It's pretty sad when your stomach starts to hurt at just the thought of going to work.... You spend your days off dreading going back to work...
I haven't worked at the same place for the last 6 years.. I worked at a LTC facility for about 1 1/2 years before I left to work agency... where of course, I worked in nursing homes... I finally gave up agency work for something more steady.. and of course, it's a ltc facility. I've been at the same place for about 2 years now.
Every facility is the same.. The only difference? My pay rate.
The politics are all the same... Every department head... they are either related to someone, or are working their because their friend works there... Kinda like, the circle of friends.. they all work at the same places and when someone goes to another facility, like, the administrator goes to another facility, everyone follows and is given administrative positions...
With everyone in "charge", it's hard to have any order because you can't say anything about anything they do.... but yet when there's someone that they don't like, like elementary children, they head hunt and just look for things that are not being done so that they can fire someone..
This is very difficult for me, as I've never been a suck up. I always just come into work, do my job the best I can and then go home. I don't find the time to socialize with the "clique." I shouldn't have to suck up.
It never fails, this is how every place basically functions. I don't have very many options in places to work, as there are not that many places to work around here... I'm not iv-certified. I've applied at different hospitals, but I have the feeling since I've been in LTC so long, I'm not hospital appropriate..
It's gotten to the point that I don't even want to be a nurse anymore. Lpn's don't have that many options besides nursing homes in my area. Nursing homes aren't about the residents.. it's about who you know.. and who you know dictates if you're going to be disciplined for mistakes..or if everyone is just going to joke about stuff.
I love taking care of the older folk.. I just can't stand the LTC politics!!!
I'm just a student right now but I spent all my clinicals this past semster at a nursing home and yeah it was just like that there. I watched so much happen that should have not been happening (I reported the critical mistakes to no avail) I was so depressed over thanksgiving break. I'm definately not going into LTC after graduation! Next semester were doing OB and peds...I can't wait!
I'm just a student right now but I spent all my clinicals this past semster at a nursing home and yeah it was just like that there. I watched so much happen that should have not been happening (I reported the critical mistakes to no avail) I was so depressed over thanksgiving break. I'm definately not going into LTC after graduation! Next semester were doing OB and peds...I can't wait!
For what its worth, I'm sorry for whatever you saw, Please know that there are good places out there. THe students that come to our facility always rave and write letters on how they loved what they say and learned. A good facility is a warm, open environment that allows for good nursing care. Sure there is a bit of politics, but a good, dedicated nurse rises above it.
Rmember why you decided to become a nurse before every shift and hold onto that idealism. It will take you far no matter what you do.
LTC isn't for everyone, but I:redpinkhe what I do and where I work. Hope that continues.
Happy New Year everyone! Work is still the same.. I'm just taking it day by day.. Trying to keep my spirits high.. I've talked to others that I work with, and they just think I'm paranoid.. Well I think I have a pretty good intuition... it's never failed me before..
Someone once told me before to just tough it out.. It might take a while, heck, even years, but everything goes around.. I might not be around for it, but eventually the poor management won't be tolerated anymore.
There is just no where to work right now..Nobody is hiring, except prn positions and my bills can't get paid with a hit or miss schedule. I'm just crossing my fingers that I still work there when my first vacation in 2 years comes up.. no PTO of course, as i work 4 days a week instead of 5.. so i have no benefits... but if I lose my job before that time, I won't be able to take my vacation as I won't have the money.
you can become an rn on line??? a bit scary...no offense meant...but really...on line?
suesquatchrn has more willpower than i...i tried online but only got through a few classes. had to go the traditional route and go to college. some people are able to do it, though. as long as the prereqs are lpn or paramedic, i don't see a problem with it. i've learned a lot going for my rn, but it hasn't been clinicals, it's been pathophys and such. more of the "why" behind the "how". also, ltc isn't for everyone...and things definitely run differently than acute care. something that seems "critical" may actually be ok in ltc.....believe it or not, i have a resident who's pulse ox runs 65-72% all of the time and she's "ok".....she'd be intubated in acute care, but she's functioning for us. just an example of how things may be different and perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to judge. my fellow (non lpn or cna) students were shocked by some things that are "ok" in ltc, but, once explained, they understood. i find that i love acute care, but am not quite ready to give up on ltc. my older folks are just too much fun....albeit challenging in so many ways!
Ms.Kamille
11 Posts
I'm just a student right now but I spent all my clinicals this past semster at a nursing home and yeah it was just like that there. I watched so much happen that should have not been happening (I reported the critical mistakes to no avail) I was so depressed over thanksgiving break. I'm definately not going into LTC after graduation! Next semester were doing OB and peds...I can't wait!