Transition to LTC nursing

[CassB]

I graduated with my BSN in 2009 and for the past two years have worked in a locked psychiatric facility. I love psych nursing and would prefer to stay in that area, however, I've moved back to my hometown to be closer to family and the only place to work as an RN here is in a doctor's office or LTC. So needless to say I'm choosing the LTC route because the pay is better and I do not like the typical M-F hours. I was just wondering if it was a difficult transition for people coming from other areas to LTC. Working in psych nursing for my whole nursing career, I feel I've lost a lot of skills that I may need in LTC. I know that the more I do them, the more comfortable I will feel...I'm really just wondering what a typical day is for a LTC nurse. How many patients are you responsible for? I worked as a CNA in a nursing home years ago and I just remember the nurses giving out medications and charting. I know there has to be more to it than that :). Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Cass, there are a ton of threads here that delineate this very question. As to skills, they will come back quickly.

:)

[pixie120]

I graduated with my BSN in 2009 and for the past two years have worked in a locked psychiatric facility. I love psych nursing and would prefer to stay in that area, however, I've moved back to my hometown to be closer to family and the only place to work as an RN here is in a doctor's office or LTC. So needless to say I'm choosing the LTC route because the pay is better and I do not like the typical M-F hours. I was just wondering if it was a difficult transition for people coming from other areas to LTC. Working in psych nursing for my whole nursing career, I feel I've lost a lot of skills that I may need in LTC. I know that the more I do them, the more comfortable I will feel...I'm really just wondering what a typical day is for a LTC nurse. How many patients are you responsible for? I worked as a CNA in a nursing home years ago and I just remember the nurses giving out medications and charting. I know there has to be more to it than that :). Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Every LTC facility that I have worked in has had many similiarities to Psych, so much of what we get is very similiar. Dementia with Behavioral Disturbances is all the psych issues rolled into one and the referralls we see now are all younger clients with life long psych issues, mostly NOT well controlled thru their life, just like poorly controlled diabetics etc. I would think your experience would serve you well, and then just learning the LTC "way of things". Some of what we do is just best pratice based and then the paperwork is very specific to LTC, but once you learn it, you would do quite well I would imagine! Lots of assessments particularly when it's a new admit, but if passing meds, just the charting of those on alert, following up with all new labs, calling MD. Hopefully a few of the seasoned nurses will assist you, we give a longer orientation to new grads and returning nurses, would imagine you could ask for extra days to learn the particular paperwork etc.

[itthybitthythpider]

You are lucky, coming from a psych background! We get a lot of psych patients in LTC. Some nurses forget they are supposed to be more than passing meds and charting! You'll get the hang of it, though. As far as patient load, it's usually 20-30, depending on your state and facility.