We were all wrong about nursing home nurses

[Ruger8mm]

As someone who's been a charge nurse in a nursing home for some time now (as first RN job) I must admit that I was wrong and many on here have been wrong as well.

The position is looked down upon but I can assure you there is a lot of critical thinking, decision making and responsibility in that position. As the lone RN in charge of 8-10 Aides, 3 LPN and 65-70 residents it is a huge task and responsibility. Not to mention when things go south for a resident, you might as well be a nurse in the rain forest or Kenya (as far as supplies are concerned). All you have is your critical thinking skills.

Nursing home RNs are in fact real RNs.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Really wish that title could go away. I find it degrading and offensive toward a whole category of dedicated nurses. (And no, I'm not one.)

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Many do. Many think the LTC position is the bottom of the barrel and is a job of last resort. Myself included. I now know I was wrong. Even though the pay and working conditions in this area are the bottom of the barrel.

Maybe you thought that way. I never have. Perhaps you should refrain from sweeping generalizations in the future.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

For me, LTC *would* be a job of last resort, not because I look down on LTC nurses but because of the insanely bad working conditions. After my last LTC job, I swore I would sell my body on the street before I worked in another SNF. Now I will only go back if my family is facing immediate homelessness.

This was how I felt after only a year of finally giving LTC a try when the job market changed in my area...never again, EVER.

Any nurse that can handle the conditions that some of these facilities put their staff and residents in is one strong person in my opinion. The thought of going back makes me twitch:unsure:

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I spent the first six years of my nursing career in LTC and wouldn't return due to the stressful working conditions unless, of course, I faced imminent homelessness.

However, I salute the LTC nurses who fight the good battle to provide quality care to their residents on a daily basis. LTC nursing is a specialty in its own right and deserves respect.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

As the lone RN in charge of 8-10 Aides, 3 LPN and 65-70 residents it is a huge task and responsibility.

That's pretty much what we think is wrong with it.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

That's pretty much what we think is wrong with it.

But do "we" (since OP lumps us all as one) think less of those nurses who work in those trenches?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I spent the first six years of my nursing career in LTC and wouldn't return due to the stressful working conditions unless, of course, I faced imminent homelessness.

However, I salute the LTC nurses who fight the good battle to provide quality care to their residents on a daily basis. LTC nursing is a specialty in its own right and deserves respect.

Please join me in my fight against OP's characterization of ALL nurses' negative perception of LTC nursing.

[Cob94]

I'm a LTC nurse of over 20 years, I am good at what I do. I have never felt like I was looked down on by any other nurse. There are nurses I have met that do jobs I wouldn't or couldn't do. We admire each other and we know that in nursing there is a fit for every nurse. No way in hell I would do labor/ delivery, no way I would or could do trauma, those nurses would in no way do what I do. We all have a fit in the big wide world of nursing, and that is why we appreciate each other!

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

I work in LTC.... I love the work, love my patients. Requires one to be not afraid to challenge and advocate for their patients when needed.

Really dislike the fact that I'm expected to fit a 16 hour work day into 8 hours.

As for people looking down on me for the job. I actually dont care its their hang up not mine

[bebbercorn]

Just because something isn't my cup of tea doesn't mean I look down on it.

[Farawyn]

No, it's the phrasing of the OP. As if all of us were like ewwwww! LTC!

Meanwhile, it's one of the hardest jobs in nursing.

[JasBSN]

Twenty years ago I started as a CNA in LTC. After working my way through nursing school I swore I would never be a nurse in a LTC because of the horrid staffing. I worked ICU, step down, and ER for many years. Then one day I was without a job(whole other story I won't get in to here) and unemployment was running out. Now we all know it's a lot easier to get a job when you already have one. I didn't have one and I was getting desperate, so I applied for a job at a LTC thinking it would get me by until I found something I liked. That was almost 4 years ago now, and I have no plans of leaving. I was shocked to find I actually loved LTC! I'm now in management, but still work the floor every now and then, from what I hear about other facilities in the area our staffing patterns are excellent, and I couldn't ask for a better group of nurses and CNA's to work with. Sure some days I miss the adrenaline rush of traumas and cardiacs, but I love my residents and won't trade them for any amount of adrenaline.