Long term care is really THIS bad???

[hilzaberry]

I have just finished up getting my CNA certification and decided to do some volunteer hours at a local long term care facility to bulk up my resume (and due to the lacking jobs). The facility SEEMED pretty nice and well maintained however I was somewhat horrified by the total lack of respect some of the healthcare workers had to the facilities elderly residents. Just because some of them act especially needy or act inappropriately due to a elderly disorder (in my mind) doesn't mean a staff member can just sit around talking on their phones about going out to the bar later while they ignore their patient! Most of the staff also was totally nasty looking too...Some of the employees smelled like alcohol/cigarettes/B.O. I don't think I saw ANYONE wash their hands ONCE, their clothes had sweat stains and other crap all over their scrubs IF they were wearing scrubs. It was pretty dang nasty...

Their behavior didn't seem much better...I didn't say anything though because I couldn't tell if I was just being overly critical. I got upset however when an elderly woman wet herself after she was ignored by the nurses at the nurses station while trying to get their attention. They were too busy talking about their boyfriends or some crap..it was just sad Then there was this other woman who had a nasty cut on her arm which she was scratching. It was bleeding everywhere and when I told the RN he said that it "wasn't a big deal" since she did it all the time and didn't even wipe her off! I even asked if we could clip her nails or something and he said it didn't matter because she would just do it again eventually. It was just so so sad...I don't know if this is how it usually is at a long term care facility but if it is I'm not sure if I want to work as a CNA at one because I can't deal with people around me treating others so horribly!!! Am I being too sensitive????? I never had this type of encounter while I spent time working as an EMT/Paramedic however that was obviously a totally different type of healthcare setting...At this point I'm ready to get a lawyer to legally note in my will that my kids are never allowed to put me in one of those places I'm so freaked...

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Does anyone know the legalities of having to provide a gluten-free diet to a resident? I know that in schools, if they receive ONE federal dollar, they have to accommodate a child with celiac (or any medical disability or condition).

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

We provide a gluten free diet if one is ordered by the doc. We even have separate toasters so the gluten cootie crumbs don't touch the gluten free bread.

[narcolepticnurse]

It highly depends on where you work. The facility I was an STNA at and where my mom works (different county) is good to both patients and staff. Family owned of course and the food is good too! . Now, the place I worked for 2.5 years out of school is also family owned, but is atrocious to staff and make pretty inexcusable cuts to drive profits up. In a place like that you'll burn out faster than a Fourth of July sparkler. Thank god I start my first hospital job soon.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

No, it's not that bad. Nurses tend to grossly exaggerate when it comes to LTC. I think all those LTC nurses who wistfully pine for that hospital job.... have never actually worked in a hospital. It's nothing like clinicals. You get more than 2 pts for one thing.... spend a couple weeks on a med surg floor and then come back and tell me how bad LTC is.....

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

Not all facilities are like that. My facility doesn't allow cell phones, and we have to look nice. No tattoos, (they have to be covered), no dangly earrings, no pink/blue/ bright crayon red hair! Yes, they enforce all of these.

The no cell phone rule really helps. I hate seeing people on their phones instead of caring for residents, but I am over 50. :)

Anyway, I'd say find a new place to work. Sounds like you are 'old school' too, which is a very good thing! :) xo