I completely understand that these boards are here as a safe places for nurses to vent and I completely support that. But I need to hear from nurses that have found there niche in LTC and have stayed there for any length of time. I need to hear from the nurses that enjoy it.
I am a 50 year old mother of 3 that is just starting a 2 year RN program next week. I have worked for years in nursing homes as an aide and I loved it. BUT.... every place I ever worked, worked us to death. I worked night shift , alone or with one other aide and one nurse. I worked short every weekend and ended up with 30 full load patients to care for on my own, three baths in the morning, 8 people to get up alone. It is not possible to give that many patients any type of quality care. I have worked in big and small facilities, profit and non-profit and they were all the same if you are an aide. Too many patients, low pay, no ability to make anything better. Heartbreaking and stressfull...
I have worked with some great nurses though!!!! They were so helpful to the aides and pitched right in. They always helped the aides if we were short and spent their free time with the residents.
Some were the opposite though.
I am still interested in LTC, but not as an aide any longer. I would like to hear from nurses that choose to stay in LTC. I know the patient ratio is way too high for nurses and administration listens way too little. I have seen all of that . But I am wondering, for those of you that feel called to work with the elderly in LTC, how do you cope? How do you stay? Knowing what you know...Seeing what you see? I know that they require nurses to overlook a lot, take a lot of shortcuts, etc.
I need to know your tips, hints. I see a lot of nurses that quit LTC in the frist few months because of the stress and the sadness and the shortcuts. So if you stay in LTC please let me know how. Thanks
I love LTC! I love the fact that I build relationships with the resident and their families. Even helping someone pass with dignity and respect, makes me feel good. It is not trauma and I know some would probably be bored silly. Not that ltc is slow passed, it is just different nursing .
My nursing home IS clean...My patients are taken care of. My complaint is not enough money for supplies...and money always being the bottom line
LTC is my first nursing job and I like it for the most part. I'm fortunate to work in a clean, compliant, well staffed facility.
I work weekends 7a to 7p and have the same assignment of 20 residents every weekend. There are 2 CNAs who work with me.
I like that I get to know my residents and their families. I like the routine of my job and knowing what needs to be done when. I have a variety of residents with different medical and psychological conditions.
I don't like that I'm new and still learning, but as time goes by its getting better.
Malem,I have done it for 20 years as an LPN, and let me tell you everything you said is sooo true, but here is the bottem line, why I stay-- I love my residents, I learn so much from them, I feel honered to be there, just like a nurse who works with new Moms and Babies, at the start of one's life, I feel blessed to be able to be there at one's end of life, It humbles me, If I can make a difference, even a small thing, I know I have done my best. I hope ( and I won't see it in my life probably) but the LTC situation has got to change, more help, more help , more help!!. Good luck to you, and please know you will make a difference no matter what you do.
LTC staffing has been an issue for all the 20 yrs I have worked it. I have learned to accept the things I cannot change. It may not be right, it may not be fair, but it's just the way it is. I stay because it's where i fit. I like the elderly, especially the way they "tell it like it is" without fear of repercussions. I admire their moxy. Nurses are restricted in how they express themselves due to professionalism. If it were not for the dry humor of the residents, work would be dull and devoid of laughter at times. They also have some fascinating life stories to tell. They give me a view of my not too distant future.
Schmoo1022
520 Posts
I love LTC! I love the fact that I build relationships with the resident and their families. Even helping someone pass with dignity and respect, makes me feel good. It is not trauma and I know some would probably be bored silly. Not that ltc is slow passed, it is just different nursing .
My nursing home IS clean...My patients are taken care of. My complaint is not enough money for supplies...and money always being the bottom line