Makes me feel better

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Recently I made a huge decision. I started RN school this fall at a local, private college which is VERY expensive. I'm currently a CNA in a nursing home. Now, LTC nursing wasn't my original intention for when I graduated RN school, BUT, recently our facility's corporate office came up with a new education benefit, they'll pay up to $5000 a year for tuition and 100% for textbooks, uniforms, etc. And they give CNAs who are nursing students a pay raise to just $2 less than LPN pay. Now, I found this hard to turn down. The only catch is that you have to stay at the nursing home for about two or three years (depending on total abount they paid) after graduation.

I was reluctant at first, but after writing down the pros and cons, I decided:

while working LTC wasn't my original goal, this is one of the best nursing homes in the area with very few violations during state surveys, in 2003 they had 100% flawless survey.

I get along great with the administration and DON, and they all seem to like me okay. A big change from my old job at the police dept.

I DO enjoy working there and like working with the residents, and I'm familiar with the staff and residents.

I have a lot of good friends there who I enjoy working with.

All those things in mind to me outweighs just wanting to do something that I THINK might be more exciting, but would require starting all over as a brand new RN that no one knows in a new facility.

So, I made my decision and took their education plan...then started school and found I'm the ONLY person in my class who works in a nursing home.

I hear these other students who are techs in hospitals telling all these neat stories of things they've done, and I was starting to second guess myself until I worked last night.

Two weeks ago, while I was working, a resident who was really ill passed away. I was the one who had found her and got her cleaned up and straightened her room out for when her family got there. Then me and the other aide stopped by to check on the family and offer them coffee or anything else. Didnt seem like that big of deal to us, but last night at work, there was a really nice letter from the family saying how great we were the night she died and not only did our facility take good care of her while she was alive, but even took good care of her and the family the night she died. I made a copy of the card and brought it home. That letter told me I made the right decision.

Tim

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Tim, good for you. LTC may not sounds as glamorous or exciting as other fields of nursing, but it's no less important or rewarding.

Our old ones deserve good, caring nurses like you.

Kat

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Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.
Tim, good for you. LTC may not sounds as glamorous or exciting as other fields of nursing, but it's no less important or rewarding.

Our old ones deserve good, caring nurses like you.

Kat

Tim, I know how you feel. I never wanted to do LTC nursing when I was in school, I don't think I really know anyone who did. But, it was the only job available back then, and I've been primarily in LTC ever since. I did some hospital work....an ortho floor and a mixed M/S, peds and oncology floor....and I always went back to LTC. Like Kat said, it may not be as exciting as the ER, but I'd take my 2nd grandparents any day. And believe it or not, there is a whole different set of skills you need to work LTC. We just recently started training a hospital nurse to work on our unit....and she was completely overwhelmed! She just couldn't understand how we handled everything that we do in a shift. I think she'll stick around...but LTC isn't easy at all, and blatantly ignore any nurse who tells you that. They are the same nurses that wouldn't last a day in LTC.

I believe that it takes very special types of nurses to work sucessfully in LTC.....not everyone has what it takes to do it. Be proud of what you do, you will never "lose" anything by caring for the elderly, only gain a lot. These people deserve the best, and it sounds like you are on your way to becoming one of the special few that can make a difference in your residents last days.

Stick with it.....an excellent facility is so hard to come by......I have finally found one, and love it! Good luck with school!

Jennifer

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Tim, I know how you feel. I never wanted to do LTC nursing when I was in school, I don't think I really know anyone who did. But, it was the only job available back then, and I've been primarily in LTC ever since. I did some hospital work....an ortho floor and a mixed M/S, peds and oncology floor....and I always went back to LTC. Like Kat said, it may not be as exciting as the ER, but I'd take my 2nd grandparents any day. And believe it or not, there is a whole different set of skills you need to work LTC. We just recently started training a hospital nurse to work on our unit....and she was completely overwhelmed! She just couldn't understand how we handled everything that we do in a shift. I think she'll stick around...but LTC isn't easy at all, and blatantly ignore any nurse who tells you that. They are the same nurses that wouldn't last a day in LTC.

I believe that it takes very special types of nurses to work sucessfully in LTC.....not everyone has what it takes to do it. Be proud of what you do, you will never "lose" anything by caring for the elderly, only gain a lot. These people deserve the best, and it sounds like you are on your way to becoming one of the special few that can make a difference in your residents last days.

Stick with it.....an excellent facility is so hard to come by......I have finally found one, and love it! Good luck with school!

Jennifer

Thanks Jennifer, what a great post.

One girl in my class told me, "Why don't you do REAL nursing instead of just being a pill pusher?" But the good nurses at our facility do a lot more, including helping the aides when we need it, but we help the nurses when they need it as well. Anyway, just seems like theres a lot of myths and stereotypes about LTC...most students in my class ask me how I can stand to get attached to patients and then watch them die. I tell them that I don't look at it as "watching them die" but as helping them live out their final moments in comfort.

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Recently I made a huge decision. I started RN school this fall at a local, private college which is VERY expensive. I'm currently a CNA in a nursing home. Two weeks ago, while I was working, a resident who was really ill passed away. I was the one who had found her and got her cleaned up and straightened her room out for when her family got there. Then me and the other aide stopped by to check on the family and offer them coffee or anything else. Didnt seem like that big of deal to us, but last night at work, there was a really nice letter from the family saying how great we were the night she died and not only did our facility take good care of her while she was alive, but even took good care of her and the family the night she died. I made a copy of the card and brought it home. That letter told me I made the right decision.

Tim

Just had to say yes! It is good to be recognised for doing your job well and that little bit extra. Well done. A nurse's job is to care - you are great.

Mister Chris.

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Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.
Thanks Jennifer, what a great post.

One girl in my class told me, "Why don't you do REAL nursing instead of just being a pill pusher?" But the good nurses at our facility do a lot more, including helping the aides when we need it, but we help the nurses when they need it as well. Anyway, just seems like theres a lot of myths and stereotypes about LTC...most students in my class ask me how I can stand to get attached to patients and then watch them die. I tell them that I don't look at it as "watching them die" but as helping them live out their final moments in comfort.

Well, Tim, I'll admit there are some nights that I DO feel like a pill pusher, but what I tell those nurses who make comments like that is that we are dealing with more elderly people who are living longer with more complex medical diseases.....and we don't have the technology or doctors at our fingertips like hospital nurses do. When someone is going into CHF, or having a "cardiac" moment, we rely on our sharp assessment skills to determine what's going on and what needs to be done. We don't have a lab, Xray, EKG, CT or MRI that we can just send them to. We are the doctors eyes, ears and mind.....We are the ones telling the docs whether or not they need to be sent out, or to treat them in their homes. We have to deal with families that are in denial, or that want nothing, and ultimately help our residents die in peace and with dignity. It is a rewarding field, and I truly enjoy it.

It seems you have the correct outlook on LTC nursing....it is a priviledge to be there comforting a husband when his wife is dying in front of him, or to hold the hand and comfort the dying or sick resident who has no family but us. Other nurses can have their traumas and adreniline rushes, it's just not for me!

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Well, Tim, I'll admit there are some nights that I DO feel like a pill pusher, but what I tell those nurses who make comments like that is that we are dealing with more elderly people who are living longer with more complex medical diseases.....and we don't have the technology or doctors at our fingertips like hospital nurses do. When someone is going into CHF, or having a "cardiac" moment, we rely on our sharp assessment skills to determine what's going on and what needs to be done. We don't have a lab, Xray, EKG, CT or MRI that we can just send them to. We are the doctors eyes, ears and mind.....We are the ones telling the docs whether or not they need to be sent out, or to treat them in their homes. We have to deal with families that are in denial, or that want nothing, and ultimately help our residents die in peace and with dignity. It is a rewarding field, and I truly enjoy it.

It seems you have the correct outlook on LTC nursing....it is a priviledge to be there comforting a husband when his wife is dying in front of him, or to hold the hand and comfort the dying or sick resident who has no family but us. Other nurses can have their traumas and adreniline rushes, it's just not for me!

Thanks Jennifer, I agree....and as far as the adrenaline rushes, I think I'm past that. After six years of working in county and city jails, I think Ive had all the excitement I can handle lol

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Recently I made a huge decision. I started RN school this fall at a local, private college which is VERY expensive. I'm currently a CNA in a nursing home. Now, LTC nursing wasn't my original intention for when I graduated RN school, BUT, recently our facility's corporate office came up with a new education benefit, they'll pay up to $5000 a year for tuition and 100% for textbooks, uniforms, etc. And they give CNAs who are nursing students a pay raise to just $2 less than LPN pay. Now, I found this hard to turn down. The only catch is that you have to stay at the nursing home for about two or three years (depending on total abount they paid) after graduation.

I was reluctant at first, but after writing down the pros and cons, I decided:

while working LTC wasn't my original goal, this is one of the best nursing homes in the area with very few violations during state surveys, in 2003 they had 100% flawless survey.

I get along great with the administration and DON, and they all seem to like me okay. A big change from my old job at the police dept.

I DO enjoy working there and like working with the residents, and I'm familiar with the staff and residents.

I have a lot of good friends there who I enjoy working with.

All those things in mind to me outweighs just wanting to do something that I THINK might be more exciting, but would require starting all over as a brand new RN that no one knows in a new facility.

So, I made my decision and took their education plan...then started school and found I'm the ONLY person in my class who works in a nursing home.

I hear these other students who are techs in hospitals telling all these neat stories of things they've done, and I was starting to second guess myself until I worked last night.

Two weeks ago, while I was working, a resident who was really ill passed away. I was the one who had found her and got her cleaned up and straightened her room out for when her family got there. Then me and the other aide stopped by to check on the family and offer them coffee or anything else. Didnt seem like that big of deal to us, but last night at work, there was a really nice letter from the family saying how great we were the night she died and not only did our facility take good care of her while she was alive, but even took good care of her and the family the night she died. I made a copy of the card and brought it home. That letter told me I made the right decision.

Tim

We need more people like you in our nursing homes.

It is so nice to get those thank you notes.

Great job, and continued success.

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