I'm leaving LTC

Specialties Geriatric

Published

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 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.:o 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.:o

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
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!!!

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.

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.

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