[Tookie]

Its a saaaad thought - but l believe one that is common world wide.

[coleen]

I have only worked in a few places since I"ve become a nurse. The hospital setting was one that I never ever cared for even in clinicals. Not that it's too much work or too stressful - It's not what I like to do. I never thought Geriatrics would be what I love - I just sort of fell into it. It is the one thing that gives me purpose in this life - when I leave there I feel so right with God. I know I make a difference in their lives but they make the most in mine with their courage and bravery and extreme faith when they have no family left, no body left and they are still smiling that big smile at you every morning - saying it's a great day!!! that's why I work in Geriatrics. There are many stressful occurances at the care center and there is alot of skills needed - remember sometimes you are the only nurse in the facility! There are med surg patients, psych residents, all kinds of illnesses - and just about anything you'd want to learn about. I don't need to know how to put in a chest tube or intubate a patient just to prove that I am a competent nurse. I know I am by smiles I see everyday. Guess what - sometimes hospital nurses come in to cover a shift as a 2nd job and they are always whining and complaining about how this facility is just so lame and they don't know anything about care - That is why every patient from their hospital comes over with deadly bed sores and once one of them called us about one of our residents who just had a bladder tuck there to ask us "Has Jane ever had urinary incontinence before"?
There are know it alls in every setting and those who are humble - so why don't we all just pat eachother on the back - because I'm glad somebody works at the hospital and likes it or we wouldn't have good hospital nurses to care for our families.

[Nurse Hag]

yes we are real nurses!!!!!!! We deal with problems quickly and get little respect from the Doctors. But it sure feels good when you send a pt before the heart attack. Even though the Doctor doesn't see the suttle change in the pt. You know your pt you see them everyday and you know when something is fishy.

[jevans]

well said

[Julielpn]

Of course we are real nurses. It takes a special breed to work with the elderly.

Julie

[Love-A-Nurse]

Oh my yes, real as can be!

[adrienurse]

Wow! I'm only 50% nurse (or is that only a nurse 50% of the time)? Who started this thread?

I started nursing at a time when I could have chosen a job in any area of nursing. I chose geriatrics because I value the elderly and love to care for them. Those who think I have a lot of downtime don't know enough to appreciate exactly what I am doing when I am holding that wrinkled hand. Is nursing all about the tally of so called nursing skills in one day? So I haven't started an IV in 6 years. So what? I deal with elders with multiple health problems who are very prone to agitation. I know enough to realize, that my purpose is not to cure them, but to ensure their quality of life. I deal with ensuring that they eat enough (dispite the many number of feeding complications they have), I ensure that their skin is healthy, that they are using proper equipment in order to mobilize and that their medical issues are dealt with. I also make sure that their occasional health crises are dealt with appropriately. I consult with and counsel their families. I try to decode the confused language of the residents themselves to determine their needs.


Those who voted that I am not a nurse need to give their heads a shake. Call me up, if you need help.

[Tookie]

adreinurse
l love this quote of yours - thank you it explains a lot - l am going to copy it and keep it - l want to give it to students when they come to us and l try to explain how importatn it is to learn the bery basic skills - l beleive thaty if you can care for the elderly in a holistic manner - and with their mutilpe diseases - this is the basis of caring for all manner of people.

Thank you for your comment
(See below)

Tookie

I started nursing in a time when I could have chosen a job in any area of nursing. I chose geriatrics because I value the elderly and love to care for them. Those who think I have a lot of downtime don't know enough to appreciate exactly what I am doing when I am holding that wrinkled hand. Is nursing all about the tally of so called nursing skills in one day? So I haven't started an IV in 6 years. So what? I deal with elders with muntiple health problems who are very prone to agitation. I know enough to realize that what I am there for is not to cure them, but to ensure their quality of life. I deal with assuring that they eat enough (dispite the many number of feeding complications they have), I assure that their skin is healthy, that they are using proper equipment in order to mobilize, that their medical issues are dealt with and that their occasional health crises are dealt with appropriately. I consult with and counsel their families, and try to decode the confused language of the residents themselves to determine their needs.'

[Youda]

We've all see "bad" hospital nurses, and there are "bad" LTC nurses. I've seen it both ways. Let's turn this around, shall we? Could a hospital nurse do a code with no crash cart and no one to help except one CNA? Could a hospital nurse change a Stage IV decub dressing, sterile mind you, without a pre-packaged dressing kit? Can a hospital nurse take care of 60 patients all by herself and call it a light day? Not to bash hospital nurses! No! That isn't what I'm saying. I'm saying, be proud wherever you are! The skills you need are much different in both settings! ))