new nurse HATES LTC

[bluegeegoo2]

After working in LTC for 7 months, I have come to the conclusion I hate LTC. I am entirely disenchanted with nursing already, as it is NOTHING like I thought it would be. I didn't expect to swoop in a save everyone and sprinkle fairy dust around and watch people magically heal. I realize a lot of these folks are here until death, and I'm O.K. with that part of it. But I decided to be a nurse because I wanted to make a difference in someones' life like, get them to smile even though they've had a bad day, or make someone laugh who is feeling down, or just help someone manage their pain. But, all I do is pass meds as quickly as possible, chart, do tx's as quickly as possible, everything is hurry, hurry, hurry! Right now I'm on a 60-bed Alzheimer's unit, working 7p-7a, so most of them are asleep, which limits my ability to "chat" with them anyway. I am usually by myself from 11p-7a which means I spend all of my time doing paperwork and preparing for 0600 med pass. Is there something else I can do as a LPN who's only been licensed for 4 1/2 months? (I worked the other 2 1/2 months as an aide while waiting to test). Most places around here want 1 year experience as a nurse. I don't think I can hang on for another 7 months just trying to gain experience. To complicate matters, I am going back to school in May to start pre-req's for the RN program, which limits my availability. Any suggestions will be appreciated. And thank you for letting me whine.

[bluegeegoo2, LPN]

UPDATE:

Well, I finally had enough and quit. I really feel bad about the residents I have grown attached to. But the politics have gotten the best of me. Let me explain. The 1st shift people are the "chosen ones", that no matter what they do, they never get a reprimand. Those of us "red-headed step-children" (no offense to red-headed step-children) that work 2nd or 3rds get wrote up for every little thing we do. The nurse that followed me would go out of her way to "check" my work and run to the supervisor with everything she would find. Like, where I forgot to initial a med, or didn't fill out the proper form, etc. I know it sounds petty, but this woman, just last night, found a man on the floor just when I came on the unit (at 15 'til, I try to be early so the former shift and I can count and they can leave), and just told me it happened and left me to do all of the paperwork, calls, etc. There is no teamwork between shifts, it's an "us against them" attitude throughout the building. I have had several seasoned nurses tell me they have never worked anywhere that the cattiness and backstabbing have been so bad. What makes it worse is that the unit coordinators, and even the DON won't back me. They brush me off by telling me that "they don't see it" or something else demoralizing. I realize that things like that will go on pretty much anywhere, but I do sincerely hope to a lesser degree. Most days 1st shift wouldn't even acknowledge that I even existed. I would try to tell them about a particular person, and they would just go on like I wasn't even there. Also, (I'm on a roll), if I had a med or tx ordered for a person at noc, the 1st shift nurse would immediately have it changed or d/c'd in the morning. EVERY TIME. I know I'm being whiney and over-sensitive but I'm just TIRED. I guess these last 7 months of putting up with this crap have turned me sour on LTC. I'll give it another go, just at another facility. They can't all be that bad. I just hope like hell I'm not proven wrong.

[Cindy_A]

While it's true you won't get to spend as mcuh time with the residents, like I said in an earlier post, I hope you find a new place that is a much better place for you. Good Luck!

[BayouLPN]

Good Luck...The facility I do prn at is the ONLY facility I will do PRN at. Because of all the politics you just mentioned. Even at the FBC where I am now...I am one of the red-headed step-children and red-headed to boot. hehe. Right now, day shift talks about all of us, but the shift leads are the ones doing battle. Got to say, on both sides the girls are holding their own. And stand up for their own shifts. I suppose it is like this in alot of places. Some are better than others. Just hang in there and don't let a few bad apples ruin your whole applecart. You will find your place in the sun. AND as I mentioned earlier...put your ap in everywhere that you think you want to work. I never thought I would get called for the position I am in BUT..VOILA. Here I am. :bby:

[bluegeegoo2, LPN]

So, my DON called me this morning and invited me to come in to at least discuss what had happened. I agreed. So, I am now re-employed at the same facility, with some major changes. She offered me a 6-12's/pay period on days, (I get to sleep at night again!!!), a raise, and the chance to go back to the skilled unit. (Which I love). Now, for the "eating crow" part. I feel entirely foolish for quitting like that. It was very immature of me, and was a lesson learned. I'm old enough to know better, but let emotion get the best of me. I very honestly didn't quit to negotiate a better position and better pay, but I do feel guilty for the way I acted, and to be rewarded for it makes it even worse. Any advice on how to handle the inevitable stresses of nursing? What works for you? How do you deal with difficult co-workers? Please, PLEASE let me know. I really do want to be a nurse, but am seriously lacking in survival skills necessary to "make it" in nursing. Feel free to be hard on me. Mi madre says that's the only way I seem to learn. And thank you all for responding to my incessant whining. I'm working on that, too.

[BayouLPN]

OK Blue...I am not going to be hard on you. While I have not had to quit to get a point across (like I said my LTC has a great DON/owner), I have several classmates who have had to do just what you did. My best friend quit her facility three (3) times and threatened to a dozen more. Fortunately and unfortunately that is what it took for them to stop running over her. The last time she quit was for a home health position and they are still calling her for PRN. She told them she would for the same rate they pay agency. They said no, she said kiss my butt. They said come in and we will talk. Don't feel bad about standing up for yourself. My husband & I have talked about how this crazy world seems to operate in the opposite of how our integrity would like for us to. I don't know how I handle the stress. Some days like this morning, I sit on here and read different posts. Almost always I find one that lets me know I am not alone. Sometimes I start a thread, (which I am going to do shortly). Others I read...fiction and take a tylenol pm. Sometimes my hair just stands on end and everybody including the dogs leave me alone. My favorite, which is on a rare occasion, is to bounce over to the local casino, put $5 in a penny machine, get a free bloody mary. Take my $5 out. And enjoy my free drink. hehehe. I don't have those survival skills yet either having only been at this for a year and a half. But, someday. As for difficult co-workers....hmmm. My grandmother, who is my hero, has a saying..."kill 'em with kindness" I usually just don't deal with someone who is difficult anymore than I have to but when necessary...I am so sweet you could use me as a sugar substitute. They end up looking even more the fool when I give them no reason to be difficult or nasty to me. I did lose my cool once with a co-worker who thrives on baiting people. Turns out she could dish it but couldn't take it. She ended up apologizing to me but not until we went several days without speaking. I continued to work with her...we worked side by side when a lady fell face first out of her w/c and was bleeding all over without saying a word to each other. I handled her other pt that decided to vomit everwhere in the middle of that catastophe to include charting & calling the dr, writing the new orders, ordering meds...all of it. In the end...she came back to me and said "thank you, I know I have been an #$*%. I think just sticking it out and not bringing it home with you is the best way to let the time go by. One day, we will be the seasoned nurses, looking at all the new nurses struggling and coping. Here's hoping you have a great day....Bayou