I just started a job in LTC in NJ and am still an orientee (4 weeks left) and I already hate it. At this point I'm not sure if the hospital setting would be much better because I realize that it is nearly as stressful. I'm kind of upset that I spent so much getting my BSN through an accelerated program (had another degree) so I don't want it to go to waste but now I feel like the only thing keeping me is the fact that besides feeding myself and paying bills, I have to pay back all these loans. I would like to say first that I did not get into this for the money as this was a career change I made because I didn't want to pursue my masters to become a PT. I felt that in my prior experiences in working as a unit clerk, PT assistant, and home companion while I was completing my previous degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies that I would enjoy nursing so I decided to go for it within 6 months after I graduated with my first Bacherlors.
I am being oriented by people whom I believe to be very knowledgeable and kind but I am being taught "short cuts" because the work load is just too much. I've been told that "there is the facilitiies' way, then there is the real way." At first I thought that this was not that true, but how wrong I have been because I've seen nurses on my floor and others so overwhelmed that they've fudged numbers on vitals and even scheduled meds together just to save time. I feel like a drug bartender, maid, and a slave all at the same time on a daily basis pushing a cart up and down the hall during med pass in which we "are not to be interrupted" but is a fallacy. One couple threatens to "have us fired" if we don't hurry up with her vicodin while I have to keep an eye on a confused woman who recently fell and keeps continuing to walk around without her walker and can't seem to sit for 1.5 mins without getting up and wandering and asking me where her teeth and glasses are even though I reassure her that they are on her face and in her mouth. They tell me that this is a "no lift facility" even though I already had to lift a patient into bed because there was no one to help and there was only one hoya lift on the floor that was in use already. This same patient I had to help into bed already had family that came in that threatened to sue because he had fallen once and they accused us of not being vigilant enough.
It scares me and annoys me constantly that we can and will be written up for staying late too much because of not being able to get everything done on time. I'm still learning and even up until now with the 36 patient per nurse load, although I only have 18 for now, its still too much to get done in the 8 hours. I've not been oriented on my shift because "there were no eligible nurses to orient me" so I may be left alone after the next two weeks on my assigned shift of 3-11 and all this while I've been oriented on days.
Already I've witnessed things that made me question how corporations can continue to squeeze the life out of the bottom line just to make money. I attended an "inservice" which entailed us being talked at rather than being spoken to, about how we need to be more cautious of how we prevent infection control even though only 12 of the 24 rooms on the floor had hand soap and some of the hand sanitizer dispensers were nearly empty. We were then told that at "XYZ facility, the patients are allowed to do whatever they want and we just have to let them."
I and the CNAs who happen to be of color, were called N's to our faces and told we were !@#$ers because a patient lost a football jersey that his dad got him for Christmas and he thought that we stole it. All the while of him spewing explitives and racial slurs for 5 mins straight an ADON was present and didn't even budge until he started to throw things and that's when she finally intervened.
I got sick last week and have been trying to work through it and between what I'm dealing with, not getting to take breaks, and just feeling generally overwhelmed and drained, I feel horrible.
This is week 3 of orientation for me and 2.5 weeks on the unit and already I am thinking of looking for something else that will hopefully encompass my nursing and previous degree while keeping this job on the side after 6 months. I've started job searching again and feel so sad that its come down to this once more. I'm not sure what else to do and if it will be better. I will not quit and know that I "have to find my niche" but med surg sounds like more pain if anything or just as bad. If anyone has been in this position and knows what else to do please let me know because I refuse to be unhappy after working so hard to get to this point and I can't leave my job because I need the money.
Hello. I big time agree with the writers who say your assistant director of nursing should have intervened immediately to support you when the patient "spewed racial slurs...and thought you stole a football jersey" ! So sorry you experienced this severe lack of team support at this facility! Your unfortunate experience seems to be a big "red flag" indicating that this is not a positive working environment! Hold your head high, turn in a professional two week resignation, "get out of Dodge", and move on. As another writer said, many other long term care facilites give high quality care and respect their employees. Best wishes!
]:crying2:I feel your pain! I endured so much working in a SNF for 5 years and the only thing that made me stay was my rate of pay sadly. Ive seen that no matter what other facilities to apply to it will be the same. Whether its a resident that is annoying or the DON it will be something. I decided to change to the hospital for a different environment and I must say its different. Never stay when you have these feelings and see whats going on trust me!
I'm so sorry that your first job out of nursing school had to be this one! It sounds like the job from HELL. It's amazing what is expected out of one human being and everyone acts like it's okay. Even though we all complain no one does anything about it (don't even know if anything can be done about it--very discouraging).
I left a job just like that one a few weeks ago but the one I'm at now has its own set of problems. I guess wherever you go there are impossible situations to deal with.
Longterm care can be very rewarding or I wouldn't have stayed in it this long. I would look around and see if you can find a better nursing home. A good way to do that would be to join an agency and they will send you out to various places. That's how I figured out where I wanted to work when I first started out without having to quit jobs all the time.
Good luck and know that so many of us are in the same boat and are thinking of you!
I am so sorry that you have found yourself in this position.
I have been there. Unfortuantely, the stress of the environment no doubt contributed to my now chronic autoimmune condition.
SO NOT WORTH IT. Find something, anything else. There are some LTC facilities that are good, and worth working for, the one you speak of isn't one of them.
U need to complain formally about the racial slurs. That is so unacceptable. I would have gotten angry I'm afraid, nipped it in the bud, told them what I think of them & marched off to find the NM or phoned the NM/DON. It's absolutely disgraceful that people think they can just abuse staff members like that. I'm curious as to why you stood for it, personally I mean, even though u said the ADON intervened? I quickly put people like that in their place. I've also told patients & their family members if they continue with racial abuse, we in Aust can call security & have them removed immediately.
I worked LTC one night caring for 65 patients, 5 carers & had to do everything. I will never, ever do it again in my career. I hated every single minute of that shift, & I wasn't even making a difference. The patients were too institutionalised, the family members in the main were extremely rude & demanding, & it was just too insanely busy.
Just make formal complaints re eveything, brush up your resume and interview skills & just apply everywhere. I know it's hard I've been there, done that, and it can be discouraging too. But u will get something else eventually. If you can't get anything soon, sign up with a good, flexible nursing agency so u can work the hours/days/facilities u want, then u won't have all that c**p to deal with. Who needs that BS everyday? I wouldn't stand for it for one second I'm afraid.
I think in nursing you have to be a bit hard sometimes, YOU are in charge, not the patients & their familes, & u have to be a bit forward and aggressive (and no I don't mean assertive), in a professional way. I don't know if in the US system u have to kowtow to patients & their families wishes (sounds like it), but you are the nurse in charge on that shift, and you're also a human being with feelings.
I'd be ringing the discrimination board or NAACP whatever it is over there.
Oh just read another post, 4got to say what about working in a retirement village/lifestyle village as a nurse? They advertise for people here & u might have to sleep over some nights, u get a pager and just help out with toileting, dressings, sometimes help prepare meals, make beds, etc. I did this for one shift thru the agency & loved it. The patients don't have severe dementia or anything, they have their own separate units & are good to chat to, it was enjoyable. What about applying to places like that?
I pray every day that I can continue on. I just feel so sad, stupid, and lied to that nursing wouldn't be like this but I feel that it just is. I am so much in debt but I just want to be happy. I love caring for people but I feel like I'm a doormat with excess responsibility.
You are NOT stupid! Never, ever, ever think that way! You are a health professional who has been abused and it happens in every work place unfortunately.
Don't ever put yourself down like that, not all nursing jobs are the same. U have had a bad introduction to nursing that is all. And nursing is an extremely stressful and draining job. I've worked in hospitals for 25 years in varying positions, and nursing is the worse one. But not all areas or hospitals/LTC facilities are bad. Just keep applying for different jobs, and look in the mirror everyday and say something like: "I am a health professional and I am the best!"
There are other non-hospital options for nurses who are not happy with the bedside nursing appy for an outpatient position,clinic, psych nursing or even home health care,also you have your bsn so maybe look into school nursing,occupational nursing, or case management.I know how you feel,I started my career in a home health nursing and the more I'm away from the hospital setting the more I dont miss it and I'm exploring other non-hospital options.
Sorry your having a bad experience. This is obviously not a good environment for you especially as a new grad. I would get out of that environment if I were you, cause obviously management don't care about their patients nor their employees.
Hi Blackhearted nurse, I am definitely trying for more areas and will consider psych especially if I can find positions that don't require so much experience. I have my previous degree and am still looking to incorporated it into a job with nursing but those jobs don't seem to exist as yet. It is New Years day 8:55 am as I type this and I've been online searching jobs since 6 am. I just want to be happy 2011 and beyond. I've worked so hard and put up with so much.
ocean waves
143 Posts
Hello. I big time agree with the writers who say your assistant director of nursing should have intervened immediately to support you when the patient "spewed racial slurs...and thought you stole a football jersey" ! So sorry you experienced this severe lack of team support at this facility! Your unfortunate experience seems to be a big "red flag" indicating that this is not a positive working environment! Hold your head high, turn in a professional two week resignation, "get out of Dodge", and move on. As another writer said, many other long term care facilites give high quality care and respect their employees. Best wishes!