Dilemma in LTC

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Last time I posted, I was about to enroll in nursing school. Today, I'm proud to say, I'm an LPN and I am employed!

I have been working in a LTC facility for 8 months, my first job out of school. I am the only nurse on the floor for 38 residents. The workload is very heavy. I have fall risks, elopement risks and never have time to take a break or lunch. I have 3 CNA's but sometimes only 2. I was sick one day and had to come in to work because there was no one to cover. Side note: I am in the process of entering the RN program and only work part time.

I have a friend who has offered me a job, also in LTC, but where there is more support on the floor and a better work environment (according to her at least). I would like to stay at the current job so I can have some time under my belt. I don't want to job hop but the environment is unhealthy. Do I risk losing the time I earned at one facility to enter the unknown at another? Do I suck it up, stick it out and hope I can get through it?

Thanks for your input!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

It is hard enough to get through college without burdening yourself with a toxic job too.

Take a deep breath, reflect on what YOU need to get to the next step in your career path and then pursue that.

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Is there anyone who likes LTC? I admit I have no experience in LTC, having only worked in critical care and acute care setting. I just get a sense, from speaking with colleagues who spent time in such places, that they are run by indifferent, penny-pinching and petty administrators. The pay is below what you get in hospital, with an unreasonable workload. I've heard that it is a place of last resort only if you are truly hard up for a job.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Do what is best for you. LTC is draining & I would rather not work than work LTC EVER again. I have worked in many different facilities & they are all the same, 40-some odd residents to one nurse. I never thought that practice was safe for the residents or myself. But a job is a job. If the other LTC facility is better staffed & less stressful, go that route. It all comes down to you.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Is there anyone who likes LTC?
I enjoyed LTC because I prefer to work with lower acuity patients. And since I dislike ADLs such as showers and toileting, LTC facilities are usually staffed with more CNAs than nurses so these ADLs can be completed.

The pay is below what you get in hospital, with an unreasonable workload.
The local LTC facilities in my area pay more competitively than the local hospital systems.

I've heard that it is a place of last resort only if you are truly hard up for a job.
LTC has a bad reputation because of the patient populations we serve. The elderly are devalued in society, so LTC is considered a 'low value' job. On the other hand, children and younger adults are treasured by society, so specialties such as L&D, the ER, NICU, PICU, peds, postpartum, sports medicine and trauma ICU are valued.
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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I didn't know much about LTC until I did my clinicals. After that I knew it wasn't somewhere I wanted to work. The environment, work load, the staff attitude... not for me. But there were people in my class who wanted to work in LTC. Yeah, the nursing homes in my area pay better than the hospitals.

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Not all LTC are terrible. They get a bad rep because there are so many that are awful. You often will make more in the LTC field than in acute or outpatient settings. What is nice about LTC is you really get to know your patients. They often become like family to you. Yes often you are overworked and short staffed. That's just called Nursing anymore. If you think there is another facility that will treat you better go for it. Just make sure they are aware of your education goals and are willing to work around that schedule.

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OP: I could have written your post and very recently faced the same dilemma....Like you, I didn't want to be portrayed as a job hopper but after 7 months of dealing with my last facility I had had enough. I had a classmate and friend working at another facility, actually closer to home, who was happy with her current position. I saw a job posting on Craigslist for a part time position and called her up. I asked her questions regarding my biggest pet peeves with my current place to see how they handled them there and was happy with her responses so I applied, she gave me a reference and I was called in for an interview right away with the mindset that I could always turn it down.

My hesitancy was knowing that all LTC facilities (and hospitals) will have downsides and I didn't want to trade one problem for another. I was also going from full time to part time so obviously money was a concern. I was looking for a place with less issues and more support, which I think is HUGE in your first few years of nursing.

I got a great feeling when I interviewed/toured with them so I ended up taking the job and using the part time schedule as a sign that it was time to enroll into an RN-BSN program full time.

It's only been a week but I've already received so much good feedback from my new DON, and coworkers. The residents our great and my workload is busy but manageable. I am so much happier and in turn so is my family (because man was I stressed and snappy before leaving!).

Long story short, interview, get a tour and if you feel it, GO FOR IT!!!

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

To the PP who posted pay beliefs....Our LPNs and ASN RNs make a few more dollars an hour than our area hospital RN-BSN....

I love the elderly population and love LTC....

Op...there is a possibility the other place is better. As long as you are consistent in working, I think you deserve a better situation!

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Op, most people think that just because you don't want to work in ltc that you have a problem with the elderly and that is not always true, not in my case anyway. I worked in ltc for 5 years and let me tell ya, no matter how much i cherished my patients, smiled, and kept a positive attitude, those places beat us nurses up. I had 30 patients and we all know it is impossible to spend and adequate amount of time with every one. On top of that you have charting, admissions, and 2 rounds of meds for every patient. It is not fair to the residents or the nurses to have such a dangerous workload. That being said, i left and started working on a tele/cardiac unit at a nearby hospital. Although it is tough, i feel i have support and can possibly take care of 4 to 6 patients. I am learning so much at my current place that i feel like a brand new nurse all over again. It is great!!! So as for your work situation, do what you think is best for you and your school hours. If your current place will work with your schedule i'd say stick it out. If this new place works with your schedule then go for them. Good luck with school and your entire nursing career!!!

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Oh and one more thing, ltc did pay me more. I took a pretty big pay cut and i don't regret it at all and am not looking back.:-)

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I love my job in LTC. I could work anywhere....I choose to work with elders and, these days, not so elderly rehab patients.

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