[marymack57]

Experience? EXPERIENCE?? I feel like telling nurses who look down their noses at my LTC nursing job...how good are YOU at starting an IV on a 90 year old ex-rancher that is dehydrated because he's been eating and drinking for 90 years and has decided he's had enough to eat and drink? Oh lets see...you should practice on an IV dummy arm that has cured leather for a cover and veins the size of say a piece of angel hair pasta!! LOL

[pumpkin92356]

These people who ask you those stupid questions, must have never worked in LTC. There is nothing easy about it. We have to deal with the same patients sometimes for years and watching them decline is not an easy task. Most LTC have less staff and I personally think it is harder than some acute situations because most patients in acute care settings are in and out and you dont deal with everyday issues with them like you do with residents in nursing homes. Long Term Care residents are depressed a lot more and you have to deal with dementia, incontinence, falls, residents attitudes, lots of paperwork for the state etc. So who ever thinks that nurses in LTC cant handle working acute lets just trade jobs one day and see who does the better handling of a situation my money is on the LTC nurse !!!

[janettalinda]

I worked LTC for a few years in a beautiful facility, great staff, and I loved the residents and their families. I was on my feet most of day, busy, but not frantic. Those were the good old days. Every day residents and families told us how much they appreciated us. Most of those residents have passed on by now and I feel them smiling down on me. Good LTC facilities do exist, but getting harder to find, sad to say. Outsiders sometimes think the nurses are no good, when in fact it's the management that's no good. I've been there in other places working my butt off, short staffed, level of care is poor no matter how much you run around. And then disrespected for working in a "nursing home." It isn't fun.

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by pumpkin92356

Long Term Care residents are depressed a lot more and you have to deal with dementia, incontinence, falls, residents attitudes, lots of paperwork for the state etc.

Not to mention the abusive family members who make thinly-veiled threats during every visit, and truly believe that all nursing home staff members are purposely aiming to harm Grandma.

[Cindy_A]

Originally Posted by TheCommuter

Not to mention the abusive family members who make thinly-veiled threats during every visit, and truly believe that all nursing home staff members are purposely aiming to harm Grandma.

Thank goodness not all family members are like this. Some of those attorney ads make nursing homes sound like torture chambers! I think that's where some of these family members get their ideas. I've seen many people that have come from HOME, that look a lot worse than any nursing home pt!

[Nascar nurse]

Originally Posted by TheCommuter

Not to mention the abusive family members who make thinly-veiled threats during every visit, and truly believe that all nursing home staff members are purposely aiming to harm Grandma.

Thinly veiled - ha ha. We have a current resident (sweetest little thing too) who's grandson is POA. He ends every conversation with any nurse "And just a reminder that I am a malpractice attorney". I so badly want to tell him to stick it in his ear or somewhere else where the sun don't shine.

[sassysteph7]

Originally Posted by nursemary9

I don't work in Long term Care.
I work a Med-Surg/Hem/Onc renal Unit. The vast majority of our patients come from Nsg Homes & are Geriatrics. We have all Private Rooms on our floor, thus we get a great many Isolation pts.

I have worked nites for over 30 yrs & during much of that time worked days in Home Health, besides.
Most of my pts in Home Health were geriatrics.

I have a GREAT deal RESPECT for anyone who works with Long Term Care pt's.
I don't think I could, personally.
I think it takes a VERY SPECIAL personality to work that field.

I'm so sorry you all have to be made to feel this way.

I don't know why as nurses, we can't just all respect everyone else's
specialties. Each one is different & each one has it's good & bad points.
No matter where you work there are difficult days & easier days.

We really need to unite & respect each other as professionals & then maybe the rest of the world will catch on and also respect each & every one of us for what we do.

Amen Sister! I'm tired of defending myself and my choice, especially as an RN, to be in LTC.

[grammyj]

I don't defend myself.
I know what I do, and I know that I'm good at it. When I see a smile or get a pat on the hand and an "I'm glad you're here tonight.", that's all the defending I need.
God bless you and all that WE do in long term care.
{{{HUGS******

[MentalRn]

God Bless all you longterm care nurses! I miss longterm care. My skills became fine tuned there, and I am ever so glad for the experience of it.

[witchypoo]

I have had many of my hospital employed cronies say I have the easy job, it is glorified babysitting, until one of them get one of my happy wanders then i get the phone call "how the he## do you keep. her in bed. she's just pulled out the i v for the umteenth time" and you kept one in for 72 hours without restraints, I love working with geriatrics especially the confused. they keep you on your toes. and test you daily. i have never bored. have had load of laughs and a few scares.