How bad is it?

[wishinguponastarLPN]

ok, I currently work as a CNA in a Rehab Hospital that falls under the same guidelines as a LTC facility. We are a revolving door facility with the average patient stay of 2-3 weeks. We treat a variety of knee replacements, hip replacements, spinal fusions, Stroke patients, brain injury, CABG, car accidents, pretty much anyone that may need 24 hour care along with OT, PT, speech, ect. The only thing we dont take are vents. My average patient load on 1st shift is 8-12, I am responsible for getting the patients up and dressed for their therapy, showers, passing trays, picking up trays, making beds, answering call lights,taking patients to and from the bathroom, I & O's, charting, as well as some housekeeping duties. We have our share of supervised feeders, and incontient patients.

I enjoy where I work, however due to moving the commute isnt favorable. I recently had an interview at a LTC facility for the Rehab unit that has a Rehab to Home unit which sounds much like where I work now. It is 3rd shift and my patient load will be 20. I only have 6 months left until I have my LPN. I also looked up this facily and it only got a 1 star out of 5 on the Medicare site.

Am I crazy for going from a hospital to a LTC? I'm just worried and freaking out that is it going to be so terrible as some of the stories I have read. Should I maybe try anither facility that ranks higher? BTW the Rehab Hospital I current work for has 5 stars.

[tomc5555]

How long have you been at your current job? How long is the commute? You don't have any complaints about the current job?

What are the pro's for staying where you are? Were you planning a LPN position with the current facility?

I would also be wary of taking a job at a facility with a one star ranking.

[CoffeemateCNA]

When a facility is rated 1/5 on Medicare's site, there's usually a pretty good reason for it.

[yousoldtheworld]

At the same time, remember that the medicare.gov statistics are based only on state surveys, and may not necessarily reflect daily care. I"ve worked places with really low ratings that weren't bad, and really high ratings that weren't all that great. A lot of the things that can cause a low score have very little to do with actual resident care...it can be anything from the layout of the facility to a freak accident to a number of small infractions, like forgetting to cover a catheter bag or using informal names when talking to residents. So, I'd check out the facility. Keep the score in mind (and check the REASONS for the score), but don't base your decision solely on that.

ALso, I went from LTC to hospital and back to LTC. I'm much happier now. So it's not always a mistake.

[tomc5555]

yousoldtheworld

Re: How bad is it?

At the same time, remember that the medicare.gov statistics are based only on state surveys, and may not necessarily reflect daily care. I"ve worked places with really low ratings that weren't bad, and really high ratings that weren't all that great. A lot of the things that can cause a low score have very little to do with actual resident care...it can be anything from the layout of the facility to a freak accident to a number of small infractions, like forgetting to cover a catheter bag or using informal names when talking to residents. So, I'd check out the facility. Keep the score in mind (and check the REASONS for the score), but don't base your decision solely on that.

ALso, I went from LTC to hospital and back to LTC. I'm much happier now. So it's not always a mistake.

:)Very good points made. I looked up ratings last night and found the SNF my mother and father in law spent time in for rehab were rated second to last in our area. Our family was very happy with the care and food.

There is a SNF close to my home that is rated poorly and I am going to look into employment there. Thanks again for your input.

[wishinguponastarLPN]

At the same time, remember that the medicare.gov statistics are based only on state surveys, and may not necessarily reflect daily care. I"ve worked places with really low ratings that weren't bad, and really high ratings that weren't all that great. A lot of the things that can cause a low score have very little to do with actual resident care...it can be anything from the layout of the facility to a freak accident to a number of small infractions, like forgetting to cover a catheter bag or using informal names when talking to residents. So, I'd check out the facility. Keep the score in mind (and check the REASONS for the score), but don't base your decision solely on that.

ALso, I went from LTC to hospital and back to LTC. I'm much happier now. So it's not always a mistake.

That is a really good point. There is a LTC around here that is KNOWN for being awful to send your family member, and to work for and they ranked 4 out of 5. So I'm not letting the ranking bother me any more. I have made the decision to switch based on higher pay, a lot closer to home and better hours to fit my work schedule. I am incredibly nervous, but I am staying at my old facility PRN, so if it is a nightmare I still have a back up!

Thank you for your responses!