Skilled Unit in LTC......

[ladynesh, BSN, RN]

A little of my background....I been a LPN for about 1 yr, I worked in Ped HomeHealth for 6mo & now working Pool LPN in LTC for about 2 mo, prior to becoming a LPN, I was Active Military, Navy Corpsman (similiar to LPN) for 9 yrs working in the hospital. I have been offered a position in the Skilled Nursing Unit on weekends 12hr shifts at another facility....I wanted to know if any of you work in Skilled Unit in LTC as a LPN? If so, is it like Med-Surg & what pointers can you offer me? I may be working in that unit soon....I have the LPN Pocket Ref Book, but should I purchase the MedSurg Pocket Book.

[angelicnurse0204]

Hi,

I'm not an LPN but an RN but I do work in a skilled unit of LTC. More often than not in LTC you get between 10-25 patient on your hall/wing. You typically do assessments (if you have time), med pass, treatments (wounds, wound vac).

The range of patients that you get are usually the older of the population. From 40's to 90's. I get younger ones from time to time.

Typically diagnosis are but not limited to SP CABG, ORIF, Knee replacements, DM's, Hypertensives, patients on hospice, people on trachs, wound vacs, pressure ulcers, TPN's, IV therapy, colostomies , alzheimers and dementia, UTI, chronic pain.

It is not necessary for you to buy a med surg book but if you have a handy pocket guide about assessments and drugs handbook that would surely help.

Hope this helps!! Good luck with your new job. I'm sure you'll do great.

Angel