GETTING BURNT OUT OF LTC - suggestions please!

Specialties LTC Directors

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Specializes in Med Surg, Nursing Administration for SNF.

OK - so we all know the drill. Decent pay as ADON or DON but I am to the point where I am wondering if it's worth it anymore. As an ADON I am on call a lot and hate it. Constant calls, constant staff drama, constant abuse from the non-nursing depts about how the nursing dept did this or that wrong. The company I am working for now will not allow us to deny anyone and so the train wrecks we have been getting are just insane - and God forbid if they fall! I am constantly trying to keep the morale of the nursing staff up through all of this nonsense and smack dab in the middle of it the ED announces there will be no raises this year. I have CNA's who are single moms, working their tails off for a little over $9.50 hr. I feel like I'm in the middle of chaos. My DON is quitting and so lately I am doing his and my job(s) which are four in one anyway (staff dev, inf control, hiring, restorative, etc, etc). I am so physically exhausted I have nothing left for my family when I come home - but then when I worked at the hospital (eight years ago) it felt just as exhausting. I dont know where to go. I even tried a short stent in the marketing/nurse liaison scene - but it was very very cut throat and finally ended up getting screwed over by a very nasty case manager. I feel very insecure about my skills at this point, and dont know if I am willing to take the pay cut by leaving management. Also, I'm not a spring chicken anymore - I'm turning 50 this year. I realize I sound confused and have a lot of fear of what lies ahead with the imminent continued cuts, Medicare failing, etc- I have discussed this with my husband and a couple of friends but thought maybe some other nurses could shed some light on this or have gone through this. Thank you and sorry for such a long winded post.

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Just a hug.

If you can afford the pay cut take it and find another facility as a NM.

And another hug.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Nursing Administration for SNF.

Thanks Sue, I needed that!:)

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Specializes in MDS/Office.

I understand exactly how you feel. Life is too short to be miserable. Have you considered MDS Nursing? I work as an MDS Coordinator in a larger size facility where there are two of us. Our company values the work MDS Coordinators do. No on call/pulled to floor nonsense. I would NEVER go back to patient care.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.

Take the pay cut, you aren't enjoying the money as it is now, anyways. Life is wayy too short to be miserable like that.

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Wow you sound just like me. My back is killing me from the last 3 night of working 35 residents, One nurse aide and I might have been there by myself. We have had state in our building all week again for a follow up visit. I am going to drive 4 hours for an interview tomorrow Wish me luck!!! I am no spring chick either I am a MDS nurse but seem to get pulled to the floor lately while the change of condition, medicare mds's are piling up cause noone will do your work they are too busy taking endless smoke breaks. I get a note on my desk this morning when I was leaving the shift said, sorry I only got one order put in the computer. We have end of month paperwork to get completed can I scream now???? Not to mention I have drawn I believe the whole months worth of labs in the last 3 nights because noone else seems to think INR's are important?? Hm with 2 back from hospital with PE's and I dont even get good money NOR INSURANCE!!!! Past burn out..... If I dont get one of the 2 jobs I am interviewing for I think McDonalds is looking good lol at least they give there employees insurance.

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Specializes in MDS/Office.
Wow you sound just like me. My back is killing me from the last 3 night of working 35 residents, One nurse aide and I might have been there by myself. We have had state in our building all week again for a follow up visit. I am going to drive 4 hours for an interview tomorrow Wish me luck!!! I am no spring chick either I am a MDS nurse but seem to get pulled to the floor lately while the change of condition, medicare mds's are piling up cause noone will do your work they are too busy taking endless smoke breaks. I get a note on my desk this morning when I was leaving the shift said, sorry I only got one order put in the computer. We have end of month paperwork to get completed can I scream now???? Not to mention I have drawn I believe the whole months worth of labs in the last 3 nights because noone else seems to think INR's are important?? Hm with 2 back from hospital with PE's and I dont even get good money NOR INSURANCE!!!! Past burn out..... If I dont get one of the 2 jobs I am interviewing for I think McDonalds is looking good lol at least they give there employees insurance.

OMG-----You're an MDS Coordinator & you're pulled to the floor & doing their jobs? You need to find an MDS Position where you are appreciated!! Good Luck!!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Nursing Administration for SNF.
OMG-----You're an MDS Coordinator & you're pulled to the floor & doing their jobs? You need to find an MDS Position where you are appreciated!! Good Luck!!

Actually, I did MDS about six years ago in a different facililty- and was on call as well. Was pulled to the floor but not very often. We just hired a new MDS RN who does not have to take call (the old one did take call) but that is because she came in with specific demands -no call being one of them. Smart girl, huh? Some places do "put out" for exp'd MDS people. Although - she does work about 50 hours a week (as most of us salaried people do). That's my next gripe. Being made to feel guilty when I leave after 8 hrs. Will have to start a new thread, lol! But thank yous to the kind reponses, sometimes it's nice to just know youre not alone.

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