Will LTC experience help in med-surg??

[Jasel, BSN, RN]

So I've been an LPN at a sub-acute facility for about 18 months now (first job too). It has 6 units. Two for sub-acute, two for LTC, one for Alzheimer/Dementia, and an orthopedics unit. I've worked on all the units and am generally floated although lately I've been working the LTC and Alzheimer's units. On average I have about 27 - 29 patients with varying degrees of chronic illnesses. My mother has been a nurse for 30 years and says what I do is similar to med-surg it's just the patient load is different. I'm in nursing school to get my RN and was planning on doing med-surg because I heard you got a lot of well-rounded experience. But I guess my question is as the title says. Will LTC experience help in med-surg?

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Yes, especially if it's a sub acute facility. The problem might a hospital accepting you because you don't have hospital experience, but every place is different. Good luck!

[Jasel, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure if this is just happening in my area or what but I've been hearing a lot of hospitals aren't hiring newer RNs unless they have some LTC experience.

[TonyaM73, ASN, RN]

YES! I spent my first year in a LTC/Rehab because at the time, hospitals were not hiring new grads. It will help so much with your time management, meds and some skills. My manager in the hospital really did not appreciate how much I learned at the LTC until a couple of weeks into orientation and then she realized that since I had the organization down I could learn the routines on the floor that much more quickly.

You will have a tremendous leg up in school and when you first get on the med/surg floor. You have experience with meds, assessments, and time management. All you have to do now is learn the whys of how things are done.

Good luck to you!

[LouisVRN, RN]

Yes definitely! One of the hardest things new grads have an issue with is time management and prioritization. Working with that many patients you will definitely find your experience to be an advantage.

[Jasel, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the replies. That's very good to know.