitals hire and what qualifications they are looking for. Also interested in hearing career tracks....LTACH to ICU?

Thanks everyone :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

It depends on the LTAC. If your LTAC and you work the ICU you could transition to the ICU in an acute care hospital. However...be prepared to sell your experience for most HR/hospitals have NO CLUE what and LTAC is and what they do.

I was a supervisor for a LTAC and they had an ICU. They have vented patients with PA lines and drips....post CABG patients very acute!

LTAC's are must more inclined to hire new grads as they are willing to train.

What is STACH?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Many of the nurses in the LTACH I work in either have a second job in an ICU or leave to go work in an ICU.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It depends on the LTAC. If your LTAC and you work the ICU you could transition to the ICU in an acute care hospital. However...be prepared to sell your experience for most HR/hospitals have NO CLUE what and LTAC is and what they do.

I was a supervisor for a LTAC and they had an ICU. They have vented patients with PA lines and drips....post CABG patients very acute!

LTAC's are must more inclined to hire new grads as they are willing to train.

What is STACH?

STACH = Short Term Acute Care Hospital. What most people just refer to as a hospital, LOL but it differentiates it from a LTACH, for example.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm confused on how LTACH hire. Do they tend to hire New Grads? Do they want previous acute care experience?

I have read on allnurses that people go from LTC to LTAC .... which is great, but if it is this acute, I would think LTACH prefer acute care experience. Also, if you have LTACH experience, then I would think you would be a good fit for ICU in a STACH. It seems like it should go both ways.....but does it in the real world?

I'm bascially trying to see how these hospitals hire and what qualifications they are looking for. Also interested in hearing career tracks....LTACH to ICU?

Thanks everyone :)

Everyone's career path is different, and one person's success in moving from one area to another doesn't always indicate that this is the way it "usually goes." I worked in LTC/SNF for a year immediately upon graduation, and now I work at a LTACH with an ICU. Many of my coworkers also work per diem in an ICU at a STACH. One of my nursing school peers actually told me about this LTACH, and she was able to move on to a NICU at a reputable children's hospital in our area. She only remains in the LTACH as a per diem nurse.

As far as what they're looking for, I believe it is true that they are much more willing to hire new grads than a "traditional" or STACH ICU because they are much more willing to train and also don't seem to have the same influx of applicants as, let's say, your local community hospital. They do prefer those with ICU experience and BSN's, though. I plan on applying to local STACH ICU's once I finish my BSN. Until then, I will stay here in LTAC and try to move on over into our ICU (at my facility, only a handful or so of our nurses permanently or semi-permanently populate the ICU, everyone else is on the floor). You learn TONS in LTAC.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Rehab.

I work in LTAC right now. I do think they like to hire experienced nurses but (at least at the one I work at) they can't really compete with the salaries acute care hospitals offer. Also, when you hire a new grad, you can shape them to follow policies exactly as they're written. By hiring a more experienced nurse, you sometimes inherit some of the bad habits they've developed over the years. Most of the nurses I work with (non supervisory) have less than 5 years experience. There are a few that have more, but generally people go there to work for a few years, then move on to acute care, home health or case management.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
they can't really compete with the salaries acute care hospitals offer.

Why? What is the difference in salary, if you don't mind me asking? IE in my local, the hospitals pay $22-23/hour. I think this is kind of low, and I live in what is considered a rural community but we have the major state university in town.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I work in LTAC right now. I do think they like to hire experienced nurses but (at least at the one I work at) they can't really compete with the salaries acute care hospitals offer. Also, when you hire a new grad, you can shape them to follow policies exactly as they're written. By hiring a more experienced nurse, you sometimes inherit some of the bad habits they've developed over the years. Most of the nurses I work with (non supervisory) have less than 5 years experience. There are a few that have more, but generally people go there to work for a few years, then move on to acute care, home health or case management.

In my area it is quite the opposite. My LTACH pays 1-2 dollars more per hour than starting pay at our local hospitals, all of which are large, well-known systems. The night shift differential here is also higher. Also different: the nurses working at my facility mostly have over 10 years of experience, many are closer to 20. Only a few of us (I'd say

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Why? What is the difference in salary, if you don't mind me asking? IE in my local, the hospitals pay $22-23/hour. I think this is kind of low, and I live in what is considered a rural community but we have the major state university in town.

To give you an idea, our local "big" hospitals pay in that spectrum, $23-24/hour. This facility starts at a little over $25/hour, depending on experience and whether or not you are hired exclusively for ICU or not. Also, most hospitals in my area pay ~ $3 night shift differential. My facility pays $5, plus a little more for weekends.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

^I consider that pretty reasonable salary! Especially the differential. I wish I had the option of a LTACH attached to a hospital with an ICU to feed off of. I am in Illinois and I searched on "Care Look Up" and only found independent facilities, they didn't list it as "with a hospital." Also they are only found in the north/Chicago area.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

There are LTACH's free standing with ICU's call the LTACH's and ask. STACH....that's cute.....where I live they are referred to s Acute care

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There are LTACH's free standing with ICU's call the LTACH's and ask. STACH....that's cute.....where I live they are referred to s Acute care

I saw another poster use the acronym STACH so I thought I'd use it too:)

OK, I will call them and ask. I am really itching to learn new skills and ICU has been a goal of mine. I'm looking for a route back in to acute.

Thank you everyone for input, this has been very educational for me. Especially as I had never heard of LTACH prior to 2 weeks ago!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion