Assisted Living Nursing

I started in assisted living in Jan 09, accepted the job right after graduation and before even taking my NCLEX. I thought it was going to be an easy first job, and what I wanted since I continued on into RN program full-time (now in second sem).

My "just a first job" thought has turned into "how can I get experience in a hospital next year when I grad from RN WITHOUT having to quit my job?" I love where I work. It all depends on the assisted living where you work I'm sure, but where I work there's one staff nurse per shift with 5 aides. There's a Wellness Director (my supervisor) and the administrator (who's an RN). We have about 60 residents, with about 35 being on our med pass. There is an area that is truly nursing home-like, but mostly it is assisted living. We have a physician who's on call and visits weekly, and she's amazing and available. The administrator and I e-mail at least a few times a week...9 times out of 10 if I say something, I'll see results or changes soon after our "chats", which mainly include issues with residents or ways of improving something or another.

The best thing is that I'm able to make a difference...I see something, am able to change it. I feel that I'm able to be the kind of nurse I want to be, which for me involves providing holistic care and considering the pt as a "whole person". There's so much independence and the nurse is able to be as little-involved or as much as the nurse chooses...there's another nurse where I work who sits and reads, won't lift a finger other than to do her pill passing, and I'm sure would have an entirely different opinion of the experience from mine, for ex.

I do clinicals on med-surg floor and every week am more and more certain of my desire to be out of the hospital setting and stay where I am. It's too bad that AL nurses don't tend to get the respect that they deserve, and this is the only thing that worries me, as I want to eventually like I said be a NP (working in geriatrics).

I have been working in al for almost a year, this is after working in LTC previous, We have a RN on call and staffed with 2 LPN , I am the PM supervisor, I manage the nursing office, f/u with MD orders, Monthly POS, ISP's and answering questions from non licensed staff,assess residents after falls or other injuries, and change of conditions, manage medication ordering, admissions, supervision of staff,etc.. whatever comes my way I manage, we are also on call for a couple days a week, I work 4 days a week and no holidays or weekends, the cna staff do all med passes and and minor treatments, complex treatments are done by visiting nurses, We are limited by the things we can do because of the CBRF license, but I love it. I always wanted to do the managing side of nursing, I will probably stay here for a long time. I don't miss the stress of LTC nursing and our staff are awesome and facility is beautiful. ( It is a 60 bed unit)Nursing skills such as caths. etc aren't used but I have learn so much more.

Al was my first job and still is. I work full time days and it's busy. I do learn alot but also worried about losing my skills. I love being involved with the residents and making a difference. I really just love my residents.

I hated the ALF/SNF when I was in school during clinicals. Now I love it!!!! After getting to know the residents, they aren't just patients.... That is there home, and where they live. I want them to feel comfortable in their home, and love getting to know them. They're funny and have great stories! I love geriatrics, but it's not for everyone! Plus, it's sad when they expire, but it's good to know that you made their last days great!

I too love old people and truly want to work in an ALF but I'm scared. Too many falls/accidents/paperwork etc. for only 8 hrs. I'm not FAST enough. No one trains good is what I'm seeing. They just throw someone at you and say here...admit them. WT??? They did that in the nursing home too, and I quit the same night.