LTC environment boring and unstimulating!

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hello all, i'm a new nurse, i've been working for a month now in a lovely ltc facility!!! ltc is the complete opposite of where i want to work- the icu!!, but i'm an lpn and i cannot work in icu, my point is i find ltc to be unstimulating, its the same thing everyday!! passing meds to 40 residents, etc.., etc.. hospital jobs in ny for pn's are plentiful but they take forever to respond!! i don't know how some people like geriatrics, because most of the residents are half asleep and have dementia so they cant really hold a conversation, there is no patient interaction just massive amounts of uneventful and uneducational work! i just feel like i'm not learning anything!! what's your viewpoint on ltc??

Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.
have you tried applying to the HHC hospitals? They hire LPNs.

Yes I did, I actually remember when you told me about HHC before, I applied to some but they take forever to get back to me, the only one that got back to me was elmhurst, but they only had fulltime postions:o, so I'm doing LTC for now, It's good but being a new grad, I guess I expected more out of my ''nursing'' career!! Thanx anyway!!

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.
I have worked in a hospital AND LTC. I prefer LTC because I became a nurse to have that human interaction. I prefer getting to know my residents and anticipating their needs. Yes it can be mundane work, but I enjoy my "dementia" residents, more so than my "with it" residents. They are funny and won't nit pick ya to death! ;-)

Like I have a little lady now that follows me up and down the hall..she is OUT of it. But I love her to death cause she makes me laugh and is always ready with a hug or a kiss.

I went into LTC thinking that it would be until I got a hosptial job. I eventually went to the hospital where I worked rehab, post-ops, cardiac, and oncology. I learned ALOT while I was there, but I missed getting to know people and their families.

I am proud to be a LTC nurse. I wouldn't go back to a hospital for any amount of $$ at this point.

Yeah some of the residents are so nice to be around, and some of them drive me crazy!! It's just that I'm one of those people who can't stay still and needs to stay on the ball, so once I got my routine down in LTC, I was like, wait this is it??? But I adore the residents, I want to interact with them more!! I was kinda thinking of moving on to the hospital too, just so I can learn more, but I like this facility for now!! Thanks!!

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Specializes in geriactric care- no place i'd rather be!.

yes, i agree LTC can be a bit "routine", but that's what we're there for... to provide consistant care and make each day better than the one before. i have worked in the same assisted living facility for the past 6 years, and just recently took over the nurses' role in January. maybe it's because i have no other experience than geriactrics so i'm a bit biased, but there is nowhere else i'd rather be. there is such a wealth of knowledge in the elderly, and working in assisted living i take care of people who have most of their facalties. there is a couple dementia pts that may talk to flowers or speak in jargon, but it makes my daily experience all the more well-rounded. some of my residents are in the early stages of whatever disease process brought them there, so as i am a visual learner, i get first hand experience of what we all read about in our text books. the facility is small (30 bed) and has a very home-like atmosphere. i enjoy getting to know the whole person-past & present, as well as thier families. i do understand where you're coming from though. if you want the ever-changing life of ICU, the routine care in homes might not be for you. we all have to find our niche, all i can say is go where you can give 110%.

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Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

I am a firm believer in trying out different kinds of nursing until you find the one that makes you happiest.

You'll get it eventually!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
i see what you mean, but actually i think you misunderstood me. i will be the best nurse i can be in ltc, i go-over all my diseases and drugs that relate to geriatrics, although its not the type of nursing i want to be in i still need to be knowledgeable about my work!! i'm talking about the type of things that i do, ofcourse there is plenty of ''nursing'' to do, i stated that! besides knowing nursing care it is good to know your residents, that's what i was mentioning, but ltc,or atleast the ltc i'm in isn't like that!! i feel that i'm not learning as much as i would learn in a hospital setting!! that's all. and p.s if you were in a nursing speciality you didn't like you would feel the same way too, i wasn't bashing ltc, i just dont think i'm getting all my nrsg info in!!

i can understand what you mean...ltc was not my cup of tea as a cna, as a nurse, i would not have been too thrilled either. mainly, because of the horrible nurse:patient ratios that i continue to hear about. you don't have to apologise for what you are feeling. if you find something else more stimulating, go for it!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
IN Texas you can give IVPB and IV push of antibiotics? Hmm what is the difference between the california liceanse and Texas liceanse?
The scope of nursing practice is extremely wide for LVNs in Texas; therefore, we're permitted to do virtually anything. On the other hand, the scope of nursing practice is very restricted for LVNs in California.
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Specializes in Occupational Medicine, Orthopedics.

I've been working in a peds dr. office for 8 months and am just now transitioning into LTC/Acute care. Last week I shadowed the nurse on the run I will have, and let me just say "I highly doubt I will feel bored for quite a while." I will be doing trach care (gotta love that one!), wound care of all sorts (I'm fascinated by wounds), learning to put critical thinking into practice (the single most used phrase during LPN school), of course meds (I look forward to learning as I go), balancing work/relatioships with co-workers and residents, I could go on and on.

I look forward to the next year because I have no doubt it will be very good for my nursing career.

All that having been said, I certainly realize that there is a nitch for everyone, and I hope you find yours.

Blue

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Specializes in LTC.
I guess I expected more out of my ''nursing'' career!! Thanx anyway!!

You're only a month into a LTC position and a new grad. You have much time left in your career for it be the exciting! thrilling! career you've always dreamed of. Think of the things you're learning while doing the mundane tasks like passing pills - whether you realize it or not, you are already building upon the education you began in LPN school. You are already beginning your path to your goal. LTC may not be the sexiest, most glamorous job you'll hold as an LPN but you'll learn an incredible amount that you'll be able to apply elsewhere. And who know? Maybe one day you'll interact with one of your residents in a way that grips your heart and you'll never want to leave. Stranger things have happened. ;)

It's only been a month. Give it some time.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

I felt the same way when I was in the hospital doing clinicals. The nursing care was totally different from LTC. LTC is all I know and I really like it. That is the beauty of nursing, there is something for everyone. I hope that you get into the hospital soon. Keep calling HR and worrying them about positions.

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i wasn't bashing ltc, i just dont think i'm getting all my nrsg info in!!

i didn't think you were bashing ltc at all....i was thinking that you came across w/ a poor attitude about the residents of ltc and the fact that you're a new grad....a young grad w/ little experience under your belt left me feeling that you think you're much to good for "this type of nursing". ltc is nursing and here's just another experience to put under that belt!! good luck!!!

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
Since I'm inherently lazy, I prefer a laid-back, unstimulating work environment. .

[banana]You are my kind of lady!!![/banana]:lol2:

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

As for me, I started out in LTC and found it a great way to get my feet wet. I did work my way to ICU. Yes, I eventually got bored with the repetition, but my facility didn't have much variety.

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