Not the residents, not the work - It's THE STAFF!

Blackcat99 · Dec 21, 2013

Welcome to the wonderful world of LTC!!! Wouldn't you just once like to have someone say you are doing a good job or something similiar?

You have to accept the fact that getting a pat on the back is not going to happen in LTC. The only thing you are going to get is a knife in your back. Go to youtube and listen to the song "Backstabbers" by the O'jays. LTC is all about "backstabbing."

Brekka, ADN, RN · Dec 21, 2013

Sorry to hear your co-workers are like that. That's the one aspect of nursing that scares me the most, the co-worker issues. You can only do what you can. Believe me, trying harder to do better than you're able to do only burns you out faster. It sounds like you'll never be able to make your co-workers happy, unless you stay and do their work for them, so it's not really something that you can achieve. It's really your choice on what you want to put up with.

Although Blackcat99 is right in most aspects, it's not entirely the truth. I work LTC/Rehab and my job is insanely stressful and the pay is horrible ($4 more an hour than I was making when I worked for Walmart). I dread going in each day, even though I love my residents. The whole reason I stay is due to the fact that after a good and long 15 months, my unit nurses (both carts, all shifts) are amazing, and we get along so well. It's kind of like the holy grail of nursing, where everyone works together, supports each other, and is more akin to family than co-workers.

My co-workers are proof that not everyone is going to be a backstabbing b****. If you find this holy grail, the negative aspects of the job may well be worth tolerating.

eeffoc_emmig · Dec 21, 2013

OMG - I am a new nurse. I started LTC beginning of November. I am a fast learner - I can do my med pass and chart with a few minutes to spare some shifts.
But the day shift I get report from (always running late with report) and night shift I report off too - soooo rude and always complaining no matter how PERFECT I try to leave the cart. But she doesn't say it to me - just makes snippy comments and then it gets back to me via someone else.
Ugh it drives me crazy! After 8hrs of being super (efficient, smiling, supportive) - I don't have time or energy. PLEASE give me something I can do in situations like this because my tolerance is thinning and she should no better because she's been a nurse forever and 2 days!
Signed,
Out of Patience

I wonder if she's the same nurse I once worked with. You described her perfectly.

sunshyne17 · Dec 22, 2013

Thanks so much for reading my vent. And eeffoc - I would SO not be surprised if it was the same person.

I am not asking everyone to like me - it happens. People sometimes don't like you. But please just be professional.

It's ok though. After tonight - they sealed the deal. I will give them another week or two (out of the kindness of my heart) and I'm giving notice. I can't do it much longer.

Blackcat99 · Dec 22, 2013

Don't leave your job. You need to stay and stick it out for a year if you can. You are a new nurse and you need to get your nursing experience. Besides if you go to a different LTC, you will just find the same exact problems at your new LTC. If you really can't stand it another minute then make absolutely sure that you have been hired elsewhere BEFORE you give a 2 week notice. I cannot stand my LTC either, but I am going to wait and suffer it out until I am actually hired elsewhere.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 22, 2013

There are going to be problems no matter what job or field you're in. When people with different personalities get together it can be fine or like a bomb went off. I know LTC is stressful enough & adding the bs from coworkers doesn't help. I just left a detention center & there wasn't any less drama there. If you're really having issues have you tried talking to them?

sunshyne17 · Dec 22, 2013

Thanks Blackcat99 - you are so right. I am trying to hang in there. I really am. I was on desk duty last night - 2 people's jobs but one person wasn't there AND doing treatments because the treatment nurse called out. I didn't finish until 1 am. My shift is supposed to be over at 11p. But I was doing the work of THREE people!! And they know I am a new nurse. I felt so taken advantage of.

Of course the meanie nurse who came in at 11p snickered the entire time.

Thank goodness the nurse from one of the halls stayed to help me, otherwise who knows when I would have finished!

sunshyne17 · Dec 22, 2013

@ itzvalerie - I know where ever I go there with be a meanie nurse. I get that - nursing is my second career and degree so I have been in the "real world" before. HOWEVER I am not used to being purposely sabotaged (meanie nurse not reordering meds so I don't have them in time, borrowing meds and not saying anything until I go and it's missing or ignoring my report then saying I didn't give it).

THAT is new for me.

HappyWife77, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2013

Hello Sunshyne17,

You stated you get done with your med pass and charting with a few minutes to spare sometimes... that is awesome!

If the only problem is the miserable person on night shift and the late report on days, that is actually wonderful. There are so many other things that could be way worse. It sounds like you are on your game, blow that other persons behavior off and do not let it get to you! Rock On

:yes:

redmielita · Dec 30, 2013

Welcome to LTC. I love the residents. I love the work. My coworkers....many of them (not all), if they were on fire and I had a bottle of water, I'd drink it. I think it's just the nature of the beast and you kind of have to work through it as best you can.

ricksyone · Jan 17, 2014

I could have been the one posting this....its me! Second career also! I smile, do my job, am courteous, and efficient. I treat my coworkers with respect and fairness...but I pretty much hate them all. I see laziness go crazy. I see lots of chiefs and few Indians. I see management having birthday parties with the administrator for themselves. I hear CNA's and social workers diagnosing residents, apparently earning a doctor's degree by osmosis. I see nurses that have years of experience at the facility forgetting to tell me things in handoff reports....I am going crazy...crazy...crazy.....but 8 months into my career here, I got employee of the month....little do they know...I will be leaving after ONE YEAR. Ugh