Should I try LTC?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Hello,

I've never worked in LTC. I've read so many horrible things about this area of nursing. I will be relocating in a few months and there are several LTC jobs available, both skilled nursing homes/rehab and retirement community. Is there much difference between the two? Is working at a retirement community less stressful? What about assisted living? I'm torn between trying LTC and outpatient dialysis. Thanks!

Specializes in Wound Care, Public Health, Dialysis, Primary Care.
22 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

There is much to learn! Just go in with the attitude that its a learning experience and find a home with a decent reputation. It's my other love, dialysis is my true love

Thanks! I'm currently working in public health (which I love) but I was thinking about getting a PRN position somewhere to keep up with nursing skills.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.

Take dialysis, I work in LTC, rehab unit, and it is very demanding. I get too many patients and very understaffed.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a current "new grad", I started out in LTC/SNF in September, so I only have about 9 months experience. I was debating this same exact question, I was looking to start out in a strictly sub-acute facility, that probably would have provided me better training, and experience, but the pay this LTC/SNF facility was offering was so much more than the sub-acute place, so ultimately I started my career in LTC. It's an OK job, but I am having regrets and anxiety about losing my skills, and never having the opportunity to transfer to a hospital if I want to down the road. People say if you start in LTC, you are "pigeonholed" into this specialty, so this is also why I am worried. It is a lot of work, and from what I hear, COMPLETELY different from other healthcare settings. LTC has its own regulations, etc. I am looking to leave for a variety of reasons (burnt out, no help from management, shift hours). Most LTC's are 8 hour shifts, and if going full time, that's usually 5 days/week, whereas other settings can offer 3 12's, which usually allows for more time to get stuff done. It is stressful. I currently work 3-11 because they cannot offer me 7-3 and I absolutely dread it because I am a morning person and rather get home from work at a decent hour. I have close to no social life, and rarely get to spend time with family. The nurse:patient ratio is also a lot different. Most LTC units have a lot of beds, and it's sometimes only 1 nurse caring for them. It is insane, but at the same time, as you get more and more used to it, you develop a routine. But at the same time, as you develop a routine, you begin to feel more like a babysitter who is just there to pop and administer meds and not like a nurse. Med passes are usually very heavy, except if you work 11-7. As people mentioned, LTC does have a high turnover rate, hence why so many LTC facilities are constantly hiring. It is a lot of stress, between med pass, treatments, doctor's orders, dealing with families, emergences, fall risks, etc. I have only been working 9 months at this current LTC facility, and I'm burnt out and ready to leave. I personally believe that the burn out is not only because of the workload, but because I get no help from upper management, and staffing is an issue. In most places, the pay is much better than what you would get in a hospital (at least in my area), but you really have to weigh the pros and cons.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
4 hours ago, jennsrn said:

....But at the same time, as you develop a routine, you begin to feel more like a babysitter who is just there to pop and administer meds and not like a nurse...

I have been saying LTC is like babysitting for along time now...... and people often get offended. I worked long term care for 8-9 years before acquiring my RN degree, and let me tell you, hospital is better. I'm not saying hospital work doesn't have its faults, but the skills you learn compared to LTC are so much more diverse. When I was a LPN, and other nurses used to ask me why didn't I just go back for my RN.....or why do I want to be "just" an LPN, seeing how my LPN skill set and critical thinking skills was above par, I used to get offended too. But now, as an RN, I 100% understand what they were saying to me. I cant knock anyone for doing LTC, although it seems like I actually am, I'm just giving my OPINION. LTC DOES IN FACT feel like babysitting after a while; IT ACTUALLY EMULATES TO MANY DEGREES!! Bathing, dressing, feeding, changing and medicating....wash,rinse and repeat. Baby sitting the elderly population. Nothing wrong with it but I just didn't want that for my career any longer. Would I go back? Yes, but only as a last resort. Only as a way to avoid homelessness AND starvation (not one each, but both together!). I am forever grateful to the Lord him self for allowing me the opportunity to work past LTC. I couldnt do it any longer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.
14 hours ago, 819Nurse said:

Would I go back? Yes, but only as a last resort. Only as a way to avoid homelessness AND starvation (not one each, but both together!)

And I say that about hospitals. I'd go LTC way before hospital

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

LTC is not for everyone. I disagree with the babysitting assessment in reference to my 10 years in LTC. I also disagree with the thought of losing skills. Yes LTC is often understaffed. Yes management is often apathetic or has their hands virtually tied by owners. LTC is never boring. I have cared for up to 47 patients as the only nurse at my current job, and more than that in times of staffing crises at my previous job.

My current facility has everything from skilled Medicare patients receiving therapy to Hospice patients to patients that should be in psych care facilities (due to my geographical area closing many inpatient psych facilities).

Full codes and DNR's, and yes I have participated in CPR more than one time on a Full code patient.

Dementia and fully alert. Hoyers and independently able to walk. All on the same unit.

PEG tubes, PICC's, Stage 4 decubs, fresh surgical sites, Foley's, Suprapubics etc.

My facility also does in house dialysis which is contracted out to a private company. Management of those patients takes a skill set.

You name the diagnosis and I have had a patient with it. It takes skills to be able to monitor all the conditions. It takes good pharmacology skills to understand all the meds they take. It takes skills to understand all the labs drawn for all the different diagnoses.

You get to know your patients and you know when something is not right.

Yes there is a chronic shortage of CNA's in my area. Yes many CNA's feel entitled and unable to be fired because of that. Most are your eyes and ears and are dedicated. You do the best you can. Until wages for CNA's go up that's where we are.

LTC is a challenge and every day that challenge is different. Some of us love that aspect of the job.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment