Acute Care to LTC as a CNA? (Sorry, kinda lengthy...)

Hello all. Once again I would like to get everyone's insight on something.

I've been working as a CNA since earning my cert in January of 2007. The only job I've held as an aide was at a local hospital...a 30-bed med/surg unit (our floor specializes in ortho, neuro, and urology.)

I never, never, never wanted to work LTC from the day that we did clinicals. It was so depressing. It seemed boring. I like to be on my feet, helping take care of patients that are seriously ill or patients that could crash at any time...which is a lot of what I get where I'm at right now.

However, like all med/surg floors that I know of, we get a little bit of everything. Even Hospice pts who get admitted with a UTI and have orders like I saw at the nursing home: Vitals signs daily, D/C IV if pt pulls out, D/C tube feedings if pt removes peg tube, No Restraints, DNR/DNI, comfort care only, Morphine nebs, etc. I liked being there for the pt and their family, helping out and making the pt's last days on earth somewhat...er, pleasant, for lack of a better term.

I love orthopedics...fracture patients and post-op fracture repairs are awesome to take care of. It's wonderful to see the pt go from not being able to move after surgery to walking down the hall. Also, I like the high level of care. I love neuro too.

But lately, I've actually considered working LTC. I know that it won't help me to reach my ultimate goal of becoming an ICU or ER RN but I think a change would be nice. The facility where I work is I guess you'd say, partnered, with a nursing home that's less than a block from the hospital.

Any which rate, I've found out that it would be as simple as placing a transfer request with human resources to obtain a position at the facility. If I didn't like it, I have the option to transfer every 90 days, and HR is pretty good about letting people transfer when they ask to. So if I didn't like it...it would only be 90 days.

I can do anything for 90 days. Should I go for it? Tell me about LTC, especially, what is it like on night shift in LTC? What do you do, and if you've worked acute care, how is it different?

Thanks everyone.