What keeps you motivated?

I've been an lpn in geriatric ltc for almost 5 years now. I think I've about seen it all.

I'm looking for some encouragement...

What do you do to stay focused and motivated?

How do you handle co-workers who are lazy? I fear some sort of retaliation if I report the nurse I work with. She would know it was me. Everyone I work with seems to have this "Hear no evil, see no evil" approach to things. They just can't be bothered when someone does something neglectful.

I wrote up an aide last week and she was fired over it. She wasn't doing rounds at night, she was sleeping on the job.. and she did it in front of everyone. They all found out it was me and it caused some animosity.

I work with a nurse, every night I work, we have the same rotation.. who refuses to check her patients. Any time any of them complain, she tells the aides that they always do that and she ignores it. Theres a resident who gets around the clock medications, and she works full time, and i know she's not giving them to him.. she never really leaves her spot unless it's to grab something to refill the cart.

Everything in my heart tells me to report her...but I feel like I'm just turning into the Narky Nurse.

Im just aggrivated and bitter and don't ever look forward to going to work. If I'm not listening to complaints about how so and so doesn't do their job, even though they aren't doing theirs either, I have to listen to the dayshift nurse complain about how busy it is and thats why she can't ever get anything done.

The sad part is, I know there is no other place that is better. This is what nursing has become. It's no longer about the patient care, it's no longer about the patient.. It's just about bickering and complaining about how rough everyone's job is, and no one is doing anything.

And don't even get me started on the aides.. I'd love to know how they sleep at night, let alone pay their bills.. the fact that they call off constantly, 10 minutes before the start of their shift.

So how do you deal with this? How do you stay motivated and enjoy being a nurse? I need some pointers!

Ahhh those good ole days in LTC. I would write it all done, every day. Then when you turn it in, don't say anything, just give a copy to the DON anonymously. If and when it comes out that you told the DON, write down each and every reaction you get. Then give that to the DON. If and when she does nothing about it, write it down and give that to her along with the name of your lawyer.

:)

I know many people stay quiet and/or quit, but I'm a guy. I say stick it to them. Most DON's will shut down the problems if you properly escalate the situation.

Shrug, that's what I do.

Besides, as a nurse you *HAVE* to report them. You are doing the right thing.

I don't know if that was motivational or not.

Thats right you need to report them. You are the residents advocate and who cares if the lazy butts get canned.

The only thing that kept me going - and not enough to keep me there - was my old ones. They were so helpless, and dependent, and unloved, and I don't count the families who swept in daily to complain but God forbid they took Mom home.

They loved me, some of them. And I loved them.

I don't know what to tell you as far as motivation. Sometimes it seems the only ones who apprec. us are the residents and sometimes they are not so nice. Make sure you always take your breaks. It gives you time to refresh. I used to skip them because I had so much to do, but it isn't good for you or the residents.(and most of the aides never miss breaks) Also get done what you can reasonable do. Dayshift has lots more help than nights. I worked at a place where the day nurse assumed we sat on our butt and did nothing all night. So not true!!! Well try and keep your head up for those residents who are depending on you.

I am motivated by the need to pay bills - that is what gets my butt out of bed and into work. As far as being happy? There is no happiness about my work or about being a nurse anymore. Tired of the fight. Tired of the crap. Tired of the lazy, mean coworkers. Tired of being regulated to death so I can't do my job anymore. Tired of lying, cheating, fraud by managers and employers. I simply paste that pretty smile on my face when I see a pt and just remember that they don't kneed to know how much I hate being there. If I didn't have to pay bills - I would have given up my nursing license several years ago.

What keeps me going is my dedication to care, the old folk I work with and the good staff I work with. If you don't have all of these, life gets difficult and you have to re-assess where you want to work. It's all well to say 'but if I leave then old Mrs X won't get turned and Mr Q won't get to the toilet...' but there's a place for everyone and we are not saints (just angels!), we need to think of numero uno!

I am motivated by the need to pay bills - that is what gets my butt out of bed and into work. As far as being happy? There is no happiness about my work or about being a nurse anymore. Tired of the fight. Tired of the crap. Tired of the lazy, mean coworkers. Tired of being regulated to death so I can't do my job anymore. Tired of lying, cheating, fraud by managers and employers. I simply paste that pretty smile on my face when I see a pt and just remember that they don't kneed to know how much I hate being there. If I didn't have to pay bills - I would have given up my nursing license several years ago.

That is just too sad really. I can't believe you find no good things about your job. Go back to school and change your carreer for the better. you sound miserable!!!!!

I've been an lpn in geriatric ltc for almost 5 years now. I think I've about seen it all.

I'm looking for some encouragement...

What do you do to stay focused and motivated?

How do you handle co-workers who are lazy? I fear some sort of retaliation if I report the nurse I work with. She would know it was me. Everyone I work with seems to have this "Hear no evil, see no evil" approach to things. They just can't be bothered when someone does something neglectful.

I wrote up an aide last week and she was fired over it. She wasn't doing rounds at night, she was sleeping on the job.. and she did it in front of everyone. They all found out it was me and it caused some animosity.

I work with a nurse, every night I work, we have the same rotation.. who refuses to check her patients. Any time any of them complain, she tells the aides that they always do that and she ignores it. Theres a resident who gets around the clock medications, and she works full time, and i know she's not giving them to him.. she never really leaves her spot unless it's to grab something to refill the cart.

Everything in my heart tells me to report her...but I feel like I'm just turning into the Narky Nurse.

Im just aggrivated and bitter and don't ever look forward to going to work. If I'm not listening to complaints about how so and so doesn't do their job, even though they aren't doing theirs either, I have to listen to the dayshift nurse complain about how busy it is and thats why she can't ever get anything done.

The sad part is, I know there is no other place that is better. This is what nursing has become. It's no longer about the patient care, it's no longer about the patient.. It's just about bickering and complaining about how rough everyone's job is, and no one is doing anything.

And don't even get me started on the aides.. I'd love to know how they sleep at night, let alone pay their bills.. the fact that they call off constantly, 10 minutes before the start of their shift.

So how do you deal with this? How do you stay motivated and enjoy being a nurse? I need some pointers!

LTC , the snakepit of healthcare. It could change, IF had stength in numbers, courage to do the right thing and protection from retaliation when we Do the right thing.

That is just too sad really. I can't believe you find no good things about your job. Go back to school and change your carreer for the better. you sound miserable!!!!!

The original poster is speaking the truth here, I dont think it is fair to make her feel that she is to blame for choosing nursing, IT IS the way she has described in MOST LTC facilities across the country. MOST nurses who have worked in LTC feel this way, if truth be told.

Ahhh those good ole days in LTC. I would write it all done, every day. Then when you turn it in, don't say anything, just give a copy to the DON anonymously. If and when it comes out that you told the DON, write down each and every reaction you get. Then give that to the DON. If and when she does nothing about it, write it down and give that to her along with the name of your lawyer.

:)

I know many people stay quiet and/or quit, but I'm a guy. I say stick it to them. Most DON's will shut down the problems if you properly escalate the situation.

Shrug, that's what I do.

Besides, as a nurse you *HAVE* to report them. You are doing the right thing.

I don't know if that was motivational or not.

One piece of advice before doing what this poster says, make sure you know your state laws regarding whistleblower retaliation protection, educate yourself on basic employment law. I speak from first hand experience here.

The original poster is speaking the truth here, I dont think it is fair to make her feel that she is to blame for choosing nursing, IT IS the way she has described in MOST LTC facilities across the country. MOST nurses who have worked in LTC feel this way, if truth be told.

No one is forced to be a nurse or stay a nurse and if you can't find anything good in your job you just do not belong there. LTC is tuff been there done that many many years. More out there than just LTC.

No one is forced to be a nurse or stay a nurse and if you can't find anything good in your job you just do not belong there. LTC is tuff been there done that many many years. More out there than just LTC.

As an LPN , at least in my part of the country , you are pretty limited to LTC, especially if you are a single mom and need the higher pay that LTC pays. Hospitals and clinics in my area pay very poorly , even to LPNs with many years experience. I think its a mistake to try to dismiss a legitimite problem in LTC by saying LTC is merely "tuff", yes INDEED its tuff, but even more so its in need of MAJOR REFORMS, for both the nurse and the patient and to minimize the dire situation in LTC is a disservice to the ones we care for, the patient AND the nurse.If nurses would have been willing to work in "tuff" situations without the desire to improve them, there would have been no patient/ nurse ratio, no whistleblower retaliation laws, etc. LTC NEEDS nurses who ARE willing to do the HARD work to make a very NESSESARY CHANGE. There are actually those nurses out there that are willing to stay in LTC, and "tuff" it out in in the HOPE that change is coming. Almost 30 years in LTC has taught me many lessons, some good, some bad.