Hello LTC nurses

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Specializes in Lomg Term Care, Rehab.

Long-time/everyday-reader, long-ago poster (under different name),  felt urged into posting after Davey Do's post about MIA members...

Backround: went into LTC nursing at the LTC/rehab facility I was a CNA at while finishing school, have been there 10 years or so. Started as charge RN on NOC shift, did that for like 8 yrs-ish, my current FT schedule includes all shifts, mostly days - (which used to be the enemy in my mind -and everyone else's that works NOCs and hears the griping in the morning..the old "night shift doesnt do anything" vs "day shift is so busy" animosity..., I don't pay attention to that BS cuz I know each shift had it's own challenges, WE ARE A TEAM, 24/hr)

I'm navigated most of the ups and downs I think..::managing staff and issues with staff/agency cnas with attitude/laziness, the constant struggle of REPLACING SHIFT ANIMOSITY with shift COHESIVENESS, dealing with difficult/abnormal personalities of co-workers, commuicating with a-hole doctors, dealing/manipulating managent/HR, negotiating raises in wage, advocating for myself and others (staff and residents),..issues with death & dying (expected and unexpected), hospice discrepancies re: end of life care/meds, dealing with angry or bereaved or extremely talkative family memebers on phone calls I cant exactly afford to waste time on, managing the schedule/assignment/flowsheets/census-equality of responsibility; emergencies like blizzards and tornadoes (code white and black, making/"convincing" people to stay over), talking/defending/arguing with administrators, working the covid unit, managing pts that belong in the ICU and not LTC/rehab, covid testing, trouble-shooting complex wound treatments, difficult ostomies/wound vacs/ivs/foleys...

We're a 120 bed facility, with b/w 10-15 FT nurses for 4 zones day & PM, 3 zones on NOC...thats a lot of people per shift. My facility requires qshift vitals on everyone, regardless if they're medicare/LTC..I think I'm a pro at time management and med passes, computer work, admits; seasoned nurses/don/adon always ask me for help.

I just am offering myself up as a resource for the new and experienced, a sounding board. I'm here to help however I can. I've only ever known LTC and it's my nitsche and im not going anywhere..I love my old folks, I love the memories and perspectives they share, I cant really envision anything more rewarding at the end of the day ..I know a lot of people look down on it. but it takes a special person I think, to stick it out. 

I think mostly, whether your a nurse or a CNA,..if you think of these people as a task without emotion and empathy, I think you should go work in the hospital.

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

Sounds like you've had a very nice career in LTC so far! I don't know if I could do dayshift, too much stimulation for me!

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Specializes in Peds.

I am missing LTC so much. I can't wait to go back into it! Seniors are my favorite group to work with,but with private duty homecare I get very few chances to work with them. It is mostly peds.

After being in private duty homecare for 17 years,I know it won't be an easy feat but I am so looking foward to it!

 

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
6 minutes ago, Runsoncoffee99 said:

I am missing LTC so much. I can't wait to go back into it! Seniors are my favorite group to work with,but with private duty homecare I get very few chances to work with them. It is mostly peds.

After being in private duty homecare for 17 years,I know it won't be an easy feat but I am so looking foward to it!

 

Glad you're coming back into the fold! We need good nurses that's for sure!

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Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.

I’m new to LTC and so far I enjoy it, but the training (or lack there of) is frustrating. I’m the day shift supervisor and I was told what I would be responsible for but I have to figure things out on my own. This is my first time working in LTC (I came from primary care/public health). I wonder if this will be a long term area of nursing for me or not. 

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Yellownurse15 - have you checked out your job description?

Do you do direct shift change with other supers? What do they ask of you? Can they give you some pointers?

Sometimes you just have to find your own way - but don't get discouraged.

LTC needs nurses who care to do a good job. Good luck.

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Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.
14 hours ago, amoLucia said:

Yellownurse15 - have you checked out your job description?

Do you do direct shift change with other supers? What do they ask of you? Can they give you some pointers?

Sometimes you just have to find your own way - but don't get discouraged.

LTC needs nurses who care to do a good job. Good luck.

Yes, I've checked my job description and it's very vague. There are no designated supervisors on evening/night shift so there isn't anyone to do shift change with. It's only the DON, SDC, MDS, and me as far as RN's. The DON and SDC are mostly doing admin stuff, MDS stays in her office unless called to do something specific, then there's me. I've just been trying to find my own way by looking things up and learning as I go since LTC is new to me. It's kind of frustrating though. 

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