LTC is depressing!

luvmy3kids · Aug 14, 2007

I'm having a little problem & I'm hoping someone could give me some insight.
I'm almost done with my CNA training (I graduate next Thursday). I took this course to prepare for nursing school and get some experience. I just finished Day #2 of clinicals and have 7 more days to go. We're doing our clinical at a nursing home, and I love taking care of the residents. Here's the problem: The nursing home is so depressing! I'm starting to wonder if this isn't for me- but I still love taking care and talking to the residents, so maybe I'm just not fit for LTC? Are assisted living facilities any better than nursing homes?
I would LOVE to work in a hospital, but I heard it's really hard to get a hospital job if you don't have any experience. Should I try to volunteer at a hospital first? Any insight or advice would be appreciated--Thank you. :)

I wouldn't lose hope just yet. Yes, it can be depressing. But these people need people like yourself to care for them. I remember on my 2nd day of clinical... I tried everything I could to keep from crying. I was on the Alzheimer's unit and it was so hard to watch these people talk to me and then forget what they had said 30 seconds earlier. One lady was so frightened because she couldn't remember where she was. The fear in her eyes was enough to break my heart.

By the time I was done with my first day, I didn't want to go back. But I found such great satisfaction in helping them and especially calming that one lady down when she was so scared. I know I have lately thought about going back and maybe working in a LTC. I just don't think it's possible with my husband's schedule and the kids and all.

I think a lot of CNA's probably feel the same as you and end up developing a wall and then come in and just do their job and go home. Trying not to get personally involved. I can understand that to a point, but I still think they need someone who really cares for them and treats them well.

I have heard it can be a bit difficult to get a position as a CNA in a hospital, but you can always try. It would be great experience. I volunteer and I love it.

I really think they need caring people like you! Whether LTC or a hospital. Good luck!

DreamyEyes · Aug 15, 2007

Thank you for your reply. :) Anyone else going through this or have found that LTC isn't for you?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2007

I work in LTC as an LPN. I find caring for other people's demented, dying relatives to be terribly sad, but keep my spirits up by knowing that I bring them happiness.

GingerSue · Aug 15, 2007

when I worked in LTC - it was the very good care, the co-workers, and the supervisor(s) that impressed me

yes, many of the residents were old, bedridden, incontinent - but not all of them

I would return.

But I'm usually willing to work just about anywhere - and tend to find myself happy in many settings (this is being flexible and adaptable)

I hope that you find the area where you feel happy.

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Aug 15, 2007

I'm not suited for LTC either. I did my clinicals there and I was appalled at the maintenance of the home and the terrible working conditions. Half the beds that were supposed to work didn't so you ended up doing bed baths either bent over killng your back or down on your knees. They had one shower room for about 75 residents on two units, the alzheimers unit had their own since they were on lockdown. In this one shower room, there was one shower chair that 1) didn't lock and 2) had broken wheels. Plus the shower was supposed to have those anti slip strips in it so we wouldn't fall but they were gone and I almost fell twice.

If I needed assistance transfering someone, I could never find anyone when I needed them. When we would come on the floor for our clinicals, the CNA's working there would all disappear and leave us to ourselves.

There were never enough gloves to keep the rooms stocked and when they had gloves, they were all medium, I wear large. Also, when you went to change beds, finding linens was like going on a treasure hunt! They were never there when you needed them or you would be able to find everything you needed BUT a draw sheet or a flat sheet or a fitted sheet. Residents would end up with missing socks and underwear all the time and you had to steal from someone else which was just horrible to me! And finding briefs for the residents was also a nightmare! They were supposed to be in the supply closets but they never were.

The LPN's there were less than helpful as well. If we needed to ask them a question, they would ignore us and not answer our questions. I relied very heavily on my clinical instructor in answering questions. I asked one for some tape one time to help me cover a residents wound so we could shower him and all this person told me was to "go look on the other unit". Yeah, thanks for the tip.

I just had a terrible expirience. On our last day of clinicals, I was walking by the DON's office and I could hear her yelling at someone at the top of her lungs with the door closed!!!

I've never worked LTC for those above reasons. The residents were absolutely wonderful and fun but the conditions were just terrible.

I work in a hospital now and haven't ever looked back to LTC. I absolutely LOVE it where I work. It's not impossible to get into a hospital with no expirience. I was hired two weeks after graduation into my current position as a tech with no CNA type exp except for my clinicals. It is possible. You just have to knock on the right doors and be that squeaky wheel.

DreamyEyes · Aug 16, 2007

Thank you aerorunner, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who doesn't feel cut out for LTC - luckily, the staff at the clinical site I'm at are WONDERFUL and very helpful, especially the nurses. They've all been really nice. And I absolutely love the residents, I just hate how they can't get the care they deserve. I think it just makes me really sad to know that most of these people are dying and some don't even have family coming to visit them. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that you got a hospital job right away! Are you a nursing student?

deeDawntee, RN · Aug 16, 2007

I hear ya, sister. I worked as a nurse in LTC and loved it and hated it for the very same reasons you have posted. It is perfectly OK if it isn't your niche, it doesn't mean that nursing is not for you. I know that being in a nursing home seems like a horrible existence, but let me tell you something that I witnessed that helped me have a new perspective.

A little old lady was found in an old dilapidated house, all alone for apparently a very long time. She was dirty and incontinent, the place had no heating or cooling, there were raccoons living in the house with her. When she came into the nursing home, the woman thought she was in heaven. The social worker had gotten her some clothes from a Goodwill and she had her own little dresser and closet, she would open her dresser drawer and stroke her clothing and show people when they came in the room, she had her own wheelchair (which she loved!! she could get around!) and a clean bed and when you brought her to meals or gave her a snack she was sooo grateful and happy that it would literally bring tears to your eyes. She was soooo happy to have people around!! She loved you soooo much and was grateful for anything you did for her. It was and continues to be one of the most dear and valuable memories I have in my mind from being a nurse.

I lasted in LTC for one year. It was invaluable in my education as a nurse in many ways: being around death and seeing what a blessing it is and how beautiful it can be, really helped me deal with the whole death experience. Being in LTC gives you another perspective on the human experience. Good and bad, it is all there smack in your face.

Sometimes I pray that I will never end up there at the end of my life, but if I do, I hope I will be grateful for what I do have, for the staff who are kind to me and to die as peaceful and pain free death as possible.....

DreamyEyes · Aug 16, 2007

Thanks for sharing, that was an awesome story! :nurse:

pagandeva2000, LPN · Aug 21, 2007

I would consider volunteering at a hospital you are interested in if it is possible. I started in long term care because the nursing home was three blocks from my house. Eventually, I became a patient care technician in a hospital and never looked back. Since then, the hospital granted me a leave with pay to become an LPN and I am grateful to them for that. Now, not only do I work at my hospital, but have had opportunities to work in other places as a nurse.

I agree with aerorunner...the same reasons this person posted for hating long term care was what I would echo through the Grand Canyon. I especially hated when the other aides would hide in order to avoid helping me, but they had no problem digging me out of my work to assist them. The lack of supplies, seeing how meanly the aide and even some nurses treated the patients was enough for me to leave when I had a better opportunity. I suspect that much of the misbehavior came from the poor nurse:patient and cna:patient ratios. People are essentially burned out and tired. Not making excuses for them, but can see how this can lead to negligent care.

It may be that all nursing homes are not like this in your area; who knows? Or, you may have to begin there if LTC is the only option until you gain more experience. Hospitals are different in that the patients usually are not there as long, not as many are bedridden, many can do for themselves (usually), and you can obtain more skills as well as see more.

bethin · Aug 21, 2007

I'm having a little problem & I'm hoping someone could give me some insight.
I'm almost done with my CNA training (I graduate next Thursday). I took this course to prepare for nursing school and get some experience. I just finished Day #2 of clinicals and have 7 more days to go. We're doing our clinical at a nursing home, and I love taking care of the residents. Here's the problem: The nursing home is so depressing! I'm starting to wonder if this isn't for me- but I still love taking care and talking to the residents, so maybe I'm just not fit for LTC? Are assisted living facilities any better than nursing homes?
I would LOVE to work in a hospital, but I heard it's really hard to get a hospital job if you don't have any experience. Should I try to volunteer at a hospital first? Any insight or advice would be appreciated--Thank you. :)

I didn't have any experience when I got my hospital job. I had been a CNA for 3-4 months when I was hired. So, you don't necessarily have to have experience. And since you are going to nursing school they are more likely to hire you without experience. They figure that once you graduate as a LPN or RN that you will stay with them. I don't know about other med surg units, but my unit is mostly geriatric patients so even working in a hospital you would come across nursing home residents in the hospital.

Ok, back to your other problem. It sounds like your heart is in the right place. You care for the residents but feel bad about their conditions, lack of family support, etc. For me, it was depressing and I also like to hold a conversation with patients so that's why I got out of LTC as quickly as possible. You sound like you give excellent care to your residents and they definitely need that - we've all heard the horror stories about LTC.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it sounds like it's right for you - BUT is the depressing part too much for you? Do you come home and think about the residents and how lonely they must feel? If you start getting down because of them being depressing then I say you should move on. It's ok to empathize with residents and patients but we have to draw the line and be professional. But professional doesn't mean cold. Sheesh, I'm having a hard time understanding this but are you getting what I'm saying?

Maybe after you're done with all your clinicals you'll find that you fell in love with ICU or NICU. Things can change. You've got a good heart and those residents need more people with good hearts taking care of them.

Either way, LTC or hospital I think you are going to make a great nurse! I wish you lots of luck in your clinicals. And remember, we're hear 24/7 if you have any doubts or questions.

***I feel as if I confused you more. If I did, I apologize and you can ignore this post.