Which is better choice for new grad nurse: LTAC (longterm acute care ) or hospital? Got offer from LTAC but haven’t gotten any offers from a hospital yet.
Hospital would be a better choice for a new grad. It would be better to put all the new skills to work on a Med/Surg unit. These days there are a lot of older patients in the hospital. Longterm acute care is not for young nurses. You will not be learning much if you are looking at advancing to specialty areas. If the only job you can get is in longterm acute care, go for it.
But move on as soon as you can.
I am an RN of 30 years, now retired. I believe if you can get experience in a med/surg unit (or other acute care settings) for at least 1-2 years, it will give you an excellent background to branch out to whatever type of nursing job you want to end up with. You need a broad range of different types of nursing care in order to handle whatever may present itself to you. There's nothing wrong with an LTAC, but your experiences will be limited to more stable types of patients. Yes they are still sick and some are very sick, but the acute care setting will help you to build your skills and give you a great background wealth of knowledge.
If you like working with Seniors and Elders LTAC can be a great learning experience to gain skills. The staff to patient ratios are more demanding that hospitals. For those who are willing to work hard, upward advancement is better in LTACs. (I started out in hospitals but have spent the last 35 years in long term care, as Director of Nursing, Nursing Administrator, Nurse Educators, etc. Became a Board certified Gerontology nurse.)
As a new nurse. Pls go to acute. I started with LTAC and now that I know better , and now in acute setting, I knew that was a mistake.
Hospital! Look for one with a new grad program
Or new grad internship. Long term care will only teach you how NOT to be an excellent nurse. In California it is stunning what happens in these facilities. Stay with the hospital. Look for one connected to an academic setting. Good luck! Don’t give up!
