Should I stick with LTC?

2006RNCS · Jun 6, 2008

I wouldn't listen to what others say. Do what makes you happy. If you go to the hospital, and you are unhappy, you will burn out fast. I discovered that hospital nursing is rough to some, great for others. It really depends on your personality and your needs.

I found LTC to challenge me in ways that the hospital didn't. You become great at time management, prioritization, and using your psych skills. The hospital, you will do more IV's, NGT's, etc. Also, in LTC, especially if you work at night, you develop your critical thinking skills quickly! You learn to pick up on small things, esp. since you have most of these patients on a long term basis.

Please listen to your heart, not your head. Do what is best for you and your family. I am sure the place that you work seems like family to you. If you give it a try, and you want to move on later, you can do that, but just follow your heart. It is trying to tell you to stay.

Good Luck!!:heartbeat

jnrsmommy · Jun 6, 2008

Honestly, I think you should go where you feel your best. You did clinicals in school, so you have an idea as to what the hospital is like. You've worked as a CNA in LTC, so you have an idea what the nurses do there.

As far as skills go, learning a bunch of new skills in a setting that you're not happy in, is not going to mean much. You use plenty of skills in LTC, you just won't get a chance to do all the fun procedures (assist w/ a chest tube, insertion of a central line.. there's plenty more, but I'm tired and can't think of em right now..lol). Your residents in LTC are more chronic w/ their conditions. You will learn what these dz look like, then you will learn what an acute case will be when your resident starts going bad and needs to be sent out.

Does your facility have a skilled/rehab wing that you would be able to float to sometimes? This population can still be receiving some services that you would see in a hospital (IV therapy, CPMs, some extensive wound care, etc.).

I've always considered myself a hospital nurse, I loved it loved it loved it. I became very disillusioned w/ nursing, was even comtemplating getting a job as the greeter at wal-mart, just so that I wouldn't feel so stressed and burnt out. I recently started working in LTC(something that I swore I would never do again), and I'm in love w/ nursing again, and cannot imagine going back to the hospital any time soon.

Happy2CU · Jun 6, 2008

Plain and simple, do what makes YOU happy. Don't worry about what other people say. Best of luck to you!!

dreamingofbeing · Jun 6, 2008

Plain and simple, do what makes YOU happy. Don't worry about what other people say. Best of luck to you!!

My thoughts exactly.

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

Please do what makes you happy. All the LTCs I've worked at always need RNs, and if you love what you do, you are where you belong. Sometimes a couple of the aides you have worked with side-by-side will claim you got a big head when you became their RN supervisor, but that happens about anywhere, whether it is true or not. That would be the only caveat, but that's no reason to not continue doing what you love.

hotmama2be · Jun 6, 2008

I agree with all of the above posters!!!!!!

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2008

Do what you love.

:)

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jun 6, 2008

I'am a new grad, and recently got my RN license. I have worked in LTC for the past 11 years as a CNA, at the same facility. I was thinking of going to the hospital for the experience, but I don't enjoy it at all. On the other hand I have been working at the nursing home part time and I actually like it. I know all of the residents, they have watched me grow from a 18 year old girl to a 29 year old woman. Everyone tells me I will loose my nursing skills:cry: if I stay there, but I like LTC!!!!:heartbeat

People who have never worked in LTC don't have the foggiest notion of the skill set we develop in this setting, so don't listen to them. You obviously love what you're doing, and I wish there were more like you! Please, please, stay in LTC where you are so desperately needed........you won't regret it. Trust me on this one.

go mizzou · Jun 7, 2008

i graduated from a vocational school in july 2007. i got my lpn license in august 2007. i began working at a local nursing home at the end of july as charge nurse on the 3-11 shift. i am currently going to school to become an rn (hopefully i will graduate in november!!). i had one of my co-workers (who was part of nursing administration) ask me where i was going to work when i got done with school. i told her i hadn't decided yet and was waiting to see how future clinical rotations went. she says to me, "if i were you, i wouldn't stay around here. you will loose your skills." she also went on to basically tell me it would be a waste for me to stay at the nursing home. however, i enjoy ltc. i like my patients to be excited to see me when i come in to work on fridays (i only work a 16 hour shift on fridays). we do have skilled patients with feeding tubes, nasty wounds, ivs, etc. my don recently asked me about my plans after graduation. i told her about the remarks the other nurse said and she was upset and wanted to know who told me that! (i of course didn't tell her)

i thought i wanted to be an ob nurse. however, i am doing my ob clinical rotation now and find it very boring! med-surg i find stressful (at our hospital anyway!). in ltc i have plenty of work to keep busy but don't have tons of other people to trip over and asking for me to do things all the time and orders aren't constantly changing. with baby boomers aging, we are going to need ltc nurses. i say do what you want to do, not what your friends, family, co-workers, etc. think you should do. they aren't the ones doing the work. it takes special people to work ltc.

Itshamrtym · Jun 7, 2008

If you really love LTC, then stay there. YOU will be happier. All areas of nursing have their pros and cons. LTC nurses are really needed too.

Stay in LTC..... good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep us posted......

Donnagg123 · Jun 8, 2008

I agree with everyone else. Do what your heart says. I am an RN who works LTC and the whole timein nursing school I hated every other area of nursing but geriatrics. You get to know every detail about the patient, it feels more like a home, there is never a dull moment, plus I get way more hugs and thank yous than I would at a hopsital :)

Besides if you decide to do hospital work or LTC work or pediactrics or whatever, as long as you have love for what you do that is all that matters. I feel like I make a difference in peoples lives in what I do so my job satisfaction is very high.

Eveyone told methe same "oh you should do hospital work or you will lose your skills". Let me tell you I use plenty of nursing skills in LTC. Foley catheters, G-tubes, IV's, trach care, suctioning, CPR, critical thinking, PICC lines, ports, wound care, etc. etc. Working in LTC there is always something you could learn. I still find everyday there is a lab or a diagnosis or pill I am not familiar with so I look it up and learn.

I think a lot of times LTC facilities are overlooked in not only nursing schools, but in general nursing community. Which is sad.