ltcnurs5

I'm so tired of hearing how new nurses think they are better off getting NO experience versus getting some experience in a nursing home. I am a new grad and there are a lot of girls who I graduated with who are still unemployed because they cannot get over the fact that a big hospital doesn't want to hire them. I also applied to hospitals and realistically saw the writing on the wall very quickly. I then stopped in to all the local nursing homes to complete applications. Two weeks later, I was offered a FT days position on the sub acute floor and the rest is history. I have learned sooooo much, and I feel very lucky to have a NURSING job in this economy. I have worked my butt off, had to figure out a lot of stuff by myself, and am challenged every day. It basically comes down to the patients. I approach my "monotonous" tasks (NEWS FLASH - every job has monotonous tasks, not just LTC) by reminding myself that I am helping the elderly live a happy & comfortable end to their life. You begin to see the patients as people with very interesting life stories. You begin to see their quirks & personalities, and then they say something touching to you like "I'll hem your scrub pants for you" or "I wish I could take you home" or "where were you yesterday I was looking for you" and you begin to realize LTC isn't all that bad. I have treatments every day. Discharges, admissions, death pronouncements, PICCs, VENTS, trachs, IVs, Peg tubes & ostomy bags. An earlier post hit the nail on the head: the medicare and medicaid rules are getting tighter and tighter. Patients are being pushed out of the hospital earlier and earlier. The healthcare system is changing and will continue to become more and more cost cutting due to Obama.... So, perhaps new grad nurses need to take their nose out of the air and become more oriented to reality. Good luck!

I often wondered the same thing - what's so bad about LTC. I quickly learned the main thing is ridiculous expectations, managment who have very bad memories of what nursing REALLY entails. Once the economy improves, all of the RNs will run for hills. After all is said and done, you have to keep reminding yourself "I am here for the patients" because they are the ones that make all of the hard work worth it.

I recently graduated from nursing school in January with a BSN. Got my RN and am now working FT (day shift) on a sub acute floor within a nursing home. I like my job and feel so lucky to actually HAVE A JOB in this economy. I love my patients, and it is so nice to get to know their personalities, quirks, habits, etc. However, everyday I end up getting stressed out because I cannot see how I can possibly get everything done by the end of the day shift. Like most places, overtime is frowned upon. In fact they recently implemented a new policy where you have to get someone to sign off on the fact that you missed your punch and had to stay late. I think this is their way of making it very difficult for nurses to stay late. Trust me I don't want to stay late, the OT isn't worth it to me. I end up staying late because I cannot manage to write all my nursing notes by change of shift, so I usually end up giving report and then going to write my notes. So, my question for all nurses is how do you possibly manage 20+ patients who are on a lot of meds, have a lot of wound care treatments, treatment documenting and nursing notes. There is hardly ever a day where I can do my med pass without getting roped into toileting, listening to patient complaints, answering phone calls, talking to families, etc. It doesnt halp that we only have 3 aides for 35 + patients. Additionally we are expected to take vitals on nearly every patient, regardless of whether they are on meds with parameters. I sometimes have to float to the other straight nursing home floor, and it seems to be much easier there. Not as many treatments, notes etc. I feel like management holds our floor to the same standards as the nursing home floors but yet we have so much more work it seems. On the days I have off I am sure the per diem nurses get out on time, but then when I go around to do my treatments, the same tape with my initals from the previous day is still on the pts even though these dressings have to be done every day, and they don't do nursing notes even though we have to. So, what is the secrect/trick? Should I start to sign off on treatments even though they really weren't done? Should I just stop doing nursing notes? I know that's not the right thing to do but I have been told that in order to survive in LTC, you have to learn how to cut corners. Any suggestions or tips for a stressed out, exhausted, new grad? I would like to find some balance so that I can get out on time, keep my job and not be dead to the world every night at 9:30...