Alert & Oriented & I want to go home

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Specializes in OB,HH.

So I just finished my 10th orientation shift, 4 days, 4 pms and 2 nites. HOW do you LTCers DO THIS? and WHY?

The massive med passes, the endless confusing supply of clipboards, flowsheets and ring binders, the lom who yells CONSTANTLY and takes swings at anyone who tries to help him, the primadonna in 208 who wants her grapes peeled in between her 8 neb treatments with sats of 98% and her 40 million vitamins/eye drops etc, the sniping complaining night shift, the just plain wierd long timers and the scared out of their wits brand new LPNs who dont even know how to insert a foley yet but have 32 residents to care for, the family that wants crazy old dad taken off his Seroquel cuz its the drugs fault he acts like that........ you know I could go on and on.

I am not cut out for this kind of nursing and honestly dont know how you do it day in and day out. The job market is a desert here and I will do what I have to for now but Im praying this doesnt have to be it for long.

sorry for the rant, but I needed to say that to someone who might get it.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Ambulatory Care.

Sorry you do not like LTC. I personally love it. It is not the perfect work environment, but what is? Thing I love about nursing is that there is something for everyone. I hope you find the job for you. I asked my admin one day why he chose LTC and he said "At least it is never boring" If unrealistic families, yelling residents, primadonnas, and cranky staff bother you, then LTC is not for you. I hope you find your niche in nursing. Good Luck

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Specializes in Geriatrics and Quality Improvement,.

Well, in between all that is someone that needs to hold my hand, someone that is trying to die peacefully, someone that is trying to get well enough to go home, and those who say thanks for simple efforts on my behalf, like getting them ready for therapy, or on the toilet before they soil themselves.

Between the family who is trying to take the guy off meds becuase he wasnt like that before, and the family who wants to increase the antianxiety meds, because the guy is always nervous...(What a cute little guy he was too, and not at all nervous, just demented and somewhat confused.) there is an experience that only someone over the age of 70 can give to you. Cant tell ya what it is, you gotta just experience it. and not every body does. If you stay focused on the job and how much you hate it, you may never get it either.

I guess I have been doing it and training others to do it for 17 years, because I had it. I got it in Nursing School. And although long dead, she is in my memory forever. One day I may even think she is my mother, when I have dementia.

Get past the craziness, and into the job, hopefully you get it too. It is crazy. No doubt, but also rewarding. Just like any field of Nursing you may choose to work in after this.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

To SitcomNurse:

What a joy your post was to read. My first job was LTC and I loved it. Time, circumstances led me to another area of nursing, but I remember those days.

I measure every job I ever had against that first one.

To the OP. Best of luck to you as you find the area of nursing that makes you happy.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I hope you will find an area of nursing you enjoy. For me, there is nothing sweeter than a geriatric pt. Sure, dementia got it's wicked hands on some of them, but do you think they were always like that? Just imagine that it if YOU (or your parent or grandparent) living in that facility. How would you like to be treated?

For every PIA family member, there are two who think you are wonderful and give their family member the best care possible. For every screaming, demanding pt for whom NOTHING is ever right, there are two pts that will bring a smile to your lips.

Sure, there's lots and lots of paper work (mostly CYA) and a neverending med pass, but that's LTC. It takes a nurse at least 3 or 4 months to really feel comfortable in LTC. Besides that, where else can you go to work and have 2 or 3 marriage proposals a day? LOL! It seems I have a "boyfriend" on every hall. I'm a hospice nurse and I visit 7-8 pts 2 to 3 times a week in an LTC. It's amazing what a smile can do for some of these folks...not just my pts, but the others who are sitting in their w/c just waiting for someone to speak to them.

It seems to me, that as a nation, we treat our elders the worst of any other group of people. We need more GOOD nurses working in LTC. My hats off to all of you who work LTC! :yeah::yeah::yeah:

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
So I just finished my 10th orientation shift, 4 days, 4 pms and 2 nites. HOW do you LTCers DO THIS? and WHY?

The massive med passes, the endless confusing supply of clipboards, flowsheets and ring binders, the lom who yells CONSTANTLY and takes swings at anyone who tries to help him, the primadonna in 208 who wants her grapes peeled in between her 8 neb treatments with sats of 98% and her 40 million vitamins/eye drops etc, the sniping complaining night shift, the just plain wierd long timers and the scared out of their wits brand new LPNs who dont even know how to insert a foley yet but have 32 residents to care for, the family that wants crazy old dad taken off his Seroquel cuz its the drugs fault he acts like that........ you know I could go on and on.

I am not cut out for this kind of nursing and honestly dont know how you do it day in and day out. The job market is a desert here and I will do what I have to for now but Im praying this doesnt have to be it for long.

sorry for the rant, but I needed to say that to someone who might get it.[/quoteA

Are you a new grad or just new to LTC? Regardless of speciality, the first year of nursing is pretty miserable and humbling. It sounds like you're feeling overwhelmed and underprepared. The time management skills will come - however, they're pretty far up on the learning curve and it will take tincture of time. The person with the nebulizer tx. at 98% sat. Get it discontinued.

Don't pay attention to snipers. Take a yoga class. It will serve you in for the rest of your life. Realize that other people have a tough time at work but no one has it rougher than the patients. Until my mother required LTC, I didn't think about it much but a whole her world opened up to me when I saw the power you all have to improve someone's life. It's VERY IMPORTANT work!

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Specializes in LTC, Restorative and MDS.

I am a new grad and my first job is in a LTC. Yes, I am one of the grads who swore in NS that I would "NEVER" work in a nursing home. What is the saying, never say never! I absolutely adore my job! Not everyone is cut out for LTC. Med pass can get overwhelming. Along with tube feeding, neb treatments, wound care (we also have rehab). I get up every morning (at 3am) not dreading the day. I hope you find your dream job. I have found mine!

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The title of this post cracked me up. I hope it gets better!

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Well, I just left LTC for a hospital gig and I must say, I miss a lot of it. I miss being able to actually know a patient's history, to actually make a lasting difference in people's lives. I now have a big six patients and given how hospitals operate just giving meds to them is ridiculously cumbersome and time-consuming. I will be staying here because I'm enjoying the learning, but LTC has a lot to recommend it and I can see myself returning to it in a few years.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

I do not work LTC but my med-surg floor does get alot of medical pt's who are elderly. And they are my absolute favorite. Unfortunately I do not get to be with them long and they are sick when they come to us.

Other than I already like my job, I would love to work with elderly more. (thought I wanted ICU or ER when I graduated, boy was I wrong)

To the OP: I hope you find what you love. There is nothing like it.

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Well, in between all that is someone that needs to hold my hand, someone that is trying to die peacefully, someone that is trying to get well enough to go home, and those who say thanks for simple efforts on my behalf, like getting them ready for therapy, or on the toilet before they soil themselves.

Between the family who is trying to take the guy off meds becuase he wasnt like that before, and the family who wants to increase the antianxiety meds, because the guy is always nervous...(What a cute little guy he was too, and not at all nervous, just demented and somewhat confused.) there is an experience that only someone over the age of 70 can give to you. Cant tell ya what it is, you gotta just experience it. and not every body does. If you stay focused on the job and how much you hate it, you may never get it either.

.....

Get past the craziness, and into the job, hopefully you get it too. It is crazy. No doubt, but also rewarding. Just like any field of Nursing you may choose to work in after this.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Its crazy & its demanding & its sad & it'll make you laugh & want to cry. It gets easier with time and then you'll have a minute or two to sit with your patients & realize how truly awesome these little old ladies & gents are. And if its not for you, its not for you.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

How and why? Because from the time the alarm clock went off in the am until 2 hours after my shift ended and I was finally able to clock out I was just damn grateful that I had a job. Then I finally got the swing of it and it wasn't bad. I liked my patients and got used to their families (90% of the families is gaining their trust by listening to them, taking them seriously, and caring about their loved one.) It can be really rewarding, you have to keep your mind open.

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