[Jan RN]

I am considering taking a job at a LTC facility as an RN, but I am reading these horror stories from nurses and now i am unsure about working LTC.
I havent read about any nurse that actually liked the ltc she/he was working at. ARE THERE ANY??? I have been out of nursing for a long time and was told this would be a good place to start if I am not ready for the hospital floors.
Anyone have advice on working LTC? Is it a bad idea if i havent worked in a long time? thanks........janet

[delee99]

I am an RN In LTC and I love my job. I feel very fortunate to work in a very will run facility.

I went into nursing with the intention of working in long term care, I am very happy with my decision.

[JB2007]

I am a RN and I love working in LTC. I am a staff nurse and I pass meds, do tx, take doctor's orders,ect for 30 residents. I will let you know that it is a lot of hard work, but the residents keep me coming back everyday. You will know your residents and their families well. You will get your assessment skills back in no time working in LTC. Most of the residents have multiple medical problems that you will be monitoring daily.
This all said, you heart needs to be into being a LTC nurse to work in this field. If it is not you will not be happy. Good luck with restarting you nursing career and I hope things go well for you.

[mom2michael]

I don't work LTC but I have a friend that does and he loves it without a doubt. He thanks God everyday to be a part of the joy he brings to his residents and their families. He says the work is hard and he at times works long hours but he says he could not nor would not imagine nursing being any other way.

And, he doesn't work for the greatest place either but he says it doesn't matter, he loves touching these peoples lives each day he comes to work.

[CapeCodMermaid]

I don't know why people say I'm not ready for the hospital and think they ARE ready for today's world in a SNF. Hospital--you have 5-7 patients at the most, doctors and nurses abound, emergency and ancillary services a phone call away.
LTC-15-20 patients at a minimum....doctors who don't call back so the critical thinking is up to you...in one room a woman whose biggest need is getting to bingo and in the next a man whose biggest need is a nurse who can see the symptoms of impending heart failure and get some intervention before he has to go out to the hospital with sirens waving.
Even on a strictly long term floor, the residents still get sick...you still need excellent assessment skills and time management skills.
Welcome back to nursing, but please don't think it's going to be a cake walk.

[newnana]

I work in LTC and I love my job. I think it helps to have a passion for geriatrics. I have worked in both the hospital and LTC and my experience has been a lot more stress in LTC. I have 20-22 residents on my rehab unit that I am responsible for. I have vents, cabg, picc and cvl, I draw labs, start IV's, tube feeds, catheters, call the docs, (although ours are very good about calling us back), use critical thinking skills constantly, do 2-3 admits and discharges daily, deal with family members....the list goes on and on. Let's just say LTC "aint' what it used to be" but I would 't trade my job for any other. I am not saying my job is harder or easier than any other. Nurses work hard no matter what area they are working in, and if the passion is still there, I believe the love will be also.

[husker_rn]

I work in LTC too and LOVE my job. Sometimes staffing drives me crazy but the residents are what keep me coming back. And like the others said, it definitely is not a walk in the park. Good assessment skills are a must. Have worked in the past with hospital nurses who said when they wanted to slow down they would work in LTC. Just laugh and think I'd like to see them on their first day in LTC.

[Lil'mama]

I'm not an RN yet but I've been working in LTC as an LPN for little over a year and I really enjoy it. A lot of people throw LTC to the side and just think of us as pill pushers but it's more than that. I echo that good assessment skills are important because sometimes all you can get from a resident is a grunt and moan. Especially when I was working night shift and I was in charge of about 40-44 resident, it was my call if I wanted to call the doctor at 3am and send a res. out or wait til morning shift.

LTC can be stressful just as any area of nursing but when that lady that always spits and swats at you decides to give you a hug one day..it's all worth it to me.