Our students always start in geriatrics

fergus51 · Sep 28, 2001

That was my first rotation too. I remember being terrified at the idea of giving someone else a bath!

nur20 · Sep 29, 2001

GOOD MORNING ALL, THIS IS A SUBJECT THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART. i WORKED GERIATRICS APPROX. 10 YEARS AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. THE ONLY REASON I LEFT WAS I REALIZED I NEEDED TO GET EXPERIENCE IN OTHER AREAS TO BECOME A MORE WELL ROUNDED NURSE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG OR DEGRADING IN WORKING WITH THE ELDERLY. I HAVE HEARD THESE NEGATIVE COMMENTS AROUND NURSING CIRCLES. THIS IS WHERE YOUR TRUE COMPASSION COMES INTO PLAY( IF YOU HAVE ANY). THEY NEED PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING.THIS WAS A VERY REWARDING SPECIALTY FOR ME.MY FEEDBACK WAS THE FACT THAT MY RESIDENTS BECAME DOWN AND DEPRESSED IF I TOLD THEM MY DAY OFF.

PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE !!! 3 PAGES DEDICATED TO ALL CAREGIVERS

Carer · Sep 29, 2001

I would like to say that for the past 9 years I have been working with the Elderly. I am a Care Assistant from England. I love my job, there has never been a day in 9 years when I think why do I do this. I erally love my job, At first I was given Children to care for, that was [ NOTHING MEDICAL] That wasnt for me, I was then given shop work. after that I was told that I was going to be on a palcement with the elderly. I thought Oh my god Im going to HATE THAT. I thought it would be wiping bums all day. But I realy loved my work experience. That is what made me decide what I wanted to do for a career, and im still doing that job 9 years later.

To me working with the elderly is NEVER the same every day its always different and has its challanges but best of all a sence of real satisfaction know that you are doing a job that is worthwhile, as are all Nursing jobs. We would be here on the board if we all didnt love our jobs right?

ComicRN · Sep 29, 2001

Fergus - My first rotation in nursing school was in geriatrics and I was sooooo scared! I remember the first patient I had. (I think I've told this story here somewhere before, so bear with me!!) She was a lady who had pathological fractures. Her regular nurse was thrilled to have a student taking care of her for the day, as she could be very "demanding." It took me about 37 hours to give her a bed bath!! As I had her rolled on to her side, I didn't realize that her face was in her pillow (she was still able to breathe!!) but I finally heard this little voice saying, "you're awfully slow, aren't you?" Well, being the emotional type and VERY premenstrual at the time, it was all I could do to finish her bath, get her dressed and myself out of the room before I broke into tears!!

Several weeks later we actually had to pass medications......can you believe it?!! I remember having to give a patient an aspirin and I thought I would pass out, I was so nervous!

Those were the days! I've since worked on a GI/renal floor in a hospital and in rehab. But, I've returned to Long Term Care. I love these folks. The work is tough, and I've never done so much paperwork in my life. Anyone who says it isn't "real" nursing doesn't know what they're talking about.

OK....I'm through lecturing!!

fergus51 · Sep 30, 2001

That's hilarious Comic!

Mike-CPN-UK · Apr 26, 2002

Hi Renee,

It's the best place for student nurses to start their practical experience. I did my first ward in 1984 caring for people with the advanced stages of dementia. I grew up very quicky (I was 19). All this time later and I'm a Community Psychiatric Nurse working in old age psychiatry. I've tried other areas of menal health but I keep coming back to the wrinklies. You can't beat them. I still get my fix of younger people because as a denior nurse I have to be on-call for Accident & Emergency to do psychiatric assessments all hours of the day and night!

Mike

ComicRN · Apr 27, 2002

Oh my gawd.........the "wrinklies"...........I LOVE it!!!

kmp297 · Apr 29, 2002

Hello everyone!! Let me just say that Geriatrics is the place to work. With the changing Medicare/Medicaid rules, and private ins co. rules. Nursing homes are becoming quite skilled. I have worked in long term care for over eight years and I have an extensive knowledge base. In extended care the nurses make almost all the decisions and you don't send anyone to the hospital unless they are in cardiac/resp arrest, or basically just need a blood tranfusion/or surgery. I have done everything from vents to peritoneal dialysis in a nursing home. With no resp therapist. Not to mention the numerous IV therapies, and wound vacs. Mind you with wonderful LPNS who were legally unable to perform some of our daily duties. So everyone please know that nursing homes aren't only for the elderly anymore. I live in OH and the youngest critical patient I ever had was three all the way up to 103. Diversity, the spice of life.

KMP RN

Fran-RN · Apr 29, 2002

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love Long term care. As kmp297 said. You can get a lot of experience in a nursing home.

In the past few weeks I have dealt with central lines, TPN, hypoglycemic episodes, acute respiratory distress, acute heart failure, a major stroke in progress, 1day post op bowel resection, that turned into bowel obstruction, 4 days Post op, below knee amputation, acute renal failure. plus all the regular day to day pill passes for 20 patients, vital sign, feeding, turning etc for dependent people. assessments, and a mountain of paper work.

Most of these people see a Dr, once every 30-60 days. The rest of the time it is up to the nurses to keep an eye on them. Most of them are in such fragile condition that a cold or UTI is a life threatening situation. Whoever thinks long term care is boring , never worked there.

GeorgieGirl · May 1, 2002

God bless you all!! I agree with you, kmp & Fran! I have had the same experiences at my skilled rehab. Our youngest vent was 11 mo. old on admission. We've also had a few post-op nightmares. One of our intermediate residents was readmitted ONE DAY postop mastectomy. She was out of the facility less than 72 hrs! There have been a couple of residents w/ TPN; constant admissions, discharges and readmissions. Not much different than a med-surg unit, except the docs visit no more than q 30 days. And now we get to TRANSPORT to & from appointments.

adrienurse, LPN · May 7, 2002

I'M kind of embarrassed about it now because I LOVE geriatrics, but I remember when I was a student we all couldn't wait to get past geriatrics and on to the "real stuff". I don't know exactly where this negative attitude came from, but it seemed to be the attitude of all. It's hard to say whether starting out a nursing program in geriatrics is a good idea or not.