Is it me or has the world gone mad?

[songfourone]

I recently accepted a position for per diem in a LTC facility close to my home. I lasted 2 days on orientation on the floor, and promptly put in my resignation. I could not possibly see how anyone can give adequate care with the staffing levels so low, and work load so ridiculously high. I am not a new graduate, have 30 years of nursing, and am outraged that this is allowed to happen, and I blame the state regulatory systems, they allow these facilities to operate under these conditions.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Visit the Geriatric/LTC forum. No, you're not nuts. We have a lot of elderly and not enough carers.

[softstorms]

welcome to LTC. But nowdays it is not long-term care. It is short term re-hab and Medicare. The LTC facilities still have all the guidelines of the past, but the pts. have changed. Staffing is still met by the old guidelines and does not live up to the needs of the pts. now in thier care. Most facilities "live" by the guidelines. Nothing more..nothing less. I have spent 10 years in hospital and then the next 10 in LTC.

Untill the "State" decides the nursing homes need more help!!!!!, They are not going to provide it.

[BearyPrivate]

That's exactly right! The state needs to look at the quality and acuity of care as well as the number of pt per staff ratio. In our LTC, we have 4 trach patients, 2 of which are under 40 yrs of age and requires alot more care than the little granny across the hall that can still get around with her walker and feed herself and requires only one assist for pericare. But, that's reality. State has a concept of these little old people that can do most things for themselves, but in actuality LTC is seeing more and more younger groups of people who are paralyzed from car accidents or drug abuse that have no where to turn except for LONG TERM CARE.

[oldbutnewlpn]

I am so discouraged,I work at a LTC home that is computerized charting. I thought this would make charting and orders so much easier, oh my!! ILast night it was only me, 25 residents and 2 admits, one on hospice all at med pass time, with3 CNA's. maybe I shouldn't complain,but I fell that the quality of care is really jeopardized when I am sitting at a computer trying to put orders into a system, and playing ward clerk . I didn't become a nurse to let someone fell neglected while i type. Where is the happy medium. If I had styayed to do all the charting I should have I would have been there till 5:00 a.m, now I concerned becuase I didn't chart everything.