Is LTC really this bad?

Simplepleasures · Jan 15, 2007

:uhoh21: so sorry if I hurt anyone with my last post . I guess I have a hard time expressing myself properly. guess it has to do with being bi-lingual . :innerconf :selfbonk: :smackingf

No, I dont think anyone was hurt, just a little taken aback.You seem to be a very sensitive caring nurse, I know you must be well loved by your patients. :saint:

:kiss

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jan 16, 2007

A few months ago, the entire nursing department were forced to watch a video called "give them the pickle" which had been developped by some business guru about customer service. Basically it was about appeasing people to prevent trouble in the future. I mean come on. Is this really what our energies should be put towards? Placating family members? Aren't we supposed to be taking care of people. How the heck are we supposed to be doing that while strategizing for "customer satisfaction". Aparently quality care isn't enough. They want service with a smile and extra condiments.

:rolleyes: My corporation's version of customer service is called "Give 'em the Pillow"...lol...you know...like at the Marriott and the customer asks for an extra pillow??? Don't they realize give 'em the pillow is a euphemism for suffocation??? Almost peed in my pants the first time I heard it.

linzz · Jan 16, 2007

Capecodmermaid, I laughed so much when I read your post, give them the pillow as a motto. Oh dear!

allantiques4me · Jan 16, 2007

Did you happen to see Readers digest(December issue??2006page 96 Deadly Neglect.No wonder good nurses leave.I personally used to work LTC until I felt totally overwhelmed,couldnt give my patients the care I knew they deserved.Read This article if you can it explains a lot of the reason for the hUge turnover.

southern_rn_brat · Jan 16, 2007

lol I would love to give some family members "the pillow"

nursedawn67, LPN · Jan 17, 2007

Ok here is my 2 cents:

I work in LTC, I have worked in LTC for 13 years. I have been a CNA, I have worked in activities and a nurse (on 2 different shifts). I love LTC. I work for a big chain, and I personally love it, they have corporate come once a year sometime before state does they go through everything just like state and they "grade" us just like state does. This keeps us on our toes and makes sure things are proper. We also have regular....mini checks shall we say. I find state to keep demanding more and more with out increasing the nursing ratio. Which is where you get those "bad" facilities. Despite what some say....LTC is not all easy. Don't get me wrong just like ANY other nursing job you have your easier days, but for the most part it can be very taxing mentally and physically. You have demanding residents, demanding families and demanding staff. You have time limits on things and you can get very frustrated wanting to give some extra time, love and attention to residents, but just can't because there is just too much to do. Now in equal rights just to have a resident say good morning, to see them light up when you are around, just to see them smiling because they are simply alive, happy and taken care of tells me we are doing a good job. I get sick of hearing about all these "bad" nursing homes and never the "good" ones. And just for the record I don't just take care of elderly "dumped off" people, I take care of younger residents that have been in some kind of accident/have cancer/some disease process slowly killing them. I have taken care of people there for rehab after some sort of surgery, I have taken care of residents whose families are so full of guilt for bring their loved one to LTC that react in a variety of ways from angry and demanding to over helpful & the in between, and yes I have taken care of the "dumped off" elderly residents. The work is hard and that is where partly the turnover comes from, the other part is some people just are not meant to work in LTC, it makes them sad, some depressed and others it simply is just too much overall and that's ok, not everyone is cut out for it. And those of us that are cut out for it do need to vent, we can get just as frustrated with cuts (staff, budget etc), money, watching our "new" loved ones we care for in LTC get sick and/or die.

Anyhow just my 2 cents....thanks for listening!

Simplepleasures · Jan 18, 2007

I get sick of hearing about all these "bad" nursing homes and never the "good" ones. The work is hard and that is where partly the turnover comes from, the other part is some people just are not meant to work in LTC, it makes them sad, some depressed and others it simply is just too much overall and that's ok, not everyone is cut out for it. And those of us that are cut out for it do need to vent, we can get just as frustrated with cuts (staff, budget etc), money, watching our "new" loved ones we care for in LTC get sick and/or die.
Anyhow just my 2 cents....thanks for listening!

I have to respond to this post because when a nurse who happens to be VERY LUCKY to work in a facility that they are happy with, says that they are sick of hearing about "bad nursing homes", it negates the LEGITAMITE CONCERNS of the nurses who voice their LTC stories here on this forum. There are many, HARD working, intelligent , caring nurses out there in LTC that have horror stories to tell because it is ACTUALLY happening out there on a HUGE basis. These concerns should not be chalked up to just negative people, or nurses who are not cut out to work in LTC.Really this is insulting thousands of excellent nurses.I get sick and tired of the pollyanna additude of some LTC nurses who are SO Quick to blame the victim, her fellow nurses. :madface:

banditrn · Jan 19, 2007

My corporation's version of customer service is called "Give 'em the Pillow"...lol...you know...like at the Marriott and the customer asks for an extra pillow??? Don't they realize give 'em the pillow is a euphemism for suffocation??? Almost peed in my pants the first time I heard it.

Capecod - we used to call that the 'POF' treatment - Pillow On Face! :lol2: Every once in awhile, we'd get a newbie come and ask advice about something or other, and we'd solumnly tell them it was time for the POF treatment!! Usually broke the tension, and never had one actually go for it.:)

banditrn · Jan 19, 2007

I have to respond to this post because when a nurse who happens to be VERY LUCKY to work in a facility that they are happy with, says that they are sick of hearing about "bad nursing homes", it negates the LEGITAMITE CONCERNS of the nurses who voice their LTC stories here on this forum. There are many, HARD working, intelligent , caring nurses out there in LTC that have horror stories to tell because it is ACTUALLY happening out there on a HUGE basis. These concerns should not be chalked up to just negative people, or nurses who are not cut out to work in LTC.Really this is insulting thousands of excellent nurses.I get sick and tired of the pollyanna additude of some LTC nurses who are SO Quick to blame the victim, her fellow nurses.

:yeahthat: :yeahthat:

nursedawn67, LPN · Jan 19, 2007

I have to respond to this post because when a nurse who happens to be VERY LUCKY to work in a facility that they are happy with, says that they are sick of hearing about "bad nursing homes", it negates the LEGITAMITE CONCERNS of the nurses who voice their LTC stories here on this forum. There are many, HARD working, intelligent , caring nurses out there in LTC that have horror stories to tell because it is ACTUALLY happening out there on a HUGE basis. These concerns should not be chalked up to just negative people, or nurses who are not cut out to work in LTC.Really this is insulting thousands of excellent nurses.I get sick and tired of the pollyanna additude of some LTC nurses who are SO Quick to blame the victim, her fellow nurses.

Wow...I was refering to news reports and the such, they are quick to report about bad nursing homes and not good ones also. I am well aware of nursing homes that can be downright terrible, I have worked in them. So please don't attack me, I most certainly don't have a "pollyanna" attitude, I was actually defending those nurse that have to work in these bad places. But honestly nursing home work isn't for everyone, same as ER work isn't for everyone etc. My original post was also refering to someone asking about small LTC chains vs big chains, and compiled together from other posts. Bottom line is the state says you have X amount of work that must be done and only X amount of staffing and funding. It makes the work hard and frankly things being "undone". And in the long run it is the residents that suffer, and this is what most news stories like to cover, not the stories of the nursing home that somehow manage to do everything by the grace of god. I never said don't vent your horror stories out but if some one ask for opinions and responses then hey I'm going to answer.

hecete · Jan 19, 2007

i work in ltc, on the skilled floor. our census is 60, we are constantly filled. we have 3 nurses on 2 shifts, usually 4-5 cna's per shift. many of our residents are here for rehab. only so the turnover is quick. where things go terribly wrong is with corporate. they are more interested in lining their pockets than providing the equiptment, we have no computers, constantly running out of supplies, beds are broken, not enough overlays,not enough equiptment. i can go on forever. the staff on my floor are like family, we watch each others backs, and help each other if we get in a bind. you don't have to ask, you know they'll be there. adm sucks, if nothing is wrong, they'll invent something. the pay is also below standard. another floor has a show room, it's to show what you won't get. the residents rooms are old, broken scratched furniture, broken blinds, broken privacy curtains, but we had a $750.00 xmas tree in the front lobby. everything above the 1st. floor is crap. so to ans your question, is ltc that bad. it depends on how you look at it. i love the residents, and my co-workers, but the rest of it can"bite me":flamesonb

withasmilelpn · Jan 24, 2007

Wow...I was refering to news reports and the such, they are quick to report about bad nursing homes and not good ones also. I am well aware of nursing homes that can be downright terrible, I have worked in them. So please don't attack me, I most certainly don't have a "pollyanna" attitude, I was actually defending those nurse that have to work in these bad places. But honestly nursing home work isn't for everyone, same as ER work isn't for everyone etc. My original post was also refering to someone asking about small LTC chains vs big chains, and compiled together from other posts. Bottom line is the state says you have X amount of work that must be done and only X amount of staffing and funding. It makes the work hard and frankly things being "undone". And in the long run it is the residents that suffer, and this is what most news stories like to cover, not the stories of the nursing home that somehow manage to do everything by the grace of god. I never said don't vent your horror stories out but if some one ask for opinions and responses then hey I'm going to answer.

I think that maybe what Cameron means is that the only thing that ever gets in the news is about neglect, etc. Those stories need to be told, but so do the good things. Frankly I think many of the nurses I've been fortunate to work with are some of the most hardworking, kindest people I know. There is a perception by many of our colleagues and the public that to be a LTC nurse is shameful. Maybe if they knew the truth about how hard most of us work and care they would be more supportive of the changes we want to make?