Longing to get out of LTC

gragra1124 · Feb 26, 2009

How long you been in ltc? Which other fields are you considering? My friend has been in ltc for too many years to be accepted in hospitals and cries about this. If you have the opportunity to leave, it sound like you need a break...bood luck

evilolive, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2009

I've only worked in LTC for about 10 months, it was my first job after unsuccessfully trying to find new grad openings last spring. I am so over the "motivation by intimidation" tactics my ADON uses. I don't fear going to work on a daily basis, but I hate worrying what kind of c*** I'm going to run into, be blamed for, or have dumped on me. There's too much going on for one nurse to handle and I feel like my shift is the "hey, 11-7 just sits and twiddles their thumbs all night" shift, so let's put some more on them.

I've basically had enough, haha. I've done two job apps in the last week, so I'm hoping to hear something back. My facility is going down the tubes IMO, especially in terms of the staff they are hiring, so i'd like to get out before I have to hear about how crappy our survey goes this spring. I don't need to feel that kind of wrath.

nurseofalltrades · Feb 26, 2009

Oh My! Yes- I can totally relate to your discouragement. i have been in PC then LTC for a total of 4 years and I hate it. Our facility is not run the way it should be. I'm tired of the favoritism and certain things being swept under the rug. Another nurse who has only been there a year and a half was given a daylight position over me. It was never posted or discussed. I am livid.Also at our facility too much is expected out of one nurse. The average day is as follows: 1 LPN to approx 40 residents. this includes all med passes, txs, mood and behavior, MDS, charting, new orders, etc. We have one RN for the whole building. It isnt that Im not competent to handle the stress and responsibility, but I never get a pat on the back or a thank You. I too have been searching for a new job but in my area the only place that hires LPNS is LTC, so I am trying to put myself thru RN school while working FT. Not that I really wanted to be an RN, but it is my only way out!!!! If u need to vent feel free to send me a message..LOL:nurse:

freddiebear · Feb 26, 2009

Evilolive- Doesnt sound like LTC is your calling. Your doing the best thing, just keep applying to other areas and eventually your ship will come in. In the mean time ignore all the negativity, take care of the residents and hopefully you will get a call from elsewhere telling you, you've been hired. Keep your head up in the mean time. LTC isnt a job its an adventure.

NYRN08 · Feb 26, 2009

I too, am in LTC and have been in the past 12 years. First, as a CNA and then as an LPN. I can understand where everyone is coming from. I decided that once I got my RN - I would get out of LTC forever. I never thought that it would happen b/c I heard that once your in LTC it is hard to get out. I personally think that LTC take advantage of their nurses and we do not deserve that!! I just accepted a per-diem positions as an RN for the med/surg & step down unit at a hosp about 30 mins away from me. I can't believe that it has happened and I'm excited to start this new career.

Just keep applying to other places and perhap you can take a review course to help get your foot into a hosp setting. Good Luck! and hang in there. Also, if you need to vent please feel free to pm me. I understand not being able to talk to anyone at the job...my place was the same way. :up: :nurse:

Joanna

travel50 · Feb 27, 2009

I read all your posts on this subject with great interest. There have been similar posts since I found this website. I am the DON at a 70 bed facility. Sometimes I get so tired of the stress that I just want to quit, but I am so attached to my staff and residents that I don't. The majority of my stress comes from other areas. I have an excellent staff. I try so hard to make their jobs as good as I can. I am afraid if I leave that the next DON will not pay attention to their needs so well. I have had some lousy DONs over the years. I'm so saint, but at least I do care. Anyway, I read your posts with this in mind. I want to know why you feel burned out, why you are unhappy in your jobs, etc., so I can try to make sure it is not the case in my facility. I have argued with corporate to get my aides and nurses a pay increase. I finally got enough staff to suit me...we are now staffed very good. You guys are generally not treated well it seems. My LPNs have 30ish pts to care for, but they have a treatment nurse and an RN on the floor to help them with IVs, PD, behavior problems, families, charting, and the umpteen problems that arise. I am on the floor often, they can always call me, give them time off if they are over tired, etc. I hope they know how important they are to me and to the residents.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2009

To the original poster: are there any home health agencies in your area?

Many nurses who become burned-out by LTC usually love the change of pace that home health offers. Instead of managing 30 chronically sick residents at once, you will only care for the 1 single patient who is usually in stable condition (or else they wouldn't be at home). I have heard that home health is the best-kept secret in nursing.

nurseofalltrades · Feb 27, 2009

Well Travel50 , I will tell you that I have on average 35-40 patients under my wing. I usually work 2-1030pm which includes two med passes. The first pass lasts about 1 1/2 hours and the second is about 2 hours, so there is half my shift. We do not have a tx nurse and the RN is never where u need her. If u call her she sighs and gives u attitude or an anatomy lesson before she will help or eval the res.If we have behavior problems, its my burden no one elses. No one gives me a helping hand.Out of the 4 hours Im not passing pills, an hour is spent in the dining room for supper.That leaves charting, txs, MDS, mood and behavior, Pain management and a lunch break which I rarely get.(Im a competent speedy nurse and hardly get done).So this is why I am burned out with LTC. Any other questions feel free to message me.

OklaLPN · Feb 27, 2009

Travel50...

May I come to work for you? I would give anything for my DON to make rounds on our floor during our shifts. I can't count on one hand the times that she has come to even say hi. Work the floor when we are so short...not likely!!! I remember one day when I was the only nurse and was fortunate to have a great CNA and that was it for 40 people. I asked the DON to please stay and help as we were drowning. I was informed that she had already done her 8 hr shift. I didn't know whether to sit down and cry or slap the fire out of her. But, somehow we did it. The only reason that I stay, is as others say, I love my residents and I want to make sure that they get the excellent care that they deserve. Nothing makes my day brighter than a pat on my hand or cheek and I hear the words, "Honey, I love your dearly", from my residents.

Your staff is truly fortunate to have a very caring DON, as yourself. My hat is off to you:yeah:

evilolive, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2009

I think a lot of my stress is coming from my ADON right now. We do not currently have a DON at our facility, and she's taking a lot on, and has a more seasoned RN doing some admin work.

Things that irk me

*Interrupting my med pass to tell me that my CNAs did not bring the water cooler thingy downstairs

*Asking me every morning after the 15th of the month "how are we doing" on summaries, assessments, and editing and giving me the stare of death if I said I couldn't get to any.

*Constantly leaving me notes when I come in, telling me to do my summaries or editing, when I already know what needs to be done. You only need to tell me once.

*Not paying attention to important issues (like a pt. who has not been able to start her stream of urine for about 12 hours) but going on and on about a skin tear that did not happen on my shift and asking me what happened.

*And lastly, giving the "above and beyond" award (which includes a small bonus) to an LPN who has only worked since November when I have busted my a** and even worked both floors for about 2 weeks total with no extra compensation. This one was a real stab to me, personally.

I wish my boss would work a night shift here occasionally. She hasn't done one since I've worked here. I feel like she just doesn't get it, so to say. When I don't do something that she feels I should have, I get chewed a new butt hole, given the death stare, and told "well I worked a 60 bed unit on nights and managed to get ALL the editing, ALL the summaries, ALL the assessments, and everything else.

Of course, she will randomly throw in "you're doing great, we're going to do so well (re: survey)" but that doesn't make me feel any better. It's all about pleasing corporate and making money, IMO.

It will never be good enough. But keep giving that Above and Beyond award to the newbies who keep asking me what to do on a nightly basis.

Mobiusrain · Mar 8, 2009

I'm only on my 2nd day in LTC and I can already feel the burn . 4 days of orientation definitely isn't enough! My whole 8 hour shift is mostly med pass, can't even get to documentation and summaries without taking overtime. Everyone says it'll get easier as I go, but even after hearing that, I don't thing I would find myself enjoying LTC nursing in the long run. I might just try to get into something more enjoyable, maybe hemodialysis. At least I'll have better chances of getting into a hospital with that kind of experience.