Ok - I took this job because I had been away from the bedside for a couple of years and that may be the problem but I was having a hard time finding a job so I took it. I am just a bit amazed at how disorganized this facility is. It's huge national corporation with all kinds of rules and standards on the books but what actually goes on is deplorable. There's not ratios for staffing which I knew going in but it's not unusual for the RN to have charge of 30 patients with full nursing care of half of them. The RN takes the new admits as well. Med pass is sloppy with nurses leaving meds at the bedside and often taking two to three hours to pass the meds for a 1 hour window. Ie 5:00 pm meds being passed as late as 7 pm. I get off at 11 pm, that is if my relief shows up on time if at all. Last Sunday I was there until 1:30 am as the third shift didn't show up and the DON actually came in to cover but it took her 2.5 hours to get there.
I am also attending Grad school so my sleep is precious. One thing I have proven to myself is that I haven't lost my bedside skills - I can still do IV's foley's etc like a pro so I have once again put out my resume. I like the residents a lot but feel this job is dangerous to my license. I'm no quitter and will stick it out until I find something better but sheesh - are all LTC's this way?
More of a rant than anything - but feel free to tell me what you think.
Don't feel bad...I have been disillusioned with Geriatric care since I started way back when in the mid 90s....I am working in a disgusting, disorganized facility that when I come in every day..its a new adventure.....to begin with....report is slip shod...I have to find out what happened if I am off from most of my coherent patients(when I am in luck) and things aren't communicated each shift...like someone on ABT for a UTI? or like this eveing...a patient of mine went out for Easter with her famly...ya think I would get that on report...here I am looking for this woman. whom I assumed was upstairs at some function...no...she was out. I found out later on. There is so many things that upset me and I have to deal with a irate Medical Director who is as nasty as all get out on the phone to all the nurses...only when he is face to face with you is is like a mouse. His remarks about my competency as well as many other nurses have practically made me want to tell this fat slob off and get the heck out of that place.
The facility itself,,cleanliness wise?? HA HA HA..if I see the housekeeping staff once a month that's a treat. no wonder everyone gets so sick there, including staff. I have every reason to quit...I am tired of Long Term Care...I am tired of nasty, irate patients and family members who are just the same..and I have to literally hold my breath and tongue at the same time when I am being attacked for something that was supposed to be done on Days or Nights.....I fear losing my license at this place...I strive to keep my head on straight and not be swayed by the other nurses who just do as they please at times. It stresses me out so badly I get ill. And yes..like you. I value my sleep..its like paradise to me..just to float away to wherever my brain takes me and its certainly not nursing homes dreams..or should I say nightmares. Duke it out as long as possible. I don't know what your financial situation is and how freely you can just up and get another place to work...but I am stuck for now. I wish you good luck in your nursing endeavors.
Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.
I am a Nurse Practitioner who works in a Nursing Home. My job is to decrease readmissions....what a joke. I spend half of my long day just trying to make sure my residents are not in danger. What is the problem I see...
1. State and regulatory bodies could care less about the elderly. They do not hold these facilities to the same standards that hospitals are held to. No incentives just regulations that do not protect the elderly.
2. The owners of these facilities only care about the bottom line...their pocket.
3. Nursing homes hire pretty much anyone that has a license and a pulse.
4. Care is at best reactive not proactive. How can we cover up.
5. Ratios what is that. But then administration complains when something happens.
6. Crappy, worn and stained linen.
7. The food... Disgusting and doubt my dog would ever eat it. Using of fillers and water down juices. They expect me to encourage residents who hate the food and losing weight to get a feeding tube.
8. Staff lie about vital signs and weights. A recent resident with a very visible respiratory rate of 36, the nurse looked right at me and say it's 18..
9. No raises for 8 years. The medical benefits are horrendous and no local place accepts their insurance
because the doctors don't get paid. If
anyone comes in late or stays late they are docked pay. They pay no overtime including time and a half on holidays.
Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.
9. I hate when the residents want to go to the bathroom or be changed and they are ignored. Nurses don't do any ADLs and only the assigned aide will care for them. It's never anyone's job and staff seem to think its ok to let them mess themselves. 10. Residents have no names they are room numbers.
I could go on but it gets me know where. If I ever need to enter a LTC I will kill myself.
Why do I stay? I try to make a difference for the residents some days are so difficult I just want to cry.
I'm afraid I "jumped the gun" on the position I accepted at an LTC & couldn't agree more with what you wrote. I graduated in Dec, 2014 took NCLEX in Jan & started working in Feb 2015. Hmmmm....maybe I should've been a bit more choosey, but I didn't want to pass up this job and end up with NO job. In the meantime, I struggle with all the issues listed not only in your comments, but in the comments of others.
I too will never be able to become accustomed to calling people by #'s instead of by their name.
The buck is passed my way when I'm told by the DON & the administratorto "control" the CNA's---to "babysit them" and make sure they do their jobs. Half the time it's as though we find ourselves basically begging these fellow employees to simply DO their job! It's insane. For instance, they'll walk past you when you need help scooting a patient up in their bed and by the end of the shift you wanna' know what rings in my ear nearly as much as all the ignored alarms, not to mention the ignored call lights (?), is hearing the CNA's say "that's not MY patient".....holy God! The administration/management is crippled by the Union and can't dismiss these cretins. In the meantime, you leave the facility each day with a heartache for the poor unfortunate creatures that call this dump home, asking yourself, should I stay to make a difference for these folks or give notice and start my career with a clean slate? It's torture to have such a lack of support not only from the "team", but from management that lacks backbone. Thanks for reading---this is such a great place for us to commisserate!
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
This. I worked in home health for a little while before I started my current job. Took care of many patients who really truly belonged in a nursing home... but in so many cases, the patient's family doesn't want to lose that check...
I have been trying desperately to get out of LTC for over 15 years....tried getting as much under my belt with CEUS, Certifications, seminars, you name it....but nothing matters until you have a BS, BSN, or Masters...even then I have seen these nurses go into LTC...why , I ask?/// I would kill for a desk job ....it takes a toll on a person. I am through ...defeated and left for the vultures to gnaw on my remains..
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lumbarpain, ADN, RN
351 Posts
Don't feel bad...I have been disillusioned with Geriatric care since I started way back when in the mid 90s....I am working in a disgusting, disorganized facility that when I come in every day..its a new adventure.....to begin with....report is slip shod...I have to find out what happened if I am off from most of my coherent patients(when I am in luck) and things aren't communicated each shift...like someone on ABT for a UTI? or like this eveing...a patient of mine went out for Easter with her famly...ya think I would get that on report...here I am looking for this woman. whom I assumed was upstairs at some function...no...she was out. I found out later on. There is so many things that upset me and I have to deal with a irate Medical Director who is as nasty as all get out on the phone to all the nurses...only when he is face to face with you is is like a mouse. His remarks about my competency as well as many other nurses have practically made me want to tell this fat slob off and get the heck out of that place.
The facility itself,,cleanliness wise?? HA HA HA..if I see the housekeeping staff once a month that's a treat. no wonder everyone gets so sick there, including staff. I have every reason to quit...I am tired of Long Term Care...I am tired of nasty, irate patients and family members who are just the same..and I have to literally hold my breath and tongue at the same time when I am being attacked for something that was supposed to be done on Days or Nights.....I fear losing my license at this place...I strive to keep my head on straight and not be swayed by the other nurses who just do as they please at times. It stresses me out so badly I get ill. And yes..like you. I value my sleep..its like paradise to me..just to float away to wherever my brain takes me and its certainly not nursing homes dreams..or should I say nightmares. Duke it out as long as possible. I don't know what your financial situation is and how freely you can just up and get another place to work...but I am stuck for now. I wish you good luck in your nursing endeavors.