Nursing homes' bad reputation

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Hello. I just started my first RN job (I am a new grad) in a nursing home/rehab center and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I didn't wait too long (around 1.5 - 2 months) for a hospital to call because I was afraid I would be waiting for months like many others so I took the first job I was offered. Although I am very excited to finally be a working RN, I am getting a little irritated because I've been getting negative responses and "disgusted" looks from nearly every person I've told that I work in a nursing home. Once again today, someone just said to me "A nursing home? Ugh, why would you want to work there...." :rolleyes:

I'm so excited to finally be working, but just feel like I don't want to tell anyone now because then they will ask where I work... and I don't want to see their response! lol.

Has this happened to any of you and how do you feel about it? I personally have no problem with working at a nursing home. I very much enjoy the geriatric population and they need nurses too! What's bothering me now is I feel that people are downgrading me, just based on facial expressions and responses I've gotten. I know that other's opinions do not matter, but I am curious how other nurses have ever dealt with this... Thanks. :nurse:

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if someone told me she is working in pediatrics or nicu, i probably have the same kind of response. :confused: because i know i cant work with children. some people cant work with certain population and geriatrics is one of them. if somebody frowned on me for working in nursing home i would say who cares because i love geriatrics.

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God Bless You - someday each of us or a loved one will likely be in a nursing home, and need nurses like you. I think part of the negative comments is just plain fear of that potential need. Hospice and oncology nurses get the same reaction.

Heck, sometimes any nursing will get that comment "I can't stand the sight of blood, how can you do that" etc

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Just let it roll off. When I worked in a nursing home my best friend made comments about working with "smelly old people." lol. I just told her I liked smelly old people. I'm sure most people don't mean anything by it. That's just the first thing that comes to mind.

maybe try calling it a long term care facility? :)

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

Check this thread out.

LTC Nurses Bottom of the Barrel - Nursing for Nurses

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I have no idea why people do that. Theses nursing homes are different now, especially a rehab/subacute unit. You will see and learn a lot. So screw those people, it's ridiculous people would wrather be jobless than try a nursing home, you need to try it before you can say anything. It is very hard work, but hard work pays off. For someone to turn their nose up at the mere notion of working at a nursing home being a new grad in these times is foolish. Do your thing, get your experience, and you will be making a decent living for yourself.

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Specializes in Neuro/ Tele;home health; Neuro ICU.

I did myself worked PRN RN position and ft CNA at LTC never regretted it. I think one need to be proud of whatever one does. You guys are having very hard work load caring for 20 or more patients but that is because of government funds are limited for those facilities. You will hear over and over we have no money to hire more staff; plus it really depends on attitude of employees to make place enjoyable and reputable. My place is (was) very nice to work. Staff very supportive of each others and till now I keep touch with many friends from there. We have huge respect to each other and our residents and their families. They have seen our efforts to make daily life easier for patients, get things patients have needed, make sure treatments are done, everyone is kept safe and the most rewarding to be able be part of their lives till the end. As staff we have became "family" for them, as we are the one 7/24 a week. Despite hardship and multiple load work be part of someone's life for many years is so priceless... Held your head high and do not listen to those telling you otherwise, some of them are probably not happy with their jobs or it just the way they are... best regards !!!:nurse:

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Specializes in Hospice.

I have found that most peoples discomfort with anything related to the elderly is usually a result of their discomfort with the fact that they themselves will be old someday.

The five remembrances in Buddhism teach us that for all human beings the following are true:

I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape ill health.

I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences

of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

Being around the elderly and the inform are reminders of these truths. And that makes a lot of people very uncomfortable.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

It is not a tragic event to start one's career in a nursing home. Tell the naysayers to keep quiet if they have nothing nice to say.

You must realize that the comments being made by your acquaintances, family members, and friends are reflective of society's overall negative opinions regarding the frail elderly. Plenty of value is placed on the lives of infants, children, and younger adults. However, older people tend to be devalued in American society. For example, many people become excited at the thought of a nurse who works in postpartum, pediatrics, trauma, the emergency department, reproductive medicine, or other areas where younger patients end up. However, the thoughts become less enthusiastic when the nurse is employed in an area where many elderly patients are seen, such as rehab, long term care, or oncology.

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Specializes in ADON at LTC, Previous PCU, Ortho etc....

i am currently working in a rehab/nursing home as a house supervisor at night. before i worked in a hospital for several years trauma/medsurg and pcu. after couple years i burned out and wanted a more quite less stressful job.

i can compare long term and hospital from my own experience and i can tell you that people do not have respect for nursing home nurses for a reason. there are no skills there. when i worked in a hospital i considered myself a healthcare professional, when i came to nursing home i did not feel that way. there is a world of difference between a good pcu nurse and a good nursing home nurse, so if you want an easy job that does not require skills work in a nursing home, but if you want skills knowledge and self satisfaction hospital is the only way imo. especially if you plan on advancing to a np,pa crna etc. that is why after 2 years in nursing home i went and got a prn job in a hospital and now i experience these two different worlds on a daily basis. i personally enjoy this change, and have no problem working in a nursing home, but i would not work in a nursing home only.

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I'll echo the previous posters.

The status in society of the people you work with has some bearing on the prestige of your nursing job.

If you work with prisoners, the mentally ill and the dependent elderly the response will be different than if you worked with star professional athletes.

It is too bad because the nursing home population depends most heavily on nursing care for quality of life.

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Specializes in Hospice.
i am currently working in a rehab/nursing home as a house supervisor at night. before i worked in a hospital for several years trauma/medsurg and pcu. after couple years i burned out and wanted a more quite less stressful job.

i can compare long term and hospital from my own experience and i can tell you that people do not have respect for nursing home nurses for a reason. there are no skills there. when i worked in a hospital i considered myself a healthcare professional, when i came to nursing home i did not feel that way. there is a world of difference between a good pcu nurse and a good nursing home nurse, so if you want an easy job that does not require skills work in a nursing home, but if you want skills knowledge and self satisfaction hospital is the only way imo. especially if you plan on advancing to a np,pa crna etc. that is why after 2 years in nursing home i went and got a prn job in a hospital and now i experience these two different worlds on a daily basis. i personally enjoy this change, and have no problem working in a nursing home, but i would not work in a nursing home only.

it's not that working in a nursing home requires no skills, it's that the skill sets are different.

i've worked in skilled care / long term care for 5 years and have used every one of the skills i was taught in nursing school, as well as learning several new ones. working in long term care requires keen assessment skills, as well as the ability to manage time and prioritize care over one shift for more residents than most acute care nurses will care for in a week.

over the last few years, i've seen many rns lcome to long term care for a "less stressful job" none of them lasted. they couldn't handle it. they were overwhelmed by the amount of work required. (the look on the face of the newly hired nurse when she realized that she would have 28 residents to take care of instead of 6 like in the hospital was priceless!)

in short, if one is working in long term / skilled care and not using their skills or finding self satisfaction, they're doing it wrong.

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