Nurses Enjoy LTC

[Juwon]

I hear so many complaints about Long Term Care Nursing such as the patient load, having to take shortcuts in order to leave on time, and feeling like a pill pusher, etc, I was wondering does any nurses enjoy LTC nursing? It seems like LTC is like a spit in the face to many nurses if they are not in an acute care setting. With that being said, what do you like about working in LTC?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

It isn't even so much the pace of Acute that I dislike. Given the climate that we are forced to work in at the moment (lack of staff and resources), I don't want to work any of these units. I worked an 80 bed med unit. I got tired of running around, looking for basic supplies to do my job. Being given extra patients every day because they refused to replace sick calls. 20 year nurses crying at the end of their shift. So until things change, I refuse to subject myself to that. LTC does have its drawbacks, but at least I know I can get my work done without feeling like I want to pull my hair out every night. And, the major bonus is the residents. They are priceless.

[ratchet333]

When you go from long term care it will make you sick how Doctors office staff treat elderly patients ... How they talk behind their backs ... It made me run back to Ltc because thats where Im needed but I did give feed back on sensitivity to the geriatric population it made me sick to my stomach

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

People who are mean and insensitive to seniors will see one day. We all get old, and karma's a b****

[Geslina, BSN, RN]

Those of us who are drawn to LTC prefer the same low-stress routine and like to have an idea of what we're walking into when we arrive at work. I don't enjoy excitement, a fast pace, chaos, moving with a sense of urgency, constant admissions and discharges, or anything that typifies working in an acute care hospital setting.

This is the beauty of nursing. Thank goodness there's something to satisfy the different personalities of the nurses who enter this career pathway. :)

I feel the same way. I am not a younger nurse, and I have no desire to run around and try everything and experience everything. Though it can be routine, especially depending on your shift, LTC is far from dull. Yes, it tends to be the same patients over and over, but there are a lot of good things about that - you really do develop relationships with them. The emotional rewards are wonderful, but knowing them also makes assessing them easier. It makes me sad when I hear people talk about LTC as if it is something to be avoided - these are our elderly, and I think the derision I sometimes see shows a lack of concern and respect for them. Many of them have already suffered the worst - being dropped off by their loved ones, never to see them again. They deserve the same loving care as any other patient, and I feel that in this area of nursing, love and kindness are even more important.

I like LTC and can see myself staying with it for a long time....besides, in my area, the pay in the local hospitals has been dropping, and now it is just about the same as LTC pay - maybe even less!

[KRSLPN, LPN]

When I first became a nurse my first position was in LTC, I stayed there for 1.5 years and took a position in acute care because I felt, at the time, that if I wanted to become an experienced nurse I had to work in a hospital. I stayed there for 9.5 years before returning to LTC because it became clear to me that the acute care setting was no longer as attractive as it once seemed.

There are days I like my job and there are those days that I want to run like hell for the door. The biggest thing I don't like about it is the different type of residents we see now. Gone are the days of the grandma and grandpa types, we are seeing a lot more of the psych background resident.

[acedit]

So happy to have found this thread! I just began school in January of this year. While I know that plans and goals may change over time, at this point I do feel that I would love to work with the elderly. I had become quite discouraged reading about LTC centers' negative sides. Your responses have encouraged me!

[Geslina, BSN, RN]

well, don't be fooled into thinking that LTC is easy, or low stress....I work my behind off. Running constantly. We have staff shortages just like other areas of nursing. And dealing with patients with dementia is very demanding. The job itself is not difficult, the main headache is getting all your work done in the time allotted for it!! The rewards are wonderful, though, I really do love the patients ( most of them, that is ) but it is true that there is not a heck of a lot of variety. Still, good caring nurses are needed in LTC, the elderly deserve the best we can give them!