Questions about LPN duties in nursing home

I think working in LTC, is the same as working in a hospital, except you have more patients, and less people around in case something goes wrong.

You just keep going out and checking your patients. There are always going to be the ones that need more care, ie trachs, feeding tubes, IV's ect, and also the emotionally unstable pts.

You get more patients at night than the day or pm shift, and you get additional paperwork and duties. You also get the responsiblity of the MARS/TARS.

You get the attitudes from other shifts who believe you sit around and do nothing all night.

Personally the only reason I work nights is to keep away from management. Management in LTC usually is very demanding. I choose not to be involved in that. Days/PM's also have to deal with State Inspectors. I choose also to steer clear of that.

I have a healthy respect for AM/PM nurses. But, I have worked both shifts, and understand the good and bad of thoses shifts. The main difference is you have a protocal to follow, but you are your own boss, you make your own schedule, (within limits of course), and you just work until you think you can't take another step, then you do-take another step, and just keep going.

You sigh with relief when you get into your car.

Of course then there is waking up at 4pm and finding kids starving. Try making dinner when you first wake up. I think personal life can be more hetic for the night nurse. But, I am a single mom, and life is hetic anyway. You will be able to go to school meetings and bring your kids to the doctors, but that is like waking up at 3am and doing it, you will have to work hard on getting your rest and finding the proper balance.