Why dont we get respect as LTC nurses?

[lvs2nrs3535]

Hi everyone,

I am hoping for some input to a questions that has been really burning my butt. I am a new nurse, and recently switched from med-surg at a local hospital (loved the job, hated the 12 hour shifts and the 45 minute commute), to a nursing home in my home town. I have spoken to numerous people about my new job, which I have, by the way, found to be very different but no less challenging than the work I was doing before. I am learning every day, and I truly do enjoy the job. I made the choice to change focus due to the fact that I have small children, 5 and 8, and the opportunity I had was a 7-3 shift, mon-thur. The money was less, but the savings in travel and not having to pay daycare made up for that.

Soooo, My big problem is, why is it that it truly seems that so very many nurses seem to look down their noses at long term care and geriatric nursing? I have even had one of my fellow graduates, (we both graduated May, passed the boards in June) actually say "I'm so sorry.":madface:

I couldnt believe my ears. And after I picked my jaw up off the floor, all the things I could/should have said came to me. Of course.

Has anyone else had this experience, or is it just me? And if you have, how do you deal with it? It is bad enough we undervalue and dont respect our elders, but now, I feel as if I have lost respect in the nursing community, (I am generalizing, I know, and I DO know that not every nurse feels this way, please dont feel that I think all nurses feel this way, cuz I do not).

I have been reading the nursing posts from so many of you on this specialty, and I can see that people who have worked in LTC understand. So sorry, I just needed to vent and get some understanding and hopefully advice from some of you more seasoned LTC geriatric nurses. During my med surg experience I felt more like a waitress than a nurse, it was kind of like 'turn em and burn em', without any time to connect with any patients, you were scrambling so hard just to meet their basic needs. I also realize that as a new nurse, I would have gotten better at the scrambling part, but still, after just two weeks at my new position, I already know almost all my 24 residents names, many of their likes and dislikes and have already been able to forge connections. So back to my question, how do you deal with it when you feel like other specialties look down on us?

I have also had ER nurses from the local hospital be VERY condesending to me when calling. Just twice, same nurse both times. And in case you are wondering, I am pretty thick skinned, I dont get my panties in a bunch over any little comment.

Any input would be sooo appreciated.

Thanks,

KristyBRNfortruenow

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

The government doesn't care if you roll your loved one into a lake.

I think that you might get into trouble for that. Just a guess.

[GardenDove]

Each area of nursing have their own unique challenges. I have worked in ICU and LTC. The ICU nurse looks down the the floor nurse. The LTC nurse looks down on the private duty nurse. Everyone thinks their job is harder, requires more skill etc. As a LTC nurse you don't have the bells and whistles that the hospital has. Access to stat lab draws, xrays or dream of dream a cardiac monitor. Your patient load is higher and between the paperwork and "the great med pass" you are generally pushed for time. Don't worry about what othe nurses think. Stupidity comes in all shapes and sizes. Do what feels right for you and feeds your soul. Read and keep current in all your skills, not just the skills you need right now. Hospital stays are shorter, not everyone can go home, the population is getting older and if you look around LTC is not just for old people anymore. The youngest I have right now is 33 the oldest is 103. Each present unique challenges and I hope I met them everyday. LTC means that the stay is longer than the hospital will allow. It does not always mean til death do us part.

I second this post, well said.

[bshaw96]

For a long time (I've been in LTC 10 years now) I worried about what other people thought about my working in LTC. It upset me soooo bad to hear people talk down about LTC nurses. But then I decided I could care less. I am where I'm supposed to be, at least right now. I left LTC for awhile and went to a med surg floor b/c I felt pressured to. I was sick of being asked why I didn't go to a hospital. I hated it. Not b/c I couldn't do it. It was different, but not hard. I just didn't like coming to work with these 8 patients, and at the end of my shift, they were likely 8 different patients. I looove my relationship with the elderly. No one could be more appreciative. Nursing is not just about how good you are at IV sticks (although you get quite good at them in LTC- if you can maintain a vein in a dehydrated, 80 lb. woman, you can maintain one anywhere). But nursing is about sooo much more. The relationships. It is such an awesome awesome calling and ministry to work in LTC. There are good nurses and bad nurses in every specialty. After my hysterectomy a few years ago, 24 hours after, I had a med surg nurse come in, do my assessment, noted blood on my pad, and asked if I was on my period :uhoh21: . And I've had some awesome med surg nurses. LTC is no different. We're all called to different areas. One day, the nurses that look down on us will likely find their loved ones or themselves in a LTC facility. I think then and only then when they develop that relationship will they see how wrong they were.

[BoomerRN]

For a long time (I've been in LTC 10 years now) I worried about what other people thought about my working in LTC. It upset me soooo bad to hear people talk down about LTC nurses. But then I decided I could care less. I am where I'm supposed to be, at least right now. I left LTC for awhile and went to a med surg floor b/c I felt pressured to. I was sick of being asked why I didn't go to a hospital. I hated it. Not b/c I couldn't do it. It was different, but not hard. I just didn't like coming to work with these 8 patients, and at the end of my shift, they were likely 8 different patients. I looove my relationship with the elderly. No one could be more appreciative. Nursing is not just about how good you are at IV sticks (although you get quite good at them in LTC- if you can maintain a vein in a dehydrated, 80 lb. woman, you can maintain one anywhere). But nursing is about sooo much more. The relationships. It is such an awesome awesome calling and ministry to work in LTC. There are good nurses and bad nurses in every specialty.... We're all called to different areas. One day, the nurses that look down on us will likely find their loved ones or themselves in a LTC facility. I think then and only then when they develop that relationship will they see how wrong they were.

Amen BShaw96! My feelings exactly.

[jojotoo, RN]

Of course they told the family that my coworker and I were dumb and she only had a fever. (I would too if I lost that much blood...)

Am I missing something here? What is the relationship between fever and hypovolemia?

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

The Family Care Program is designed to take Medicaid money and use it for NURSING care in the patients home or in an assisted living facility, NURSES will be coming in to the home to help the family member take care of their loved ones.The phylosophy of wharehousing our elderly and disabled IS beginning to shift to keeping them OUT of nursing homes, do some research ,I think you will find that because of the poor care LTCs have provided in the past and continue to provide , the GOVERNMENT has FINALLY made strides to keep our loved ones at home. I have heard you say that most family is ill equiped to take care of their loved ones, most family can learn, PLUS they will have NURSING care come into their homes to help them.In my state the Governer is Democratic and is pushing for this type to be expanded throughout or state.

I can't speak for your state....in VERMONT it will be FAMILY members NOT nurses doing the care.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I think that you might get into trouble for that. Just a guess.

Suesquatch...you're a master of understatement! (don't flame me...it's meant as a compliment...and some people on here wickedly overreact to some statements others make).

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Suesquatch...you're a master of understatement! (don't flame me...it's meant as a compliment...and some people on here wickedly overreact to some statements others make).

Oh, I'm too tired to flame. One nice thing about aging is that as the hormones diminish so does the getting all exercised about stuff that really doesn't much matter. Like what other people think of me and my choices.

(If you're a Christian, Merry Christmas,

A Jew, a belated Happy Channukah,

A Pagan, Joyous Saturnalia,

A Muslim, a belated Happy Eid,

And an atheist, have a nice day.)

[banditrn]

Oh, I'm too tired to flame. One nice thing about aging is that as the hormones diminish so does the getting all exercised about stuff that really doesn't much matter. Like what other people think of me and my choices.

:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle Yep, I understand how that goes!