Terrible nursing homes VENT- Kinda Long

[nhauenLPN]

hello all,

this post is more so a vent about my job; however, if anyone else is in the same situation, or can link me to posts that describe similar situations, i would appreciate it. i just like to see that i am not the only one ready to throw in the towel, not because i don't like being a nurse, but because my job is horrible!

i've been an lpn almost three years, and for the past two years i've been working at a ltc facility- my first and only job as a nurse. now, i've come to realize through word of mouth that working at most nursing homes isn't exactly a walk in the park. but i truly believe my facility is one of the worst, and i feel ashamed that i even still work there!

when i first started, i was ridiculed from the beginning because i walked in as a fresh lpn with zest and vigor. people snickered and looked at me like "this girl isn't going to last here." looking around at the employees, just the look on their faces showed me how they felt about this place. they looked frustrated and burnt out. not to mention, the employees did not hesitate to tell me all the negative things about this facility, and there was plenty. they would go on and describe the corruption of the management, favoritism, first call off is an automatic write up- i could go on and on. but i favored the 12 hour shifts, and i felt happy that i found a job and was ready to start bringing home more money. not to mention, i'm stubborn and like to find stuff out on my own.

anyways, i kept my head up as best as i could considering that over the first year of me working there, everything the employees had warned me about came true.

for starters, i had two days of orientation as a new nurse. i didn't mind that aspect; however, two days of orientation then day three i'm managing a unit on dayshift (6am-6:30p) with 42 residents, 5 tube feeders, dozens of foleys, two med carts by myself is rediculous. i would ask for help, and i wouldn't get it. all i got was other nurses laughing at me because it took me until 12pm to finish morning med pass! this went on for several months, and after much begging we finally got a second nurse on that unit. i can't believe we had to beg for it. that was, at the very least, extremely dangerous.

during this period of me being alone on this busy unit, i would receive new admits constantly, and not one person would help me. i had to learn all the paperwork and procedures on my own. one day, i received two admits at the same time. i did the very best i could, and surprisingly the only mistake i made was forgetting to transfer a treatment order on the new physician's order sheet yet i did transcribe the orders on the treatment record. can you believe i got written up for that? i am overworked, over stressed, no one will help me and i get written up for something so small and correctible.

fast forward through tons of bs a few months later- i found out one of my male dementia residents had been abused. he has bruises all over his chest and was actually alert enough to point out the person who abused him (a cna that worked that floor on the mn shift). several times he would wheel himself up to her in his w/c and state "sir, (she looked like a man) i know you gave me an icy cold shower and beat me up. my left titty hurts like hell. but can we shake on it?" it sickened me, and since everyone else there "sticks together" and wouldn't "snitch", i went and told my adon at the time. my don comes down to investigate the bruises, and as an insult to my intelligence tries telling me they weren't bruises, but veins. seriously?? so, in a nutshell, i was instructed to falsify legal documents. i never ended up writing a report on the bruises, i backed out of the situation for my licenses sake but i still haven't forgiven myself for that situation. i feel like i could have done more to get this resident the justice he deserves as a human being.

so, before this "vent" gets any longer i might as well end it here, because honestly i could go on, and on and on about this place. i only gave a small sample of the huge picture. let's just say, i don't recommend my facility to any families looking for a home for their loved ones. i know it's wrong, but i have in the past advised against it to a family who visited my facility. i didn't go into details, but she asked my opinion and i was honest.

why am i still here, you ask? i feel stuck. i start the rn program in two weeks, and my job reluctantly honored my school schedule, but of course since management is unprofessional and spiteful, they are picking with me even more than they used to because they gave me a favor. i am no longer working my beloved dementia unit, but have now unexpectedly been transferred to the dreaded "a-wing" that all the nurses hate. when i questioned my don about this, she stated "all nurses are being rotated now." ok, that's fine, but why am i the only one who is being rotated? they removed me from where i felt the happiest, but all the other nurses have stayed on their original units. it's like they think i'm stupid or something and will believe their lies. i have already attempted getting a new job in the past few months. two different facilities wanted to hire me, but either the hours weren't right or they weren't willing to work around my school.

but really, with the 12 hour shifts, it's the only thing that will work around my schedule. the rn program is only 9 months long, so all i have to do is stick it out until then, but as each day passes i hate being there more and more. i just feel disgusted about what i see and hear, and how the residents are treated, and how i am being treated. working at this place has given me a bad perspective on nursing in general, and it makes me feel like i shouldn't even continue on and get my rn license. my husband keeps reassuring me that once i get out of this place and work somewhere else it will be better, but from what i hear, most all places are the same. i can't deal with all this crap anymore!!

sorry i know this was very long. i just really needed to vent and get it off my chest. i feel myself becoming very depressed because of my job and i am considering an antidepressant med to help see me through these next 9 months.

thanks for reading.

[virgo,student nurse, CNA]

Please. Please. Leave as soon as you can. It sounds as if you have NO support from administration, and they allow the clients to be mistreated. You have integrity and the other staff just go for whatever. Your license is at stake, and the working conditions SUCK.

Get away before they have you in some type of trouble, and it ruins your future plans. I wish you the best of luck.

[egglady, LPN]

How do these types of facilities pass State? I work in a nice LTC, and have for years, and we get nerved up when state comes. I would get out of there. If you like geriatrics, please know there are good ones out there!! Good luck to you!

[nhauenLPN]

To be honest, we passed state by the skin of our teeth. We just had our annual last week- got 10 citations as far as I know- mostly "smaller" issues relating to documentation/MDS issues. No med errors. We have a high fall rate, so that was a cite. Anyways, I would like to get out of there, I really would. But knowing that I start school in less than 2 weeks and having to hurry up and find something that would be flexible with my schedule as a new employee is proving to be difficult (already had two interviews- willing to hire, other than my schedule issue). SO, I will keep looking... but in less than a year I'll be a RN and be out of there.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

Hang in there. Sounds like we work in the same facility. Look for another job if you can. If not, get your RN and then get out!

[PassTreatChartOhMy]

It would be a wise move to find a new job, IMO.

Any chance you could do home health nursing? The one HHN (LPN) I know says she makes her own hours, and makes 30 % more than she did in LTC. Good luck!!!

[Sparrowhawk]

Find a new job before they get tired of you and try to get rid of you

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

How do these types of facilities pass State?

When state surveyors enter the building, the crappier nursing homes magically have abundant staff and supplies. People who usually stay in their offices are suddenly answering call lights, passing meal trays, and doing things that they typically would never do if the state surveyors were not in the facility. I've seen this scenario play out too many times.

[Nurse Fee Fee]

The LTC I worked for was like that. That had this beautiful facility, wood floors, a snack bar just lovely. Everyone all smile and cheerful, I was like wow, seems like a great place to work. Boy oh boy was I ever wrong, worst place ever, short staff, absolutely no support whatsoever, unless you were one of the but kissers who got screwed by them herself...After about 3 weeks I put in my resignation had to wait 30days before I could leave, but i was leaving there, i didn't even have another job to go to, all i knew was I has to get out of there....

I worked to hard for my license and wasn't about to let some low rent LTC cause me to loose it. My advice to you sweetie head for the door before they mess you up. I will be praying for you....