jennblu

I'm in Indiana and the facility in which I work is the exception...definitely not the norm. I feel so so lucky to have found this place! We had a deficiency free survey last year and I would absolutely trust any of the nurses or aides there with my family. We were just told that pharmacy is going to start packaging our meds in envelopes by resident and time of administration....so they are going to preset our meds for us (legal if they do it I guess). We will, of course, triple check during administration but how much easier is that going to make it for us?!? But it's not about how easy or difficult the job, it's about how much more time we have to make sure that our residents get the best care possible. I LOVE MY JOB! :redpinkhe

I am a new RN grad and I work in LTC. I never pictured myself working in a nursing home, but I love it and DO NOT plan on leaving. My facility is an exceptional facility, I got 11 days orientation (12 hour shifts) and could ask for more if I felt uncomfortable. I only have 12 residents in my hall (a medicare, skilled, hall). I have 1 trach, 2 feeding tubes, and a PICC line (she currently is getting antibiotics that I hang). I have learned SO much already! I don't want this to sound like I am attacking or anything, but I just have a few things that I think you need to consider. Please keep in mind that these residents will become attached to you. Think about having someone come into your home (that IS their home) and take care of you every day for a year and then leave. Some of these people only see their family once in a while and you are with them every day, you will become like their family. I'm not sure its fair to go in there with the expectation to leave when something "better" comes along. I'm not sure how LTC nursing got such a bad reputation, or why it is considered a "last resort" or just to gain experience and move on. I love my job and feel totally fulfilled at the end of the day. I go to work and make the last days, weeks, or years of these people's lives the best I possibly can and most of them appreciate everything I do. And of course there are the cases where the resident is a short term stay and you get to see them rehabilitated and move back home or to assisted living. I realize that the job market is tough right now and you have to do what you have to do..... But nursing is about so much more than a paycheck. I guess what I am trying to say is to keep an open mind, you might just end up loving LTC! Good luck!

I am taking mine tomorrow and am sooo nervous! I promised myself to take today off and just relax, but I find that difficult to do! I hear that most everyone comes out of there feeling like they failed. So keep your chin up and find something to keep you busy until you get your results! (easier said than done...I know).