Most important thing to know in LTC

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To all of you experienced Nurses... What would you say is the most important thing to know if you work in LTC.? :nurse:

Specializes in LTC.
When you hear an alarm(read: chair, bed, clip, door. etc) go off. Start running fast.

Because Lord knows it's always end of shift and the paperwork on a fall will make you late!

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Specializes in LTC.

Keep up with your charting--don't save it all up for end of shift.

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Specializes in LTC.
Because Lord knows it's always end of shift and the paperwork on a fall will make you late!

Yes!.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
LISTEN TO YOUR CNAS! LISTEN TO YOUR CNAS! LISTEN TO YOUR CNAS!

Yes, and listen to the residents. Had a LOL losing weight and couldn't figure out why. After a couple of weeks of adding double portions, supplements, etc. with no success finally asked her why she wasn't eating and losing weight. At 96 years old, she perks right up and says "Oh you'd better check my thyroid. I always start losing weight if my thyroid gets off". Sure enough - she needed medication adjustment and none of us had even thought to check it.

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Specializes in Correctional, QA, Geriatrics.

You will live or die by your CNAs. They can save you and they can break you. No matter how long you have worked a floor, a wing, a shift or a facility take 10 minutes and prep for your shift. The minute you assume nothing has changed med wise, tx wise, etc. will be the day you will live to regret that med error, that missed tx or relying solely on your memory.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Here's another one. Don't always assume your residents are confused when they say something that doesn't make immedient sense. I had an 82 yo woman who told me she was calling her mother. Ok I thought....turns out her 99 yo mother was in a different nursing home and alive lol.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Here's another one. Don't always assume your residents are confused when they say something that doesn't make immedient sense. I had an 82 yo woman who told me she was calling her mother. Ok I thought....turns out her 99 yo mother was in a different nursing home and alive lol.

Same thing happened to me! We all even charted it for months using this as an example of her confusion. Felt like a fool.

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Thanks for starting this thread full of useful info. Thanks everyone for the input. I am so happy to have found AN as it has been a great help as a student, nclex tester, new nurse hunting for a job, and now a new nurse starting her first job.

Thank you thank you thank you.

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Specializes in LTC.

Dance. Get jiggy with a tune or something silly in your head for five seconds at the cart or the desk...cracks the residents up everytime. And sing, be freakin cheerful. even if they're laughing AT you...at least they're laughing and you brightened their day.

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Specializes in LTC.
Dance. Get jiggy with a tune or something silly in your head for five seconds at the cart or the desk...cracks the residents up everytime. And sing, be freakin cheerful. even if they're laughing AT you...at least they're laughing and you brightened their day.

One of the CNAs dressed up.. put on a brief.. and a hospital gown.. and started dancing. Now some might view it as offense but the residents.. LOVED IT!. Some who I never seen laugh were laughing and smiling!

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Get to know your residents as people and LOVE them. Once you learn them, it's easier to see subtle changes. Get to know their families, they are sometimes difficult, but often there is a reason, like they feel guilty they can't care for their family member. If they come often, greet them, try to remember some little thing their family member did recently. Realize you can't please everyone. Some residents are demanding because they feel they have lost all control of their lives, some are afraid, especially if they are new. Be supportive, give them hugs, but don't baby them, they are adults and deserve our respect. Most of all, LOVE THEM! They could be your family member and I always like to think if I wasn't able to be with my loved one, that someone like me was taking care of them. :hug:

I was just coming here to post one like this.....sometimes the entire family is our patient. We forget that our residents had a life before they came to us and often times will leave and got back to it when discharged. Include the families in their care when you can. Greet them and don't be afraid of them...even the notebook keepers. I love to see pics of the residents when they were younger or at home.

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Specializes in LTC.
I was just coming here to post one like this.....sometimes the entire family is our patient. We forget that our residents had a life before they came to us and often times will leave and got back to it when discharged. Include the families in their care when you can. Greet them and don't be afraid of them...even the notebook keepers. I love to see pics of the residents when they were younger or at home.

Show them their pictures.. even the ones who's minds are like totally gone.. they know their family. I show a lady her family picture with her husband and kids and she says.. "Thats uhmm.. Billy.. and Mary.. and Mike.. and Dave"

I love seeing the picture of them on their wedding day. Most little old ladies have that proudly displayed in their room and when you say, "Oh my look at this beautiful bride!" They boast and brag about how handsome their husband was lol

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