RN in nursing home

pearybRN · Dec 24, 2013

Finally A nurse who believes that nursing is about giving of one self and working with the elderly and in firmed is part of that process.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2013

RN's truly have a place in LTC. It can be a great place to learn prioritization and hone assessment skills - RN programs focus on development critical thinking skills. Up until recently, the only difference in scope of practice in my state r/t IV push meds. Now, it also must be an RN to dc PICC lines and complete admission assessments.

It can take some time to build rapport with your co-workers, but an an RN you can serve as a role model and a resource.

LPN programs tend to focus on the practical skills - so assessment is one area that they have to develop "on the job" many times. Many LPN programs also devote little class time to emergency response. These are just two areas where having a RN can benefit LTC if they are willing to mentor and teach their co-workers.

LTC patients are becoming higher acuity and with the insurance changes, this is likely to continue.

I am one of those who stays in LTC by choice:)

Runninonempty · Dec 24, 2013

it is so hard for me to understand how you could work in long term care and say you hate it. nursing homes are something that we all need at some point or another. the elderly are precious and at time aggravating and yet they have more wisdom in their little toe than i have in my whole head. the care of the elderly is a joy. you do have to be called to work in one i think. i have always loved working with them and my daughter works as the rn at a nursing home full time and at hospise part time.she has always loved older people and that's the way it should be with the staff that work in nursing homes,
if the nursing home is really not for you then you do need to look elsewhere. good luck and i am sorry that your heart is not into nursing the elderly. they have so much to offer.

I have a love hate relationship with my job. I adore my patients every one of them they make me laugh and sometimes cry and drive me nuts all at the same time. I enjoy taking care of my patients. The problem with LTC is poor staff to patient ratio among the other numerous issues I can name. So people that hate LTC don't hate the job they do but hate the standards of the job. I'd love a hospital job I'd actually love doing a geriatric floor in the hospital because in a hospital I'd have better ratios, better benefits and better job security

dandelion9 · Dec 29, 2013

I love nursing with the Geri population. LOVE IT. However, I had to leave LTC because of all of the barriers to providing quality care that were imposed upon staff in the attempt to save a nickel. I am not green enough or naive enough to believe that healthcare isn't about money, either. I realize that. But it says something when you are ashamed to run into the patient's family because of the fact that you can't deliver the quality of care that their parent deserves. Not safety or anything that should be reported, per-se (because I would have reported it in a heartbeat) but pretty much every other aspect it seemed like (at the end anyway). But, then again, I have extremely high standards for myself, and a lot of respect for the elderly.

This may not be the case in all LTC facilities. I am sure there are wonderful places out there. But that is what I experienced in two facilities in the tiny little corner of America in which I live. If it were different, I wouldn't mind going back. Maybe someday I'll be in a position to invoke change.

RN's absolutely have a place in LTC, and not just administration.