Put off by LTC

EmerNurse, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2007

Ok so I'm a big mouth and have gotten way over the new-grad shivers over time. Try this, if you really don't mind looking for another job if you have to.

Keep track for a shift of what you do. How many dressings, how many diaper changes, how many pills you passed (exactly how many, not how many patients), how many g-tubes you cleared, how many people you turned, how many folks you picked up from nearly falling on the floor, how many aids you had to search for and how many times, you get the picture.

Then the moment someone tells you you slept, whip out your list. "Look, last night I passed 1,354 pills, crushed 927 of them, changed 19 dressings, cleaned 38 butts, made 16 beds, searched for 2 aids 19 times, found them 6 times, peed for a total of 2.4 minutes, ate for 1.7 minutes, charted on 37 people in handwriting you can read, called 4 doctors, called 3 doctors AGAIN, took out 8 bags of trash, bathed 8 people, two of them twice and did it all in EIGHT hours. If you do'nt think I did enough, YOU try it. Here's report, have a nice day .

That should shut 'em up. Folks will stamp on you if you let them. If you know you're doing everything you can and doing a good job, stand up for it. If they never get off your back, despite your good job, bow out and let them find someone else who wants to do all of the above!

Good luck!

dst7971 · Feb 3, 2007

Oh I feel so bad for you! Have you tried speaking to your unit mgr and discussing the issues you are having. I am a unit mgr in a LTC facility and it is rough. This is my first expereince in LTC nad it is quite different. Although people tell me that all LTC facilities are not bad. Get the experience and then leave or find another position, but don't quit.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2007

I would find another job stat. This kind of attitude comes from above and it will not change.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2007

I would find another job stat. This kind of attitude comes from above and it will not change.

I totally agree, dont' take the obuse! You're too valuable as a new nurse to hang with such a tough go. Get out now and find something amenable to you.

Soup Turtle · Feb 4, 2007

Then the moment someone tells you you slept, whip out your list. "Look, last night I passed 1,354 pills, crushed 927 of them, changed 19 dressings, cleaned 38 butts, made 16 beds, searched for 2 aids 19 times, found them 6 times, peed for a total of 2.4 minutes, ate for 1.7 minutes, charted on 37 people in handwriting you can read, called 4 doctors, called 3 doctors AGAIN, took out 8 bags of trash, bathed 8 people, two of them twice and did it all in EIGHT hours. If you do'nt think I did enough, YOU try it. Here's report, have a nice day .

:roll

CHATSDALE · Feb 4, 2007

ok quitting with notice is not bailing out

write out with names and dates everything and hand it to don as a exit interview...

find another job, [before you quit] . .go back to school..it will pay off in the end

Simplepleasures · Feb 4, 2007

ok quitting with notice is not bailing out
write out with names and dates everything and hand it to don as a exit interview...
find another job, [before you quit] . .go back to school..it will pay off in the end

Yes, I agree, LPNs are a dying breed, I know Im going to get nay sayers here, but it is harder to find jobs , even in LTC.

kiszi, RN · Feb 4, 2007

please don't give up on ltc!! there are better facilities out there. where i work, disappearing aides is not tolerated. in fact, last night two of my aides were ticked cause they thought the third one had left the floor w/o telling anyone==turns out she was busy taking vitals. and if i ask them to do something, they darn well better do it, or expect a write up! i know they're busy and i try to only ask for stuff that would put me behind too much if i did it, like taking 20 pulse ox's and two full sets of vitals nightly. they know that i'll help them too, answering a lite or putting a bottom on a bedpan. it's all about give and take. trust and respect. there are certain aides i prefer to work with, and those i do not. but all of them know what their job is and know the consequences of not doing it.

med times aren't changed without good reason.... 7-3 has the bulk of the meds, 3-11 next. not that many meds get scheduled for me on 11-7 since i have twice as many residents. dressing changes? rarely. usually only if it's supposed to be changed q shift.

it sounds like you're in a toxic environment that can't be helped with a write up to an aide or a complaint to management. my advice is to start interviewing for other facilities, and ask lots of questions. pay close attention to what they say, and what they don"t say. one place i interviewed for prior to my current job, the manager interviewing me said "we're training new aides on night shift constantly." not exactly a good sign.

whether you decide to give ltc another shot or not, i wish you the best. may many blessings come your way.

k

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happy super bowl sunday!

go colts!!!!!!

ejsmom · Feb 5, 2007

WOW... thanks everyone. I have two offers on the table that I'm considering...very carefully. Great idea about an exit interview. I have already started to write down a list and can't wait to hand it in w/ my letter of resignation...w/ a smile on my face from ear to ear.:roll

Thanks again everyone.

KellieNurse06 · Feb 5, 2007

Well, I decided that the facility where I am is def. not for me. I work 11-7 on a pretty busy floor, trachs, Gtubes, etc. 3-11 leaves me all of their work and 7-3 blames me for everything that they can. Med times are changed at random daily so that they have to be given on my shift, even if the res has been on it for months.The aides are terrible. They don't want to be asked to do anything and disappear off of the floor for hours at a time. They are known to tell the nurses to "do it yourself you make more money". The problem is that this is my first job in LTC and even though I have gotten job offers recently I don't want to this anymore. I'm totally disgusted w/ the way that the aides' work, with how the res are treated and how the shifts spend more time fighting over who does what than actually working. I went back to nursing school to help people not sit in my car on they way home and get upset because I was accused of sleeping all night because someone left a sheet on a chair. I'm nervous to take another position in LTC, but as an LPN there is nothing out there. Everyone wants RNs and I can't afford to back at this point, I just graduated and wanted at least one year experience before going back, instead I'm bailing after 5 months. I'm very upset over this.
Any advice?

wow..that's so sad...nothing worse than hating a job you have to go to everyday....Maybe you can try working for the state? They have group homes that have like 5 or 6 residents living in them , like a regular house.....and it's much better than some LTC facilities..... I know 2 nurses who have worked in one for years..and they get full benefits and really good pay for only 20 hours a week........maybe consider that? I think you can go onto your states website & look at job openings...and even possibly apply on them...I even applied but they told me (in my state) they they use mostly LPN's and have only 1 RN for the house.....so there is one option for you.....Don't know about your state but jujst giving you that little idea in case you maybe weren't aware.....good luck!

TrickieTam · Feb 6, 2007

Ok so I'm a big mouth and have gotten way over the new-grad shivers over time. Try this, if you really don't mind looking for another job if you have to.
Keep track for a shift of what you do. How many dressings, how many diaper changes, how many pills you passed (exactly how many, not how many patients), how many g-tubes you cleared, how many people you turned, how many folks you picked up from nearly falling on the floor, how many aids you had to search for and how many times, you get the picture.
Then the moment someone tells you you slept, whip out your list. "Look, last night I passed 1,354 pills, crushed 927 of them, changed 19 dressings, cleaned 38 butts, made 16 beds, searched for 2 aids 19 times, found them 6 times, peed for a total of 2.4 minutes, ate for 1.7 minutes, charted on 37 people in handwriting you can read, called 4 doctors, called 3 doctors AGAIN, took out 8 bags of trash, bathed 8 people, two of them twice and did it all in EIGHT hours. If you do'nt think I did enough, YOU try it. Here's report, have a nice day .
That should shut 'em up. Folks will stamp on you if you let them. If you know you're doing everything you can and doing a good job, stand up for it. If they never get off your back, despite your good job, bow out and let them find someone else who wants to do all of the above!
Good luck!

Talk about nipping it in the bud!!! You all right with me EmerNurse! That is one way to shut them up cause many folks have a cloudy view as to what happens at night.