So, who LOVES LTC?? I need inspiration!

Dalla · May 24, 2012

You love it because you love forming a relationship with your elderly patients. You have the time to really get to know them, and they you. Some may become like "grandparents" to your children if you let them visit. You really miss them when they pass, but your life was enriched by knowing them.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · May 24, 2012

I worked in a (terrible) LTC 12 years ago. I still think about the many people I met who called that place home. Yes, they enriched my life. I wish I could have stayed. You build relationships in LTC like no other health care setting. :redbeathe

buytheshoes11, MSN, RN · May 24, 2012

What I truly love about LTC are the relationships you begin to build with the residents. I didn't see that much in acute care. I also love many of the other nurses and CNAs that I get to work with! I hope you love your new job!!

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · May 24, 2012

I love LTC. I love the long term relationship, the 'family' feeling I have with my residents. I can tell you their likes, dislikes, what makes them angry, happy, and what their favorite beverages are.

I went from a poor facility with terrible ratios to a facility with wonderful ratios, and I enjoy it that much more thanks to the extra attention I can give each resident.

I also feel like I really make a difference in their lives. I always give a smile, and I believe they know I care. I help to relieve their pain and increase whatever quality of life which remains, so I feel like I make a big difference in their lives.

HusbandofNewGradRN · May 24, 2012

If your like my wife you will probably really enjoy this new position. My wife is a very compassionate person who really connects well with older people in need. She is a new grad RN and her dream job is working in LTC. She had an interview at a facility here in Phoenix this week and I hope she is offered the position.

I hope to see you posting back with happy experiences in your new position.

PrisonPsychRN · May 24, 2012

I personally work in a prison psychiatric ward, however with that being said, it is most like a long term. I have had most of my patients for more than 2 years now. I have only been there for 3. I love being in a place where I can form a lasting reltaionship with my patients. I have an older population that are mostly in their 50's -60 years old. They suffer from dementia and other psychiatric illnesses. I find it much more rewarding than a hospital.

Good Luck!

WildOne · May 25, 2012

I love LTC because its homey. The downside is you get attached to patients and next thing you know 8 years later and they pass away

allnurses Guide · May 25, 2012

I just.. dislike hospitals for many, many reasons, but just one of them

is that I have to deal with so many new people on a regular basis. I

like LTC because I do get to form bonds.

It is really sad when they pass away though. One of my favorite residents

from my last LTC just passed away. :crying2:

iceprincess492 · May 25, 2012

I love love love LTC and have spent my whole career (14 years so far) with the same company. Like everyone else has said the best part is the relationships you form with the residents. I work in a wonderful facility and it is like one big family :)

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · May 25, 2012

I'ved worked in crappy LTCF and really nice ones. I loved the bonds I developed with the residents and their family.

I loved that the residents appreciate the little things you do for them.

I loved when I worked with a full staff and everyone was a team. Not all LTCF are bad.

IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN · May 25, 2012

Well - can't say I LOVE LTC, but I do like LTC, which would probably shock a lot of my CNA classmates. Part of the reason I wanted to work at this particular one was that the 15 students that did their clinicals there all just dogged the place - "antiquated equipment","surly nurses", "cliquish" - m'goy, you've never heard such whining in your life!

Got over there, and yeah some of the beds have hand cranks, and yeah the staff can be pretty crabby at times, and yeah working around elderly folks isn't necessarily everyone's cup of tea - but.

Every member of that staff kicks some serious ass when it comes to patient care. No - I don't get along with all of them, but they all get it in regards to the idea that "the patient comes first". Given some of the behavior I've seen in area hospitals, it's a nice change of pace.

As for the residents - got popped by one during my first month. Now - I'm about the only one she'll let near her. Visited with her this afternoon (after an aborted ortho appointment with another resident) - went from howling to a big cheery smile when she saw me. She's also a hospice patient, and I'm well aware that her time is coming so I keep a bit closer tabs on her than the other folks I work with. Got another one - severe contractures, cerebral palsy, speech aphasia - the lady's in pretty bad shape. She started howling when we got her to the hospital for a cardiac eval - just started speaking to her softly & stroking her head & face; calmed right down. Took her in for a renogram couple of days ago; same thing. Figured out that she was getting agitated by the bright lights and activity, so we put her off in an isolated area and just spoke to her softly with light touches on her head & face; got a smile out of her for that one. :yeah:

Let's see - a few weeks ago, one of the first residents I worked with on nocs passed away. I was checking to make sure the personal belongings of all the residents had their name & room number on them; he was sleeping at the time (yep - checked breathing, skin tone, etc. when I entered the room). Couple of hours later, looked up and the door was shut. Turned out he had an MI in his sleep & never made a sound, just crossed over quietly. Spent the rest of the shift reflecting on our night-time conversations, his continual battling with his room-mate over the privacy curtain, his wittcisms (retired college prof, BTW) & how much I'd learned from him in the short time we had together before he confronted the mystery.

Another one - had another resident who was on that run who was a hospice patient; generally pleasant person, spent some time feeding her & chatting with her; she was there for about 2 1/2 weeks & passed on in her sleep as well.

My point - for me, working in LTC isn't a long-time career goal because I'm looking at moving into hospice care. However, LTC has one of the reasons I'm looking at hospice - that one-on-one interaction with the patients, and the knowledge that by doing what I do I'm making a positive difference in these people's lives. No - can't make them 20 years old again, can't make their bodies whole & strong; but I can make their lives just a little bit easier by being the best CNA I can be. What I will take with me (along with a buttload of floor skills) is the memories of the people who's lives I've touched, and those who I helped move on into another plane of existence.

Nope - it's not a hospital, but not all hospitals are healthcare Shangri-La and not all LTC's are hellholes.

----- Dave