Does anyone really enjoy LTC?

[ihollie]

I've always wanted to be a nurse but I wasn't sure, if I was cut out to be one. At my mothers suggestion I took CNA training. I LOVED caring for the residents. I knew right away I wanted to go to nursing school and work in a LTC or assisted living.

That was back in 2002, I never got the opportunity to work beyond my training, despite being hired by the facility I trained in. (My son was diagnosed with a wilms tumor a week after my training ended. He good now !!)

I have gotten back on track and I am taking my prerequisites for the LVN program. But every time the subject of "where do you want to work" comes up, everyone including professors, former CNA's, graduated LVN's going on to RN's are always negative saying "you'll hate it", "you weren't there long enough to see the bad", "if you go LVN you'll be trapped there too" it's all meds"

It's really been getting into my head. Does anyone out there really enjoy LTC as I did?

[LPNJessi]

By helping them pass on I mean that I help them to prepare and help the family and help the patient to be comfortable. I often sit in the room or have a CNA sit in with a patient that is preparing to die to help make sure they are comfortable and not alone. I never meant anything related to euthanasia. When they are in denial of how sick they really are it is nice to beable to help them understand and prepare to end this life without a lot of pain and discomfort.

[southern_rn_brat]

I understood what you meant jessi lol. I feel the same way. It is important for me too.

I've worked in LTC for 15 years...4 as a CNA and 11 as RN. I took time off to work in a hospital once and was miserable. I loved my LTC. I think it is a calling though. There is no in between. You either love it or hate it, IMO. I love it!

[tattooednursie, LVN]

At one time . . . I did enjoy it. I'm not going to lie and say I still do, because i don't LOL . . .but it does have its moments where you must say, "This is what it's all about." Whether its just the occasionally funny shenanigains, or a resident letting you know you did a good job.

[Jo Dirt]

What the negative people fail to mention to you is that most nursing jobs are in LTC, especially if you are an LPN/LVN. Old people are literally taking over the world so if you don't like old people don't even bother to get into nursing. It isn't that I don't like old people but I have vowed not to partake in the system of keeping them alive long after their quality of life has diminished. Yes, like it or not, it seems that nursing homes are only too willing ot act as the final address, the last stop they will make to finish draining the last of their resources and dip into Medicaid funds before that final ride to the graveyard.

I worked LTC for years and finally did get cynical and burned out. You see so much waste and uneccesary things go on it can make a person resentful. I have come to the conclusion that society has done itself a terrible disservice by taking on the attitude that life is worth holding onto at all costs and the longer a person can live the better. Fortunes are spent keeping bedridden, tube fed vegetables alive while young people who could be helped and who could have a future are left to rot. And these nursing homes have the nerve to talk about "quality of life." Quality of life for who? Not for the patients, that's for sure.

I admire the spunky old folks who refuse to allow themselves to be exploited.

They are troopers. And while the other staff become exasperated when these old folks won't do this or that or take this or that pill or follow the doctor's treatment, I admire their spunk.

Kudos to the old folks who refuse to spend their twilight years shuffling through doctors' offices carrying big sacks of pills...sorry, I got off on a ramble...

[tattooednursie, LVN]

Old people are literally taking over the world ...

:chair: :sofahider

Rant away. We all need to do that from time to time. I see what you are saying. I am severaly burned out as working as an aide in LTC . . . .so I found the old people taking over the world . . . kinda funny!!!! LOL

[nightmare, RN]

Motorcycle Mama,you rock!:yelclap: i feel just like you but I'm still here (16 years) fast approaching burnout,signed off at the moment.Why should they have to sell their homes and use up their hard earned cash to be treated like sausages in a factory.Love the people hate the politics!

[BoopetteRN]

I love what I do, is it trying, yes, the families sometimes are unrealistic, media coverage have made us sound like we are the devils, but do we give good care yes we do. I could not see me doing anything else

[catnip]

Odd as this may sound, i want to say thank you to everyone who posted here. I passed my state RN boards a week ago and all through school worked in a hospital b/c it was close to school and more able to work with my class schedule. I always wanted to go back to LTC when i was done, but got a lot of grief from co-workers stating that i was wasting all my hard work if i went back to that. I dont know why i doubted my dream, i guess 5 years of being (kindly) made fun of had its impact. Again i just wanted to say thank you, I'll be going to my interview in the morning with my head up and crossing my fingers that i will be accepted for the job. thanks, Catnip.

[Summer69]

I have been a nurse for 36 years and was a NA for 3 years before that. Hve only done LTC. Yes I have been in the good and the bad. The bad places have made me a better nurse(more vocal about concerns and sticking up for Pt. rights). The good ones made me love my job. The ones with outstanding administration have guided me to where I am today in nursing mangement -who leads by example(answers call lights, does a med pass, walks folks who need help). LTC is not for everyone and it is not easy but when a patient's family tells you how much you mean to them by helping their loved one it is worth it.

[bassplayerrob]

Just wanted to comment about Skilled nursing. I have been a Respiratory Therapist (RRT,RPFT) for over 16 years and just passed the NCLEX-RN last week. I have worked in different capacities in Respiratory Care including critical care, ER, acute care, peds, nursery, diagnostics, and geriatrics. My first job will be on a Skilled/Rehab nursing unit which I start in 2 days. I have been told by my fellow respiratory therapists as well as nurses who have worked with me for the past 15 yrs that I may be wasting my critical care and ER experience and will not learn anything. I disagree with these folks and am excited to be starting my new job. Thanks.

[Sari_LPN]

I have been a nurse for only three years now. I have worked LTC and home health care both here in Michigan and in New York. I love LTC, while I was in school I swore I would not work LTC. I now thank God everyday that he brought this to me, the feeling you get when one of your residents smiles brightly just at seeing you....oh no way to put into words. I get frustrated by the times we are short staffed, or when I am left alone to care for too many people. I am currently in an acute care part of the facility, things can and sometimes do, go bad in a split second. But I feel so good when I do everything I can to make a difference. One important thing I have learned is to not expect to get off work at your scheduled time, if you expect to be there late and you get off on time.....bonus. If not you didn't expect anything different anyway. I have learned all I can do is start at the beginning and work until I am done, with that mentality I don't get stressed as often. Good luck to you, it really is a wonderful place to be, no matter what others say.

[Lady Venom]

I just graduated in March of this year, so I'm still pretty new to the field. Before I started I wasn't sure whether I wanted to work in the hospital or ltc. Right out of school, the first place to hire me was a ltc facility.

So far, I really love it. Sometimes there is alot more responsibity for an lpn/lvn, but I think it's worth it. The environment is very different than acute, but so far it's been a great experience. You really get to know the residents and can develop relationships that you wouldn't be able to in the hospital. It's a great place to work if you have the personality and the patience for it. :)