LTC and loving it

[artsmom]

Why does there seem to be such a stigma against LTC nurses? It almost feels like that is the bottom of the barrell. Even I thought (while working in LTC) that I needed to move up and out- twice- and hated it both times. I started in a hospital, hated being micro-managed, and went back to a LTC. I stayed for 6 years, got my RN and once again felt the need to move on up to the hospital- where I once again hate it, and for the same reasons! I have finally decided that it is okay to just say I love LTC, and this is where I want to stay. My dreams of being the charge nurse in the ICU and ER are gone. My focus in life is to be where I am happy, and that is with my old people.

I like seeing them, and they appreciate friendly, consistent care. They remember my husband and I bought a house several years ago, and we talk about the work we are doing and the amount of money it costs, and they tell me their new housing days. Or, with my demented patients, we just head off to whereever they are for they day, and discuss related events/news. I even like when I can be a part of their final days- making them comfortable and relaxed, easing their families worries knowing someone they know will be with their loved ones, and so on.

I write this because I excitedly gave my notice at the hospital and am heading back to LTC where I can be happy with the old people (like my 105yr old who swears by bacon and women being educated as requirements for long term survival!).

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

i work in care of the aged. I get along with other staff, patients and families- but not management. This has made me just about unemployable because I tend to be a strong patient advocate and end up in aguments with management.

I worry home care would not be interesting enough. I need to have a very medical role - assessment, wound care and end of life care. I love to care for the most frail in society. I am not really into long social chit chat situations.

Do you think home care would suit me?

Well, I think it all depends. I was given a choice, I could to private duty, or do home visits. Now that I have a set schedule with PDN, I may call my boss back and ask to do home visits. Things like dressing changes (I am not sure if they do wound vacs, I imagine they do maybe), setting up meds, IV's, things like that. I am not an RN (yet) so I can't do case management or TPN.

Someone with a little more experience in home care may be able to give you more details of both parts of the job. Or, even the home care boards have a lot of good info, too.

FWIW, I don't like to chitchat, either, but its not like you have to give your clients your life history! And I also think with all the changes, more elderly will (and should!) be given the chance to be taken care of at home instead of in a nursing home. I think that the habit of "Oh, you can't take care of yourself, you'll have to go to a nursing home," isn't giving them a choice they should be able to make! They make home care ventilators, you CAN have 24 hour nursing care, or a specific amount ordered by the physician, they have companies come to homes to deliver supplies, fill oxygen tanks, etc. Meds are filled by the local pharmacy.

I would say call a home care company in your area and talk to them. You may find it to be just what you thought you didn't like! I was afraid to go into people's homes and be the only nurse, not being able to walk down the hall the get guidance from a manager, etc, but my case manager is either a text or phone call away. My company was willing to give me a chance....some companies require you have home care or acute care experience.

[ellen 12]

^Thank you kind nurse.

[egallardo31]

I've worked in the LTC for a few years playing different roles. I started off as an Activities Assistant, then Receptionist, then Admissions Coordinator. Went into Nursing school and got my LVN. I started my nursing career in this family owned SNF. Although it's not as high paying as my other collegues, I felt the pace was perfect for me. Maybe because being in a LTC was comfortable for me. I've only been a nurse for a little over 2 years, and I'm still learning new things everyday. Just because it's not the ER or the Acute hospital, doesn't mean we're not getting experience. I've learned a lot about time management, priorities, and working with A LOT of different people. I actually encourage the students that do clinicals in our facilities to consider LTC's for a start. We have a lot of support from administration and very experienced nurses who have been in this business 20+ years. Yes, most of the time we get the same kind of Residents with the same ailments, but that gives us a chance to "specialize" in this category. I hope to have a long nursing career and am excited to be able to get into different areas in Nursing.

[SleeepyRN]

Ok, well... how do I put it. Ill just say it. How in the world do you have time to chit chat with your residents (I would LOVE to do this more but there is NO time with 30+ more residents to care for: trachs, g-tubes, charting, charting, charting) I have 1 CNA, no LPN. It takes 3 hours to pass the 9am meds, then there are the 11am, 12pm, 13:00 and 14:00 meds. Those arent TOO bad because only half my residents need meds at that time but I still have to do my assessments and skilled care. The charting for Medicare residents is a killer because they require in depth assessments yet NO time. It sucks. Period. Love the residents, hate the management and their impossible demands and constant threats.

[artsmom, BSN, LPN]

I work and talk. I don't often chat long. We get to know each other little bits at a time. They need us to talk to them- for a lot of them that is all they have.

[SleeepyRN]

I work and talk. I don't often chat long. We get to know each other little bits at a time. They need us to talk to them- for a lot of them that is all they have.

I do talk to my residents, I always ask how their day is going, or when I walk into their room to do something I'll say something like "anything good on TV? If they are watching it. If they participated in some activity during the day, I'll ask about it. But your post sounded to me like you had tons of time to have full on conversations. I was like "where have you worked? I want to work there." But I think the rest of my post answered your question pretty well. Ratios ratios ratios... THAT is the problem. And we're still expected to provide as thorough care as a hospital nurse with 4-5 patients. God knows I love my residents, or else there would be no way I would ever do LTC. The little moments are what I look for and live for.