Plz tell me aged care is not that bad!

[Heinz beans]

I think I have a romantic view of aged care so bring me back to earth. Is it really as horrible as people say it is? I wanted to work there ever since my first placement regardless of the obvious issues with workloads, pay, respect etc. People always look at me like Im insane for wanting to do it but after years of horror stories Im nearly put off. What is the deal with other nurses looking down on the job as well?

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Do what interests you, not other people. If new enthusiastic staff won't go into aged care, of course it will be terrible.

My sister works in aged care and LOVES it.

[Heinz beans]

Do what interests you, not other people. If new enthusiastic staff won't go into aged care, of course it will be terrible.

My sister works in aged care and LOVES it.

Its not just that, nobody wants to work in a hellhole. The workplaces matters to me too.

[talaxandra]

We need enthusiastic nurses working in aged care so I say go for it!

Plus there's growing demand, so you can be guaranteed never to be at a loss for employment opportunities and, down the track, advancement. Acute care has had an explosion of new nursing roles over the past decade (hospital in the home, care co-ordination etc) and these should start spilling into aged care too.

[forumjunkie]

is it so different from the hospital setting? what are the differences?

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

the role of the Div 1 in aged care is often one of drug administration and doing injury assessments and wound care, this was my experience in Sydney doing agency, but when I went out to the country I got to do more hands on stuff with my aged pts. I gave out all the meds but then got stuck in washing and getting pt up for the day, feeding at lunchtime and listening to lemon tart recipes at 2 am from one very sweet old lady! It depends where you end as to what extent of hands on care you will have. Your first placement in first year were you working with the Div 1 nurse or the care workers learning basic care??

[sydneymum14]

Aged care is the most wonderful job!!!! I do agency work and go to 11 regular people..so it is like having 11 different grandparents. Yes my job is to give med prompts, but it is so much more than that. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about what makes people tick, I've learnt about BP, colostomy, grief, wound care, blindness, deafness, dementia, alzheimers and many other things. I've just got home from tonights run and had to call an ambulance for my 3rd patient. That in itself is a learning curve. I love it!!!!

[Heinz beans]

Sounds fun Sydneymum14 and the type of thing I like. Where do you think I could find info about work like yours in QLD?

[joannep]

If you like working with older people, then do district nursing, far more fun than working in aged care and the hours and pay is heaps better.

[Heinz beans]

What is district nursing?

[talaxandra]

The Royal District Nursing Service provides government-subsidised in-home care, including assistance with hygeine, chronic dressings, diabetes and management. To learn more, check their website.

[ceridwyn]

Hygiene is usually given by pca's that are employed by the local council or are employed by the district nursing employer. I have not attended hygiene needs for some time. Some hospitals employ the local district nursing service to complete their HITH program (hospital in the home) therefore many acute, complex dressings are attended to and IV antibiotics. People tend to believe that district nursing is not acute nursing, especially those who work in the hospitals, but because of the short stay of clients in hospitals these days, a lot of our work would be considered acute nursing.