Goodbye, LTC

[opradiva]

Hello fellow CNA's! It's been a while since I've stopped by.

I earned my CNA certification back in April in order to acquire direct patient care experience, and immediately began seeking employment. I ended up in a LTC facility. I love the residents! They are smart, articulate, eloquent people, for the most part, and the ones who are unable to articulate just pull at my heartstrings. Becoming a CNA has easily been one of the best things I've ever done. However, I have become disgusted with the way long term care is carried out. Shortages, staff calling out, insane patient/CNA ratios, horrible salaries; this does not facilitate patient care. This is NOT patient care. And as a student, you can forget about any nurse taking time out to teach you anything. They are too busy stabbing you in the back, blaming you for all that's wrong with the patients, and breathing down your neck so you can cover their butts. In my 6 months at the LTC facility, I have seen and heard the most horrific things: residents being treated like 5 year olds, residents being manhandled, residents being called crybabies to their faces, residents being asked questions pertaining to their sex lives (yes, I heard a nurse do this). It sickens me. On top of that, the CNA's are expected to be miracle workers. With a patient load of 13-16, how can we give showers, bed baths, dress, pass trays, make beds, feed, do vitals, change briefs, etc, and keep an eye on the dementia patient who keeps transfering by himself? In addition to all of this, management couldn't care less about our concerns. I've spoken to the DON on many occasions, and she looks at me like I'm an alien. What happened to quality of care? I'm tired of the whitewashing...what happened to actually doing things the right way? I'm tired of the "by any means necessary" mentality. What happened to do no harm; patient confidentiality; dignity; and residents' rights? I can't take this anymore.

I knew early on that I wouldn't be in LTC for long. Because I had no prior experience, I was pretty much stuck. However, I recently landed a PCT position at a hospital in my area on an ICU floor! I'm looking forward to actually learning something, and feeling like a member of the team instead of the black sheep. Tomorrow is my last day in LTC. I will miss my residents dearly. I have so many people to say goodbye to. They have really touched me in a special way!

For all PCT's/Nurses: How does LTC differ from the hospital setting? I love a hard day's work, so that doesn't worry me. My goal is to learn as much as possible. I have already completed a phlebotomy training course, and I am good with EKG interpretation. I recently got accepted to PA school, and I will begin matriculation a year from now. Is it wise to tell the staff this in hopes that they will facilitate my learning experience, or should I feel them out first? To all CNA's, keep your spirits up, and know you are a vital part of the healthcare team!

[sonomala]

Thank you for your post!

Your right, ltc is a nightmare, and I've only done it in clinicals. But like you I plan to use it as a stepping stone. I have bills to pay and I need the exp but to look at working that way for years on end is, to me, frightening. The industry has to change but right now I don't see it happening. And its a shame because its losing great people who just won't put up with it like yourself.

As for the hospital, I would feel it out first then after some time I would mention it to the other staffers, they'll most likely help you out and you'll find it to be so much more enjoyable then ltc. Good luck and keep us posted :)

[opradiva]

Thanks so much for your response.

I think you're right; I will feel the staff out, let them assess my work ethic, and go from there.

It's interesting...I was speaking with a fellow coworker today (she's a treatment nurse on my hall), and she expressed the same feelings about LTC's losing quality staff due to the politics and lack of quality care. It's true! I've seen so many great CNA's leave because of this. It makes me sad! Thing have to change in our healthcare system!

[SDMamma]

Wow! Good for you, and thank you for sharing such a personal experience. I have been a CNA for 5 years and I have expereinced every emotion you expressed in this post. Props to you for being able to hang in there at the LTC for 6months!! My first CNA job after working at a registry for a year was at an LTC and I only lasted a WEEK before i RAN out of there. Luckily I was hired by an ortho-med surg floor so I had the luxury of quitting so abruptly.

Anyway, fear not because good things are heading your way in the ICU. It is such a wonderful place to learn, and you will find many a nurse who is willing to take the time and teach you a thing or two. of course there will always those nurses who just want to come in, do their shift, not be bothered and head home after a long 12-hour day. But in either case, you are done with LTC, and that is something to celebrate.

Good luck!

[opradiva]

Thanks, SDMamma, for your response!

It felt good to walk out of the LTC today, knowing I wouldn't have to return. But I have to be honest...I felt sad too, because I'm really going to miss the residents. I had really come to know a lot of them well. I'm hoping to stop by and visit periodically.

Yes, I am looking forward to working in the hopsital setting. This will be my first hospital job! I'm really excited to be going into a totally different environment, and I can't wait to actually use some of the little knowledge I have!! Congrats to you on getting into nursing school! How much longer do you have? What responsibilities do yo have on your floor as a CNA?

[SDMamma]

Thanks. My program is 2 years long, so I will graduate in Dec 2010. As a CNA in the hospital, your job will still include they typical CNA duties, q2 repositioning, bathing, bedmaking, etc. But you will learn alot more, especially in the ICU. You probably won't take many vitals because the patients in the ICU are on so many monitors that even their respirations are counted for them. And you probably won't feed many patients because many are comatose(sp?) or NPO, but you will get to look at alot of charts and see pic-lines put in and be witness to more than just your typical day in a LTC. I think you will like it, I would.