31 Posts
LTC facilities are not the "nursing homes" they used to be. I am seeing alot more patients that are skilled come in. I've done more discharges to home in the last six months than in the previous 10 years. Many people come in for PT and to heal from ortho surgeries and get sent back home. There are some things you still won't see in a LTC setting but it is changing quickly.
And not being appreciated, overworked, and understaffed? That is about everywhere you go.
4,767 Posts
My clinical background is in med surg and acute care (4 years as a student). While I am very glad to have the experiences, I don't plan on working anywhere but the OR in a hospital. I had a 4 month placement in the OR and loved it. Those floors are always very short staffed. Currently, I'm a charge nurse in LTC and I really enjoy working with the elderly. I'd rather work LTC than the hospital any day. Our cases are also very acute, so I've been able to maintain my skills.
312 Posts
1,398 Posts
It sounds like she may have a calling for the elderly. It is a going to be the hotspot of nursing as baby boomers age. LTC can be very rewarding for many people. Geriatrics/gerontology nurses must be resourceful and up on current trends of medicine. It is a highly complex specialty.
If you like working with the elderly, you can get plenty of experience with that population on a med surg floor.
I rarely have a shift that doesn't include one or two patients over 80.
22 Posts
dlrrn2010
12 Posts
i think this depends on you and your family. I am a recent rn grad..i started 2nd shift with promise of first shift within 6 months..then i was told i had first shift the week before christmas and am still waiting on the official schedule ( in ltc). I see others prn working first and im getting discouraged wondering why i haven't started first shift they offered me. I too feel underappreciated. We too are understaffed, and have tons of drama. I truly enjoy my residents and where i work but im getting no answers after 3 months of being told i was going to first.. They now say a few weeks, but my trust is broken. I would say weigh it with your goals of where you want to be in several years. What is your ultimate dream job, and does it want experience in acute care? im still determining where i want to be and if experience in acute care is needed. I love my ltc residents but my goals tell me that i need acute care experience. I don't want to start over at another job however. So that is my best advice. Research where you want to be ultimately and go from there! Hope this helps some!