[suanna]

What you are describing has always been my impression of LTC nursing- that's why I have never even thought about applying for a position like yours. I'd rather work a busy med/surg floor where I at least have the backing of another RN or two if things go to pot. It can't possibly be less stressful where you are than it was on nights. With the pay cut and dropping to .8 couldn't you consider a part time hospital night shift position and still make enough, at least until you can bid on a day position somewhere sane.

[Jvilleredhead22]

When I changed jobs I actually got a pay raise, but it is getting easier. What I had always heard about LTC nursing was that the nurses didn't do anything...lol....well, there are some who don't do much but hand out pills, I've even heard of people who were fired that didn't give out the meds at all, just signed them out if you can believe it. And, as far as writing the phone orders goes, it's for things such as ordering a chest xray if you suspect a person it getting sick, labs like ua's things of that nature. Anything big or anything I am uncertain about, I always call first. And the doc has an APN who we can call almost any time. But thanks for the advice. I was told if I called the doc about everything that he would be calling the nursing home giving the administrator a call about it.

[Furwillfly]

For: Jvilleredhead22
Just do the best you possibly know how to do. With nursing you learn some as you go. It is busy, it is difficult, it is demanding....and no most of us 'good' nurses don't just pass pills; that came from hospital nurses. I wish sometimes they would walk in our shoes. And the ones who can't handle it...go back to the hospital. The elderly need care by nurses who care.
You are going to have things that you don't get done as planned, that is reality. I keep a steno notebook and write all the things (prioritizing) that need done, and cross them out as I accomplish. The next day, I start my list with the previous day. Things do get done, it just takes time.
The doctor should not be calling your supervisors if you call too much, that is crap! But do try to be respectful and 'bunch' your faxes or calls to as many residents as you can.
If things go downhill at work....your DNS or Charge nurse needs to step up to the plate and help. Mine do....even my Administrator/RN helps on the floor. That is what team work is about. If you don't get help and the backing you need.........find another facility.
It really upsets me that some nurses still feel all we do is pass pills! If you care, you will end up making a difference.
I am a Charge Nurse(not sitting at desk) on day shift, but still work the floor/giving meds(daily), make the MD calls, labs, arranging appts, check on and make the weekly list for weights and baths(like an audit) weekly, write orders, deal with the pharmacy, deal with the idiots who don't want to be there, or don't work, deal with nurses who leave everything for dayshift, oh I could go on and on....but at the end of the day, I know I did my best that day, and so did most of my CNA'S. I also always reward them or give them a bonus they so deserve. Yes, we have our issues, and here's my motto: The Serenity Prayer! Change what you can, don't worry about what you can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Ok...I've probably babbled enough. Sorry.

[Big Smurf2007]

only been lpn for 18mths now and i can sympathize with u. ltc for 7 half months and now cant stand to go to work. i know what u mean. it gets tiring doing other people's job when u are bustin ur hump to do yours. my peeve is this: when u have an 8-4 nurse who takes hour long lunches ( supp to be 30 min), and several smoke breaks in late afternoon, leaving at 5/530 and leaves u with her 5-530-6p meds to do and doesnt ever count narc with me. havnt been to work in several days ( days off) and there is always some u have to ck rectally and lax etc...... no dates of open/exp on insulins and i have to be the one to do them all....... my licensed is threatend b/c of their laziness ( insulin etc.) am looking for another job now...feel guilty b/c cna's guilt me " everytime we get a nurse that cares and we can laugh with...she has to leave" or by residents " thank you for caring" after resident asks for laxitive/pain tab...... what more can we do?

[sharlynn]

All I can say is "shop around" If you are in an area with several LTC's. Not all LTC's are like this. The last one I worked in, the Administrator and secretaries took the CNA course so that they could help out when staffing was short. Needless to say, I stayed there 10 years and only left when I had to relocate D/T aging parents. By the way, I Am one of those baby boomers you are talking about!

[achot chavi]

Originally Posted by pie123

If you stay, you're probably headed for major burnout. You seem as though you're a good nurse. This is far too much for one person. Sounds like a very unsafe facility: for you and the residents.

I agree completely- it sounds like you really care and deserve to be in a setting where that is appreciated. Many of us have left bad facilities after realizing that one person CANT fix all their problems. Believe it or not no good will come by staying - try to find a better place that will still allow you the quality time (and energy) to raise your family.

[achot chavi]

[quote=suanna;2811625]. I'd rather work a busy med/surg floor where I at least have the backing of another RN or two if things go to pot. It can't possibly be less stressful where you are than it was on nights.

Suanna, I appreciate what your saying but there is a huge difference btwn LTC and Med-surg. When I come to work- I know my patients better than my own self cause they are with us LONG TERM- that means I remember that eye infection is recurring and what needs to be done without experimenting, I know when a visitor comes- who they are and how to help them- before being asked. I know how each patient likes their coffee, wants to be bathed, favorite color, what their last CBC results were and why we do an EKG each month on them , the best place to insert the needle to insert the IV, etc. etc. etc. Sure I could go back to hospital nursing, but I prefer the long term relationships I have in LTC- at this point I lack the interest and energy to build new relationships every day. Thank God there are so many facets to our profession and we each choose to fill them according to talents. Altogether we make a formidable team.

[Shannon77]

Simply put, worry about YOUR job first. I wouldn't play secertary and housekeeper and nurse aide. I would tell my nurse aides that I expect them to be on the floor where I can find them when I need them and if they keep "disappearing" I would hunt them down.

My expericence has been that if ppl know that you will do their crap for them, they will take full advantage of it. I am also a firm believer that if you don't want to do your job, you need to find another one. I have never been shy to tell my aides what I expected of them, nor to tell housekeeping that I was too busy with a resident concern to clean up a mess...
I do MY job in caring for my residents...I expect my support staff to do the same.

[kstec]

I know how you feel. I started a threa re: the good, bad and the ugly and my last comments were how I just quit one day. I too couldn't do it all and of course they (mgmt) expect you to and complain when you don't. I won't ramble on since I have in two threads already, but the fact of the matter is you can only do what you can and if you know in your heart that your residents are not getting what they deserve and you have fought for better care and gotten nowhere than you fought the fight and lost. I fought, and I lost and then I quit. When is America going to allow the geriatric (middle class, Medicare, Medicaid, not private pay) to get the care they so deservingly need? I've asked mgmt. at my prior place of employment, would you let your family member live here? They always say we're doing our best to improve things. But my question is "How did things get so bad in the first place?" Well enough for now, but I feel for you. One thing is that I absolutely refuse to stop being a patient advocate and fighting for better quality care wherever I may end up. Noone is going to make me end up going to work just for a paycheck and stop caring, if it ever gets to that point, I'm done with nursing. Machinist can be non- caring, robotic and have no empathy or compassion, but nursing has no place for that.

[Bx_RN2B]

I agree 100% with this post.

You have to put your foot down if you are going to survive. Don't be afraid to say not right now I'm too busy, don't be afraid to ignore non-nurses who think they know your job, don't be afraid to ignore a ringing telephone (let them hunt you down). Make a copy of the CNA assignment for the day and keep it with you so that you don't have to deal with the "that's not my resident" B.S. If you are allowed to use the intercom system page disappearing CNAs if it takes more than two minutes to find them. If the supervisor asks why you are always paging so and so tell them it's because they are always NOT where they are supposed to be.

Do your best and bless the rest. Most nurses don't want to work in LTC for perfectly legitimate reasons but the way I see it is that these people NEED care and someone has to provide it so I refuse to beat myself up because greedy administrators can't be bothered to staff properly or provide adequate resources and supplies.

Originally Posted by Shannon77

Simply put, worry about YOUR job first. I wouldn't play secertary and housekeeper and nurse aide. I would tell my nurse aides that I expect them to be on the floor where I can find them when I need them and if they keep "disappearing" I would hunt them down.

My expericence has been that if ppl know that you will do their crap for them, they will take full advantage of it. I am also a firm believer that if you don't want to do your job, you need to find another one. I have never been shy to tell my aides what I expected of them, nor to tell housekeeping that I was too busy with a resident concern to clean up a mess...
I do MY job in caring for my residents...I expect my support staff to do the same.