Long term care isn't for me - does this mean I'm not cut out for nursing?

Nurses Career Support

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Hi everyone -

I'm applying for an ADN program to start this fall, and in the meantime I decided that volunteering might be a good thing for me to do to get an idea of whether nursing is right for me. (It would be a second career for me). The local hospital volunteer program told me that I wouldn't get much real patient interaction there, and that I should try volunteering at their 115 bed LTC facility.

I'm on my second week as a volunteer in the LTC facility now, and I already know that it isn't something I'd want to be doing. I find the environment there to be extremely depressing - most of the people are not alert and some are on feeding tubes or catatonic. The smell in there is really terrible as well - a combination of bleach & cleaning chemicals, urine & sometimes strong feces. I am pretty much just changing ice water, but from observing the staff I can say that the work looks to be depressing and quite boring as well.

So I'm worried now that this might be an indication that I'm heading down the wrong path. I know nurses work HARD and that the work can often be emotionally draining. But I'm looking for advice as to whether it might just be the long term care environment that is wrong for me, & how to figure out if that's the case. I chose to apply for nursing school because I am looking for something to do where I can use my brain and heart, have some meaning in my career, and quite honestly to be able to have some job security and flexibility.

Any advice/experiences would be much appreciated.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

What you are experiencing is such a SMALL slice of nursing!!! There are so many different ways to go in this field... I think there is something for everyone, you just have to find it!! While you are in school, something will spark your interest, and you'll know what you want to do. Before I went to school, I thought I would like OB/L&D nursing, but found out I really had no interest in the area. Turned out cardiac stuff really interested me, and it was easy for me to understand. So I got a job as a CNA on a telemetry floor, when I graduated, my 1st job was on telemetry, now I work in ICU. I love it!! I can't imagine doing anything else, but all paths are open in nursing!! Just by browsing this board you should be able to see how many different things there are...Good Luck!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Believe me, LTC is far from the only kind of nursing there is......the possibilities are almost limitless! Of course, in the process of becoming a nurse you'll have to 'do some time' in the nursing home, it's part of the clinicals, but you don't have to stay there.......I know, LTC can suck the life right out of you---it did me after I'd been in it for a few years---but there are (thankfully) many nurses who love it, and even if it's not your 'thing', there certainly will be some area of nursing that is. Good luck!

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I had classmates drop out of school due to the time spent in LTC. Had others make it through LTC to drop out in the med/surg rotation. Everybody has a breaking point.

Some dropped out because they couldn't handle the incontinence, others dropped because their patient died, others couldn't stand the way they saw qualified staff being treated by the families and the system.

I made it through by telling myself that it was only two months out of my life. Iworked specialized LTC in day programmes and respite units for three years, but unless you love geriatrics, it will suck the life out of you.

Thats how I landed in active treatment and found my niche. If nursing is for you, you will find your space...

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We didn't do any time in LTC while I was in nursing school. My clinicals were spent in either an ortho floor or med/surg. We did a little bit of OB.

I agree that LTC is a small slice of nursing. A valuable and honorable slice but small.

The world is really wide open for a nurse - there are so many fields to choose from.

Don't judge how you will feel about nursing by how you feel about one speciality.

I really thought I'd love OB/L&D . .. guess what, I'm not all that crazy about it.

You are getting good advice here. . . keep your options open and maybe try to shadow a nurse in an area you think you might like. I have a friend who wanted to be a NICU nurse from the get-go and went there almost immediately and still loves it 7 years later.

steph

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I believe that Long Term Care Nurses are very special ppl. I do realize that not all LTC's are the same. I am blessed to work for a facility as their DON that compassion matters, having fun matters, hugs matters, and quality of care MATTERS! I have the cream of the crop CNA's and Nurses, the houskeepers are outstanding and love our residents, our dietary dept is the best that anyone could want! Don't give up on nursing, there are so many areas to go into, when you find your niche, you will know what nursing is all about. There is something for everyone!

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

See...That is what makes our profession so wonderful! We are all so different, and are all attracted to different areas of practice. What is boring to one is exciting to another (thank goodness!!!) I think it's kind of funny how sometimes it's the exact thing that one person hates about a specialty that another person likes the best!!

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Heck no! I could never do LTC -- it's too depressing, since most places are poorly funded & hence poorly staffed.

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Specializes in NICU.

I did volunteer work on an OB/Peds unit, and during nursing school, I ran that service. Also I was able to get a job as an aide, sometimes on the same unit, sometimes on med/surg.

All volunteer organizations are different, if you have other hospitals around, go knocking on some doors.

I couldn't deal with LTC, either.

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I agree with everyone else. There are so many ways to go with nursing.

I also wanted to add that not all LTC's are the same. I have worked at

a couple like you describe and didn't stay long. I also found it depressing.

But luckily for those who live there other nurses don't see it the same. I do

love working in LTC and have found facilities to work at completely different than what you describe. I find this area of nursing very rewarding. You

just have to find your niche. That's one of the great things about clinicals...

you get to experience many different areas. Hang in there. One of the many nice things about nursing is you can change areas if you want. : )

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Like everyone has said, there are a lot of different types of nursing. I am, however, concerned about your particular sensitivity to smells. Bad smells are a part of nursing. Since this is a big decision, which will require you to put in a lot of effort, I think it might be good to write down what you think you want to do as a nurse- not specialty but actually how you think your schedule daily would be, what things you would have to deal with, what things you would enjoy, and then speak to a nurse and find out if her day is anything like the one you imagine. LTC is certainly not like all other nursing. But there are elements of it in almost all other nursing. Before I went overseas, I worked in emergency, and even there, sometimes all I did all day long was treat ladies for PID.... boring and yuccky, but I liked it. Or best option I can think of, get a job as a CNA. If you can work as a CNA and enjoy that, you are definitely going to succeed and enjoy nursing....

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Specializes in Long Term Care.
I believe that Long Term Care Nurses are very special ppl. I do realize that not all LTC's are the same. I am blessed to work for a facility as their DON that compassion matters, having fun matters, hugs matters, and quality of care MATTERS! I have the cream of the crop CNA's and Nurses, the houskeepers are outstanding and love our residents, our dietary dept is the best that anyone could want! Don't give up on nursing, there are so many areas to go into, when you find your niche, you will know what nursing is all about. There is something for everyone!

I realize that all DON's may not have the cream of the crop employees but when I read what you had to say about your staff made my chest puff up in pride. I don't believe our DON would ever even think to be complimentary much less actually do it.. YOUR STAFF is lucky to have you ....

Sue

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