I'm reading a more and more of the disparages among the licensed and certified that give so much time and passion towards Nursing Home care and LTC on these forums recently.
As a new RN-BSN, I have learned the very difficult way that hospital nursing is NOT where my own passion lies and I am looking to get into Nursing Home care.
I would love to read some positive input from you who give so much of yourselves to this occupation as to what you find most fulfilling in this career path.
Is there room for this overeducated, underexperienced R.N. in Nursing Home care?
What encouragement would you offer your:
sister/cousin/daughter/brother/boyfriend...etc if they told you that after pursuing the struggles in Nursing School, passing boards under personal obstacles and great odds, and attempting to hone their skills in hospital bedside care, that they made the most difficult decision to navigate away from the New Grad bastion of hospital orientation to do Nursing Home/LTC?
Looking for positive encouragement and hope :heartbeat
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Do you think you're overeducated for LTC because you have a BSN??? It's not the degree--it's the experiences you have that count. Can you do an assessment on an aphasic stroke patient? Can you assess the pain of a severely demented patient? Can you manage a sub acute unit with a mix of long and short term residents? On one hand you have a patient going into flash CHF and on the other a family member complaining that her mom didn't get her hair done? Can you multi task?
Again...the initials after your name are not as important as the knowledge in your brain.
I've worked in the hospital, VNA,and LTC. If you're a good nurse you can make a difference every day.
CCM, I didn't read her comment in the same way you did. Thinks about the disparagement of the ADN degree in BSN programs and couple that with the dismissal LTC gets in nursing school - the place to do your first clinical and learn to give insulin - and it's easy to see where Chloe asked if she was "over-educated AND under-experienced" for LTC.
Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.
Wow Capecod,
I'm reading more and more acerbic replies on threads from you. So let me be more clear so it stops here. I am book smart. I know nursing from nursing school. I am lacking in skills. I am completely up front about that. I don't need angry nurses with big chips on their shoulders pounding it in. I got this in the hospital setting. This post was started to have people submit what they enjoy about LTC/NH. This post is not to antagonize me for my shortcomings. If you are that fed up that you cannot see this, perhaps you need to post your own or take a vacation? Whatever possessed you to write so nasty a reply was undeserved. Shame on you. Take a time out. No need to get ugly with me.
I earned my degrees. If they are so offensive to you, go get your own. Nothing stopping you.
Sue, thank you for seeing what I obviously did not make more abundantly clear than my post that screams of my lack of skills. Thank you. I do credit myself however for what I did learn in the hospital settings. I do know how to administer insulin and I have strong assessment skills. Now I will learn how to tailor them to eldercare as well.
Geez! So I ask again, what do you LOVE about working in LTC/NH? Do not beat me up for asking such a deserving question. If you feel you need a punching bag, take it to one of the many other threads on this forum for venting.
Let's put a positive spin on a seemingly forgotten art. LTC/NURSING HOMES!
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Wow---maybe YOU'RE the one who needs a vacation. I wasn't intending to be ascerbic or mean spirited. I was trying to say what one needs to work in LTC. Sorry if you took offense as none was meant. There is room in nursing for good nurses no matter what their educational background...those with less experience than others certainly have much to contribute.
There are more trials and tribulations in long term care than maybe any other setting. There are more rewards as well.
PS. I am neither angry nor do I have a chip on my shoulder. I do have decades of experience in the field and see things from more than one angle. Again...sorry if you took offense.
Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.
No doubt I need a vacation. I need it to escape the mean spiritedness of the many angry nurses and bitterness among them and find an area where there are still people who enjoy going in to work each day regardless of their workloads. Nursing is hard work all over. I know this. Not sure what those with less experience than others certainly have much to contribute.
if we don't have a good nurse showing us what or how to do it.
This thread was started on a positive spin. I do not want antagonism nor digs. I will not engage. Sure there is freedom to vent. I just think there are other threads for that purpose. So... If there is anyone left out there who enjoys LTC/NH, please share why.
Specializes in Assisted Living nursing, LTC/SNF nursing.
Thank-you all for listing your good reasons. Sure is reminding me of why I got into mainly geriatric/LTC/Skilled nursing. It's the smiles, the "thank-you honey for all you do", the "thanks for informing me about (this or that),", etc. etc. Or the occasional hugs that seem to help some folk's concerns to just "put it aside and try and sleep for now" along with some guided imaginery (that is, if I have time which is always elusive). Nursing isn't exactly like I thought it would be when I went back to school as a second career but so far the psychological benefits out weigh the pit falls even though I still have my moments of wondering 'Why did I get into nursing?' I need to use more PTO time and recharge my batteries more often, me thinks LOL.
Love. Lost a young male resident the other day. (Our facility has a contract with the 'state mental hospital'= psych) He was only in his 50's, polysubstance abuser/addict. Very violent, health poor. He was stable with his meds though and PRNS. Many heart, kidney, lung issues, and dementia. He had killed someone and did his prison time. At first I found it very hard to work with him. And then I found forgiveness for something I knew nothing about. Him and I had a talk and I told him he was dying. The tears flooded his eyes....and then mine. I knew he wanted me to be honest with him. He said he wasn't ready to die. I told him it was only a matter of time as his body was shutting down. The drug/alcohol use fried his body. The brother was in denial about his brother's decline.
I miss him. They pulled him off life support the other day.
Everyone comes from different walks of life. We all screw up our lives in one way or another. It's all about love and not judging others. Even the most difficult resident deserves our love. And sometimes we can help their souls too.
wow! This thread is so inspiring -I am about to begin clinicals in a part-time LPN program in a couple of weeks and am finding myself experiencing many emotions. Excited that I've made it this far but scared about if I can really be a great nurse or not. I went into this feeling that LTC/geriatrics was where I was meant to be. It's wonderful to hear from others that feel the same.
wow! This thread is so inspiring -I am about to begin clinicals in a part-time LPN program in a couple of weeks and am finding myself experiencing many emotions. Excited that I've made it this far but scared about if I can really be a great nurse or not. I went into this feeling that LTC/geriatrics was where I was meant to be. It's wonderful to hear from others that feel the same.
:yelclap:
If you just "know" when someone needs a smile, a hug, or a shoulder, you'll make a great nurse.
I'm reading a more and more of the disparages among the licensed and certified that give so much time and passion towards Nursing Home care and LTC on these forums recently.
As a new RN-BSN, I have learned the very difficult way that hospital nursing is NOT where my own passion lies and I am looking to get into Nursing Home care.
I would love to read some positive input from you who give so much of yourselves to this occupation as to what you find most fulfilling in this career path.
Is there room for this overeducated, underexperienced R.N. in Nursing Home care?
What encouragement would you offer your:
sister/cousin/daughter/brother/boyfriend...etc if they told you that after pursuing the struggles in Nursing School, passing boards under personal obstacles and great odds, and attempting to hone their skills in hospital bedside care, that they made the most difficult decision to navigate away from the New Grad bastion of hospital orientation to do Nursing Home/LTC?
Looking for positive encouragement and hope :heartbeat
Chloe
RN-BSN, BA
I love LTC and that is because you get to know the resident and the families. You can spot a change in that resident right away. Its the great thing about long term care you begin a relationship with the resident that is irreplaceable. The residents become your second family, yet when its time for them to go you only wish it happens fast and peacefully while you are by their families side. I had one resident that got pnemonia every 4 months, resident total care with feeding and ADLS and the family just wanted her to be comfortable, ABX and 02 nothing else tremendous done, this resident went on for years this way until about two months ago she got pnemonia again and it was too late for ABX O2 sats 75% on 5 liters of oxygen, family notified immediately. Family there at time of death along with half the staff and DON and administrator of facility. Very depressing sad situation, however very rewarding that family appreciated that not only did they lose a family member but the staff lost a family member as well. The family still comes in to see the staff every now and again and that makes me realize that the staff at our LTC facilty really made a difference in that families life and that residents life.
I am glad and proud to work in LTC the pros surely outweigh the cons, even when it seems that everything ids going wrong. There are a lot more good days than bad.
I am a graduate nurse and just accepted a position in LTC, by my choice, not because LPN's can "only do LTC". I was offered an "easier" position with more money where I didn't have the "dirty" work but I turned it down for the LTC position.
My first job was as a CNA in a very nice LTC facility. At the tender age of 16, I feel in love with the geriatric population. I felt blessed, I had 120 new "nanna's and pop's". I loved going to work and never complained about the backbreaking work because my residents always had a smile, a hug and a thank you for me each and every day.
I knew when something was off about one of my residents. I had a 6th sense about my "nanna's and pop's".
I worked LTC as a CNA for years and years (again by choice, I had an education that could let me work in another field doing less "dirty" work). But after a while my body was screaming at me to take a break from the work and I went into an office position. The funny thing was, my clients were the 65+ population, so in a sense I was still working with my "nanna's and pop's". But nursing was calling me and I went back to school for my LPN (finishing up my pre-reqs for the LPN to RN bridge program in september).
When we did our clinicals in LTC, it was odd, I found myself nervous, it had been years since I had one on one pt contact. I hit the floor running. Just like riding a bike, you never forget no matter how long its been. I was so happy in clinicals taking care of the geri population.
I am thrilled I was hired at this particular facility. They are highly regarded by the community, the medical population and nurses actually are happy at this facility.
I digress though, I love that in the LTC setting, you have the same residents day in and day out. You can actually get to know the person, not just their illness/diseases. You are able to make connections with the residents and they trust you. I love being able to care for someone that I know like the back of my hand, and they know me. Of course its not all roses and candy, there are those crotchy, mean residents but the nice, loving and thankful ones usually outweigh the mean ones. Even the "mean" ones at times show a soft side and to me thats a huge boost knowing they trust me enough to show their "weaker" side. I respect the elder population and love talking with them about their lives when they were younger, gain perspective from their point of view and the continious history lesson you get chatting with them. I love being there for the resident when their life is coming to an end to hold their hand, shed some tears and let them pour their heart out as they reminise about their lives, the good and bad.
Thanks for that wonderful post. I started in LTC as a CNA when I was 17 years old and I agree it was great. Those nannas and pops teach you so much about compassion and life in general. Even at 17 years old my job was about the people. Do not get me wrong, I liked the paycheck, but those "old people" made my job better than working at the local fast food place.
CapeCodMermaid, RN
6,092 Posts
Do you think you're overeducated for LTC because you have a BSN??? It's not the degree--it's the experiences you have that count. Can you do an assessment on an aphasic stroke patient? Can you assess the pain of a severely demented patient? Can you manage a sub acute unit with a mix of long and short term residents? On one hand you have a patient going into flash CHF and on the other a family member complaining that her mom didn't get her hair done? Can you multi task?
Again...the initials after your name are not as important as the knowledge in your brain.
I've worked in the hospital, VNA,and LTC. If you're a good nurse you can make a difference every day.