HATE LTC

Published

OMG... 10 years working as an internal med LPN (LOVE IT :redpinkhe) and now I'm per diem with an agency working in nursing homes, as I am in RN school. I have never been to this facility and was familiar with ANYTHING. I was not thanked for being there or thanked for helping them out. I was treated very coldly, like I should know everything, everyone and where everything was. I thought I was going to collapse after I got home. My anxiety level was well beyond TILT and all I could focus on was getting the med pass done and running to my car after the shift was done,hoping nothing was missed. I went home exhausted, tired, frazzled, etc. :sniff:. It affected me so negatively that I became nauseous. Since then I turned down 3 assignments until I can figure out what I need to do....ANY ADVICE!!!!

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I'm guessing you left your old position that you loved because you needed PRN hours? If you absolutely can't go back to your old job, I would try again, maybe at a different facility?

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Specializes in LTC & Private Duty Pediatrics.

Hi there:

- I work LTC per-diem around 40 to 60 hours a week (been doing this for 4 years now).

- You'll soon learn that some places are pure hell ... while others are a nurse's

paradise.

- As an agency LPN ... your job is defined as follows:

- Pass the meds.

- Do the treatments.

- Feed the folks for lunch/dinner ... if time permits.

- Keep 'em alive until the next shift.

- I would recommend working 2nd or 3rd shift ... as the physical workload at

most of these places is less demanding than the day shift. Also, at about 50%

of the LTC facilities you will work at ... the night shift has a 2 or 3 hour break

between 2am and 5am. Also, work night shift on the weekends ... as usually

there are no labs to write-up, and no appointments to get ready for on Sat/Sun.

- Yes, sometimes the medpass (days/eves) does take the full 8 hours. Get used to it.

Just put on your blinders and stick to the task at hand. Number one rule ... "nothing

stops the med pass." If anything serious comes up ... stabilize the patient, call the

RN. You are agency and are not expected to know the ins and outs of each

patient. Hell, you're lucky to know if they get crushed or non-crushed meds. We

won't even get into the code or no-code game.

Oh, and wait until you see an actual code in an LTC facility. Takes like 10 minutes

to get everyone organized. Not at all like working in the hospital.

- With regard to staff rudeness. Take it with a grain of salt. Who the hell cares if

anyone says crap to you. As long as no one is yelling or pooping on you ... just do

your job and laugh your way to the bank.

- Welcome to the wonderful world of agency nursing.

- Hope this helps.

Johnny

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

Johnny,

That was a perfect post/answer. I don't think I can think of anything else. I'm a new, (one year) LPN at a LTC facility and when I get in my car I still collapse for a few and have to force myself to start the car because I just want to sit!

Putting on blinders and going straight through the shift is the way to go. The med pass and tx must get done. The evening shift is the time when most falls occur so you might want to avoid that. Are you alone on the floor? If not, you do the meds and let the other nurse be "charge" and they do everything else.

The med pass will go quicker as you learn the residents. See if you can be on the same floor every time you work. When I first started it took me the whole shift, now it takes about 4-5 hours and I actually leave the floor for a break! Remember it's temporary and the money is pretty good. Best of luck...breathe!

Karen

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I agree, ask for a different facility.....some are different as night and day...When you find one that is doable, go back there, stick to same floor, learn residents as much as possible...and do your job. Coming off your old job you would not really like anything so different. Stop comparing..this is experience gaining....work with it.

Is there any chance you could do part-time or prn at your old job? Ask all they can say is NO. Do not assume..heck they might miss you alot!

If you give LTC a fair shot and still can not make yourself go back..find something else..Life is too short to be miserable. Everyone does not like the same things..this is a good thing, nothing to be ashamed about.

Once you are a RN, what are your goals? Try to find something that meshes with those goals.

Best of luck.

I got my "Dream " job once, 2 weeks of daily crying, panic attacks and wishing I could disappear.. I finally went in to Director and said "No way can I do this?" She was angry but I am sure she eventually got over it. (I was still on orientation so patient care was not compromised) She even yelled a bit. But I was smiling ear to ear when I went out the front door. The weight of the world was off my shoulders. Some things are just not meant to be.

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Gotta say LTC is a different world-- and not one I belong in! lol no thanks.Tried it twice and hated the whole experience. Good luck to you and I would say to keep your eyes out for a better position. You totally don't need that kind of stress while you are in school.

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Specializes in LTC.

LTC, isn't for everyone and no matter what you're told they are in fact the same, what is different is how effective is management.

Get in touch with some nurses from your community that may help you secure a PRN or part-time position in a well respected, long lasting LTC facility in your area. Apply, send a resume and don't give up.

Going thru agency you aren't one of the pack, most regular employees are overwhelmed and tired because short staffing is exhausting. Does not excuse rudeness ever though. If you're leaving tired, and upset... do that full-time and into overtime. It is soul crushing at times. So I will apologize for their bad, rude behavior because I've 'been there, done that' so to speak. I hate to hear about these incidents because not all LTC nurses behave in such a manner. I know I would not.

I am back at school and working 'half time' which is 40 hours/ 2 week pay period. In a well established, well respected LTC facility. I still deal with the same stuff, different day but never do I worry about my license.

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Gave Kudos to Sir Johnny's post cause that just about sums it up. As far as getting thanked???? I dunno about that one. You are getting paid to do the same job that they are (for the most part you are making more than the staff on hand and working at the same crummy place they do) You probably will never be thanked for "helping them out".

Now, I tend to thank agency staff or anyone that has come in extra, worked hard etc.

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All of your feedback were VERY helpful! I have not gone back to that facility and have gotten A LOT of hours at a facility that was better organized and the staff have been more than helpful and happy to have me there. I have also gotten a much thicker skin and took the advice and just do my job and when it is all said and done it is ASTA PASTA. Your comments is what I needed to push thru my frustration. Thanks to all from a much happier LPN and hopefully future RN. :redpinkhe

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