If you work at a nursing home (SNF)....

[WldChrry]

Do you feel like all you are is a pill pusher and you are losing the skills you learned in school? I am a new LPN and I plan on eventually getting my RN. I have worked at a nursing home for about 2 months now (my first job). I'm not saying I feel this way, just want to hear from other nurses who work or have worked in a SNF for a while;)

[Anne36, LPN]

Wld Cherry, can you tell besides med pass what type of skills are you practicing on a daily basis? Do you insert catheters and operate feeding tube pumps, IV's?

[WldChrry]

Of course I do blood sugar checks and injections. I have not inserted a catheter yet, but when the opportunity arises I will definiteley take it. We do not have any IV patients so I haven't done anything with that. We have patient's with PEG's and Colostomy's/Urostomy's, so I've done some care with those. We have one patient with a trach, although I haven't had much of a chance to work with him yet. I've also done some wound care. I am a float so I think that it will help me to get a little more experience. I actually do love my job, but I have heard some nurses say how much they hate LTC and feel like all they do is pass meds:confused:

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I've been working in LTC facilities/nursing homes for five years and feel attracted to them because they offer a lower-pressure environment. I am not an adrenaline junkie who enjoys fast-paced, high-pressure environments such as the ER, trauma, ICU, etc. I like to move slow and have the same old routine.

You are building a very different skill set in LTC, although you do not realize it at this time. Some hospital nurses have attempted to work in LTC because they thought it would be easy, but did not have the time management skills to care for 30+ residents.

[WldChrry]

TheCommuter...thanks for your insight. I've actually heard that alot from other nurses that I work with. Me being a new nurse, they complement me on how well I am doing and say that some seasoned nurses cannot handle the type of nursing/demands that come with LTC. I actually feel drawn to LTC too...at least at this point in time. I really like working with the elderly, and I like how busy I always am. I do feel like at some point I may want to work at a hospital, just because I like to do things like start IV's and draw blood, which is something we did in school and I miss.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

TheCommuter...thanks for your insight. I've actually heard that alot from other nurses that I work with. Me being a new nurse, they complement me on how well I am doing and say that some seasoned nurses cannot handle the type of nursing/demands that come with LTC. I actually feel drawn to LTC too...at least at this point in time. I really like working with the elderly, and I like how busy I always am. I do feel like at some point I may want to work at a hospital, just because I like to do things like start IV's and draw blood, which is something we did in school and I miss.

I feel that the only skills i am lacking are inserting IV's, and I still miss by a mile putting in a foley. other than that, bring on the 30 patient med pass! LOL