going from hospital to LTC--am i crazy?

[irishlynn5]

hi all. i am a BSN with 2 yrs experience Am i crazy to be wanting to go to a LTC ?

(for those who need more perspective=experience 1 yr intermediate bedside, 1 yr ambulatory surgery--i really liked the floor job but this particular floor too stressful for a new graduate and i was unable to really care for my patients as i would have loved to, +night shift made be zombie like.. 2nd job i feel that i was good at but felt too "conveyor belt" and couldn't be caring in the way i went into nursing for & the management is not supportive; i know it sounds like i am complaining but i am a hardworking nurse who truly cares about people, and finding the positions i have been have not helped me grow to the nurse i know i can be, and feeling like perhaps i have to go "backwards" in my career to "restart")

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

What makes you think LTC will offer supportive management, less stress, and give you the opportunity to be as caring as you would like?

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

Find one with a good reputation in management as well as care for the residents. They are out there. I work evenings in one with 32 residents and management is great.

[mago8388]

I have friends that are LPNS and worked in LTC and absolutely hated it. They say is too much work, too little staff and it's crazy crazy busy. Now, that's their perspective as an LPN. I'm thinking the RN will be doing more management and paperwork wich depending in the amount of residents can be crazy too if you have to manage the care of all the residents on your floor.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I have friends that are LPNS and worked in LTC and absolutely hated it. They say is too much work, too little staff and it's crazy crazy busy. Now, that's their perspective as an LPN. I'm thinking the RN will be doing more management and paperwork wich depending in the amount of residents can be crazy too if you have to manage the care of all the residents on your floor.

This. I believe that the majority of patient care in most LTC's is performed by the aides and LPN's. RN's mostly push paperwork, as I understand it. You will not likely to be able to "really care for" your patients as you hope to.

[Alisonisayoshi, LVN]

I have friends that are LPNS and worked in LTC and absolutely hated it. They say is too much work, too little staff and it's crazy crazy busy. Now, that's their perspective as an LPN. I'm thinking the RN will be doing more management and paperwork wich depending in the amount of residents can be crazy too if you have to manage the care of all the residents on your floor.

I work side by side with my RN coworkers. They do a similar job to me. The differences between my LVN job, and the non management RN job is: they do intial assessment on new admits, flush all PICC and central lines, hang all IV ABO, and sign off on care plans. In general they are doing the same general pt care that I do, though I understand their scope and job is technically different.

OP, LTC is stressful. I often cannot provide much more than shoving meds in someone's face. Really. I try, I do, I've developed time management skills, but my job is a conveyor line of meds popped from little packages for a big portion of my shift. I work in a good facility. I have fairly good management, but it does not change sometimes having a too few aides, too few nurses, and too many residents.