I'm getting tired of taking people to the bathroom, pericare, & empowering cna's!!

[ilovetheelderly]

We give meds, put ports in, insulin, fsbgs, vs, t & p, put foleys, lab results and remove stool, give immunizations tb testing, put creams measure wounds, check for o2 sats, change o2 equipment, put res on toilet, clysis, dressing changes and all that it entails, feed and clothe residents, take orders (tele & verbal), deal with residents and their families, assist with prom and rom exercises, wipe noses, oral care, post mortem care, call laundry for lost items, bladder scans, continually prevent the dementia res from falling even though chair and bed alarms go off as soon as you leave them and give them 1:1 etc with folding washcloths, stuffing envelopes, give them cards to play with, put music on, ambulate res and put them in mechanical lifts or assist, hold hands, give hugs, clean nails after filed or cut. All of this continually in everyday tasks and job descriptions, to name a few in long term care and all while you have to do your main job which is "WHAT, WHEN, HOW MUCH, " . If it wasn't for prayer and restful periods (at least a lunch and a restful sleep, and weekends), I would've quit long time ago. Lord, help me not to give up but it doesn't help when families c/o why their demented family member who is incontinent, bed alarm with 2 mats on floor because of frequent falls, fx'd hip that won't be repaired r/t fam's decision to place on comfort care. I had to apologize to family that I was feeding a res next door. Don't families ever feel that maybe they can pick up a wash cloth and try to give comfort themselves to their beloved one or is it always our job, I mean lets get real. Its not the nursing professions fault that these nursing facililties cost almost 8-10,000 dollars a month. I had to stop feeding this res to go get another staff nurse while the aide was I don't know where (she later said she was putting someone else in bed which I do believe her), but I mean when you have a cna on an assisignment with 5 mechanical lifts (and you need 2 people) and many times they're not easy transfers, either they're spitting on you, kicking out of the sling, or just plain heavy people, and then you have to get someone else to feed the res and by this time, the food is cold. This kind of system has to change and then everybody wonders outside the nursing profession why there is a nursing shortage. By the time the person gets to feed the res after an interruption, the res changes their mind. Hopefully, this doesn't always happen but lets face it, this happens more often than you want. Many times we make a difference, but just as many times we can't as nurses give the care we would like to because there aren't enough people giving 100 % which we would like to but we're not superwomen or men unless you have team players. Please pray for all of us that we will try to make a difference as much as we can. Thanks for letting me vent but I'm getting tired of this job description when we're not superwomen or supermen even though this non profit corporation and its nursing administration think we are. Did they forget what it was like to do our job or are some families just more and more unrealistic when they think their mom or dad aren't the same like they use to be, Lord help us, let your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven!!!!

[stevierae]

My goodness! Sounds like you need to take a short --or LONG--vacation from it all before you end up "going postal."

Seriously, for your own mental health, DO IT-- the way you are rambling, you sound as if you are at your wits' end, and really, really need to take a much deserved break--Take care. Stay in touch. This post was very distrubing and worrysome. You are in my prayers.

[live4today, RN]

(((((((((((((ilovetheelderly))))))))))))) :kiss Hope you can feel the love and the warmth of that big hug right now. You sound like you need a support system right now. We're here for you...vent on...it DOES help to let it all out. And many of us can relate to the excess stress and tugging at the emotions over our desire to do better for our patients. I pray that you have a peaceful night's sleep tonight, and wake up feeling refreshed in mind and body. :kiss

[StephMSeattle]

I am in the exact same situation right now! Everything you've said here describes my job...

[NorthStar]

In some countries, it is just a "given" that the family's come in and do the actual "hands-on" care of the patient. The nurses pass the meds and do the education with the families. Now, that is heaven on earth.....where people are caring for people. (not 1 nurse caring for 10)

[Dixen81]

I sure do hope you get some rest and definitely more help. May God bless you for all you do, but surely you can't do it all. Please do try to take a break or small vacation; you certainly need and deserve one. I'll remember you in my prayers. :kiss

[dphrn]

Unfortunately, it sounds like a typical day in nursing. It also sounds like you need a break, and soon. I stopped reading your post 3/4 the way... I was exhausted. :)

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I feel your pain. Thanks for venting.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

There is a special place in heaven for nurses, and long-term care nurses get to sit at God's feet, I am convinced. I did your job for ten years as an RN and 7 as a CNA. Your post sounded like a typical night or day in my facility and since I left, I wonder how in blazes I managed to do it for so long and not have something perfectly awful happen. It was a matter of time before something did, so I left. I too, love the elderly. I am a certified gerontological nurse. But I just couldn't take the patient load, the level of care they need nowadays with no changes in staffing ratios for the past ten years. I couldn't cope with the ridiculous regs which prevent us from keeping these people safe. I work acute rehab now. Still get a lot of elderly, which is nice. But acute care doesn't have the patient load I had in LTC and I can reason with this population. Really, you do sound like you are burning out. Get help, take some time off or maybe get out for a while. Good luck and God bless.

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

Originally posted by ilovetheelderly

Did they forget what it was like to do our job or are some families just more and more unrealistic when they think their mom or dad aren't the same like they use to be, Lord help us, let your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven!!!!

Wow, I agree with the other posters, you need a break. You sound like such a wonderful and compassionate nurse and I am sure that is why you are feeling the way you are ... because you care about those residents so much. That is why you are needed and your residents love you so much. Please don't let family members discourage you.

I worked LTC for a number of years before I became an RN and once I finished my RN, I ran as fast as I could. The government and society has made LTC nursing almost an impossible job. Back in the days when I was working as an LPN, there were so few regulations that owners and operators did not have to give good care .... and some of them did not. Fortunately for the residents I cared for, the owner and operator was wonderful and our residents received great care. Today, LTC is so overregulated, sometimes, the regulations make it impossible to give good care.

Hang in there and take a break to gather yourself .... there is a lot of love here for you.

:kiss

[CarolineRn]

Oh my, ilovetheelderly... You DO need a break, bless your overworked soul. You simply "can't" do everything, although I do understand the pressures (both internal and external) to do so. Vent away, my friend. We're here to offer support and understanding. And while you seldom get the recognition you deserve from the people who rely on you most, be assured that you are appreciated and valued. Someone posted that there has to be a special place in heaven for folks like you. I am not very religious, but I do believe in karma.. Yours must be very, very good. Perhaps if there is a next life, you will certainly be rewarded. Maybe even in this life your rewards will be great. Take comfort in the knowledge that (whatever your beliefs) what comes around does go around, and what you are doing for others is Right, Just, and Good. Meanwhile, remember to take time out for YOU. You certainly deserve it.

[Rapheal]

I am saying a prayer for you. Vent on. Hope things get better for you soon.