searching for happiness

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I started a new job in LTC about one month ago after being terminated from my med/surg position. Some of you may remember my post about having the pt. who was allergic to Vanco and MD ordered it anyway, telling me to have epi on hand "in case of allergic reaction." Anyway, I just didn't feel like I was ready to put my tush back on the line in med/surg yet so I thought I would try LTC. I'm working at a very nice facility, nice work conditions, nice schedule, nice pay, and this is the first LTC that I had ever been in where the residents didn't smell bad. Some actually smell good! My problem is that I'm just not happy there. I'm still depressed over losing my previous job, and am always comparing this job to the old one. I feel like at the LTC all I'm doing is giving pills, doing accu-checks, insulins and vital signs. Am I missing something? I just don't feel like a nurse anymore. I feel like anyone could do what I am doing at this job. For those of you that work in LTC and love it, please don't flame me:(, I'm trying to make sense of this change I'm going through and really am trying to like the job.

There are some things about this new job that I'm really uncomfortable with. It is under new management and somehow the policy and procedures have been lost:confused:. I asked to see that the first day I was on the floor and nobody could produce one. I was told that they are being rewritten. Another thing that scares me is all of the autonomy linked with this job. Autonomy was never a good thing where I worked before. I've seen so many nurses use the old....do it now, get the order later routine, and they say, "don't call the doc now, they will get really mad." I want no part of that after losing my last (and first and only) nursing job. I was a lot more stressed when I worked in med/surg but was happy with my job choice. I really felt like a nurse and felt like I was making a difference. I still fear getting fired again and would be scared to go back to med/surg now after what happened. Can anyone shed some light on my situation for me? I feel like I'm just not able to think clearly anymore about what I'm supposed to do with this career.:sniff:

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Specializes in LTC , SDC and MDS certified (3.0).

long term care takes time before you can love and appreciate it. right now you are still learning . Yes alot of meds but once you master ths you will be able to find youself doing alot of good for your residents.You will get to know them better and help them more. as far as policy an proceedure,who have you asked?? DON?? administrator??

or corp? go up chain of command until you get a copy (old or New)

I have to say i felt the same when I started LTC 15 yrs ago now I can't see me doing anything else

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Do you think you need to see a therapist?

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Do you think you need to see a therapist?

Probably, but I'm not going to. I think I just need someone to talk to that understands and can help me see this whole situation in a different light. The people that I have available to talk to either aren't nurses or have never lost a job that meant a lot to them.

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