I applied at a LTC facility in my area. I have never worked in a LTC before and my only experience with them was when I was a student and did a clinical rotation in one. I am interested in changing into this field from hospital nursing because I enjoy the elderly and I think the job is far more interesting.
When I went into the facility they took me on a tour and showed me around. The place smelled like urine and tube feeding formula. The patients appeared clean and I could not find anything on the internet regarding state write ups at this facility. My question is: do LTC's just smell this way or should this be a sign to me?
Also, the workload is as follows: 117 patients, 3 LPNs and I charge per shift. Is that the norm?
I don't know about the workload, but I've never been to a LTC facility that didn't smell that way. I wish they didn't, though.
Come visit mine- we open windows (even in the winter and no one gets sick) wash bottoms well, get rid of dirty laundry quickly and have automatic air freshners all over the place , (as well as use good quality diapers- no leaks) .
I should mention that we dont have carpets- just nice polished floors that are easy to clean.
There is no reason for a LTC facility to smell- I'm sure others could back me up on this, Even my mother- the queen of clean came to visit once in middle of a night shift with me and commented how pleasant the place smelled!!!
Specializes in 5.5 years Long Term Care, 0.5 years ER.
CapeCodMermaid: I mean I applaud housekeeping for regular rug shampooing and are pretty good at taking the bins out, spraying deorderant and stuff, but our cert. wound nurse loves sween and we drill it into the cna's to use that during all change rounds like a moisture barrier and turning...so when u step onto the unit smells like sween cream :)
Specializes in CHF, Med/Surg, Telemetry, Cardiac Care.
When I first entered the LTC facility I now work at for an interview I couldn't believe the smell! It just smelled like.... old people.
Now that I'm used to my unit, it only smells like urine and poop when the aides are doing rounds, and only if you walk by their dirty linen/trash cart. We have carpeting in the main walking areas, and that linoleum/tile in the actual rooms. It seems to work out pretty well.
The only foul smell I somewhat dislike (but I'm used to) is when I or one of my aides empties a certain resident's colostomy bag. That smell certainly wafts down the hall!
When I first entered the LTC facility I now work at for an interview I couldn't believe the smell! It just smelled like.... old people.
OLD PEOPLE DO NOT SMELL.... Old people who are neglected smell!!! Of course there is a temporary smell at times- guess what- we all do- thats what bathrooms are all about and why we developed perfumes, air freshners, mouthwash, soaps and toothpaste, creams and lotions etc. A good vent system and opened windows also help.
My grandmother was incontinent due to long term effects of radiation therapy she took. To her last day (almost 90) she never smelled.
If families want to buy presents for their loved ones in nursing homes, I always recommend a nice hand cream or favorite perfume . The sense of smell usually remains strong even when the other senses dull.
I began my nursing career in a 120 bed skilled long term care facility. There were 2 LPNs & a charge nurse. I ran my legs off! We were understaffed with aids, too. It is impossible for the patients to receive proper care with staffing like this. Management knows it but it seems that $ means more to them. What other explanation could there be?
Specializes in LTC, Disease Management, smoking Cessati.
One I used to work in was a building from the 50's. I don't think if the building stood for 100 years without any people in, they'd be able to get rid of the smell of urine.
It was probably ingrained into the fabric of the building because we did rounds every two hours (I was a CNA then) and didn't leave people unchecked.
The smell is always there unfortunately to a degree. As far as staffing that sounds about right but it depends on the shift you are talking about and are the beds skilled or not?? I worked LTC for many years and often had 50+ patients and 3 aides on midnights, or 38 skilled and 2 aides on same shift. LTC staffing is that way.
Specializes in 5.5 years Long Term Care, 0.5 years ER.
wow i should count my blessings, our admin lets us have kinda decent ratios for direct patient care...
This is for a 120 bed SNF/ICF facility with 2 units 60 beds each
06-1400 & 14-2200: 1 charge nurse (RN), 2 licensed + 6 CNA's per unit
22-0600: 1 charge (RN), 1 licensed and 3 CNA per unit
It still gets hard sometimes depending on the SNF acuity. Our current census is 113 (our local hospital is slow and we try to take SNFs before community ICF referrals I think), which makes the admin kinda antsy but our ED always believes patient safety first.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I just started in a very upscale "senior care center" and believe me, it does not smell.....it is a lovely place to be.....
one nurse for up to 20 pts. with 2 techs....
years ago I did work in a LTC center and we had about 35 pts. per nurse with 2 techs....so the load is reasonable....I would be leary about the smell, though....they all don't smell bad....
My place smells fine, except for one small hallway that juts out perpendicular to the other hallways... for some reason they thought this hallway would be a good place to put the dirty room. And there's a woman at the end who passes gas constantly, and there's no cross-ventilation so it just lingers.
Personally, I would rather smell poop than those chemical air-fresheners- they give me a headache.
lovelyB
8 Posts
I am just an aide for now but I know the work load lol they are as follows