[star2nite2000]

Originally Posted by TheCommuter

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, Sue.

I have been reading your refreshingly blunt posts for about a year and a half already, and I can surely sense that you have been having a rough run for your money in LTC. The backstabbing coworkers, insensitive management, poor leadership, abusive family members, and demanding patients can work much like a vacuum: if you allow it to go on too long, these people will suck the very last dripping soul out of you. They will try to break you down and rip your heart out. I know, because I have been in LTC for the past 1.5 years.

Oh Lord, you have described the place I work to a t! The work is hard enough without having to put up with the unnecessary crap. I think what gets me the most is the backstabbing coworkers....and the two-faced ones as well!

[Autofocus]

I have been in long term care, in form or another, for 23 years.
Things I have learned:
You can work your butt off, be really good at what you do..does not matter if you are not a rear end kisser! Seems to me the quality of your work does not matter..
Money is the name of the game.
LTC companies really do not care about patients,staff,families,money is all they see.
If any nurse thinks they are irreplaceable..wrong think again..loyality,work ethic mean nothing.They can replace you in a minute (most likely already got their buddy waiting in the wings).
All LTC nurses should wear a knife proof vest.

[earle58]

sue, obviously this was a wonderful move for you.
i'm so glad to read about the support you're getting in your new job.
it's about darned time!
you rock.

leslie

[lovingtheunloved]

I wish you the very, very best. You rock, Suesquatch.

[banditrn]

Originally Posted by DeerParknurse

I have been in long term care, in form or another, for 23 years.
Things I have learned:
You can work your butt off, be really good at what you do..does not matter if you are not a rear end kisser! Seems to me the quality of your work does not matter..
Money is the name of the game.
LTC companies really do not care about patients,staff,families,money is all they see.
If any nurse thinks they are irreplaceable..wrong think again..loyality,work ethic mean nothing.They can replace you in a minute (most likely already got their buddy waiting in the wings).
All LTC nurses should wear a knife proof vest.

Sorry, DeerPark, but I spent many, many years in the hospital - that's exactly what they are becoming. I left the hospital for LTC - didn't find perfection, by all means, but the one I ended up at was no where NEAR as bad as the snake pit the hospital had turned into.

[jlsRN]

Originally Posted by Suesquatch

I got a med/surg spot, evenings, LPN.

I'm excited. There's so much I need to learn and the VT scope of practice is wider than NYS's.

I'll miss a couple of my old folks, but, frankly, I'm tired of taking care of other people's dying, demented relatives. I'm tired of people smacking me and chasing transpondered elopers through the parking lot and standing behind a med cart for 8 hours a day.

And mostly I now know that I can not effect change in LTC except on the smallest, one-to-one level. That's important, obviously, but my spirit is being crushed. I have had a lousy year and being surrounded by people for whom the best outcome is death in their sleep isn't improving my depression.

Cross your fingers for me, all.

I made the same change years ago. I started out in LTC. I found it (the hospital) much more varied, with a more interesting patient population, and more hopeful outcomes possible. You'll do great!!!

[Suesquatch]

Thanks, all.

It's been great. Everyone gets along and pitches in, helps one another out. They encourage learning and questions rather than get annoyed at it. And I still have my old farts. An entire med/surg ward full of 'em. One thing interesting, though, is that because we are such a small, rural hospital serving such a large area we sometimes get children.

[dekatn]

Sounds like we work at the same hospital!!!! I left LTC a year ago and went to small local hospital, it's been great and still is!! I haven't regretted the move yet. Like you, we still get "the old farts", some of them from the NH I previously worked for, and some children, I have never worked with kids, it's a big change, but I love it.