kjsoncnurse

I'm an ICU nurse who works as a skilled nurse in a nursing home. I love both and LTC keeps me busier than the unit does. Wanna know what's lame? The nurse who belittles specialties that aren't "heroic" enough for them. And by the way. Patients can go bad in a nursing home just as quick as one in a unit. Nurses in LTC have to think on their feet. Just like unit nurses do. Just like med-surg, dialysis, School nurse, etc.

Thank you so much!! This has helped me put a whole new perspective on things. :)

I have been an RN for 2 years now. I work on an oncology floor, but we have recently become overflow for other needs as well. Not only are we stretched thin as it is with just our oncology/comfort care/hospice patients, we also have to provide care to any type of patient from stroke to GI bleed. It's safe to say that we have literally become the dumping grounds of the facility. We are short staffed all the time, the demands are so high from mostly family members and NOT the patients, we have to sign hourly rounding sheets in the patients room REGARDLESS of the acuity of other patients who require total care rather than someone who is a "walky/talky" and is totally independent...I am so stressed and have started dreading coming to work now. I used to laugh and smile and enjoy coming to work, the same as my coworkers. Now we ALL dread coming to work and the tensions are so high that you can cut it with a knife. I try my hardest to make sure my patients are taken care and have what they need. I try so hard to make them all content. I have found myself questioning my confidence and my ability as a nurse due to family members who aren't getting what they want and what they think the patient needs when they have NO idea whats really going on....It's just draining me emotionally to the point where it is effecting my drive at work. Is it me as a person? Is it me as a nurse? What do I need to do different??? Please help!!