Well kids, finally time to say goodbye to the world of LTC/SNF nursing. I took a new job at a place I was told was non-profit. Great right? The management company is FOR profit. We're not allowed to cost out the meds before we admit someone but the next day I get 4 emails from corporate demanding the meds be changed. There is a weekly report to be sent to corporate that really has nothing to do with care and more to do with the cost of things...how many supplements, how many blood glucose checks, how many alarms. They don't want to know the number of med errors. They admit people without insurance, drunks, drug addicts, you name it.
The staff....they've been allowed to act whatever way they've wanted for years and have no desire to change. They don't even want to get better at what they do. Get a pay check and that's it. One woman fell-broke her hip. The nurse on duty screamed at me and told me she knows she didn't fall because two other residents told her...um...yeah...the two residents with dementia. The nurse managers have started to try to tell me how to do my job, all the CNAs say the others don't change people and tell me the residents are afraid. Why is it when I ask them, the residents tell me they like 'the girls'? I'm done.
TMI but I ended up in the hospital with chest pains. The cardiologist told me to decrease my stress...HA! The only way is to resign which I just did....effective immediately.
It makes me sad but the business has finally worn me down and I don't even care any more. It's not getting any better. I'm hoping to find a job elsewhere, if not as an RN then at the local fabric store!
I've enjoyed reading and participating in the posts here.
Good luck to all you who decide to stay in the business.
So....I have received more positive comments (any comments really) from total strangers than I did the people at work.
I made the right decision. LOL...stripping...they'd holler PUT IT ON!
If you see the photo of the four strippers who murdered the Good Samaritan who fixed their flat tire, you will probably conclude that you would be ok as far as stripping for a living goes.
I feel we work(ed) in the same building. In fact, as I was reading your post, I had to remind myself we live in different states so it couldn't possibly be...
Anyway, the best of luck to you and I hope you find freedom, happiness, and fulfillment in the next chapter of your life.
Find another path, if it's fabric then more power to you. You have been an inspiration to me as well and after only 6 months in LTC/SNF I am doing all I can to get out. It could be so great if only it was staffed and the corporate overlords weren't so awful. I'm looking for almost anything else to move into. I even applied to a Plasma clinic! But the hamster wheel/groundhog day of no change, up to 40:1 ratio and not being able to safely take care of things is killing me mentally and physically. I plan to give notice for after one of our nurses returns from maternity leave. I don't even care if I have a job lined up, I am losing sleep and having palpitations.
I have always thought being a DON is a hell job and would never even consider putting myself through that in a million years. I see what the DONs at my facility go through and they never last more than a couple of years. One time we went through four in six months. Good luck! Hope you find something really great!
I worked at a "non-profit" facility for 7 years. We had little tags on everything for the charges. We were constantly told to be sure we posted the tags because the facility was losing money.
Now I work at a "for profit" facility. No annoying little tags on anything!
Also, moving to night shift has been a great stress reliever for me. No bosses, no phone calls, rare visitors!
You can make them pay before you put your clothes back on!
I'm sorry. LTC was nuts when I started as a new grad nurse with absolutely no orientation a few short years ago. It has only gotten worse as SNFs in my area face more financial issues. The best thing was to take the nursing skills I developed and make the move to acute care. Best decision I ever made.
If you see the photo of the four strippers who murdered the Good Samaritan who fixed their flat tire, you will probably conclude that you would be ok as far as stripping for a living goes.
BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts
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