Hello LTC nurses

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.