What is it with the nurses in LTC?

HisHands, ASN, RN · Apr 26, 2007

:monkeydance::balloons::yeah:I think I'm pretty nice.:smilecoffeecup::biere::cheers::biggringi:thankya::beercuphe

bubblymom373 · Apr 26, 2007

Could their attitude have anything to do with yours?

allnurses Guide · Apr 26, 2007

OMG! I don't understand why the nurses in LTC have soooo much attitude. Wait, let me back up. I am a student, and am currently in my geri rotation, which makes this the 2nd facility that I have been exposed to. Anyway, the nurses and staff that I have personally run accross are the meanest, most selfish, and downright rudest people I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. Have I just had 2 experiences in a row that correlate, or do LTCF's breed negativity?

It probably has more to do with the facility than anything else. The worst attitude laden nurses I have personally dealt with have been a couple med-surg nurses. No one speciality has its monopoly on attitudes.

bethin · Apr 26, 2007

Not all LTC nurses have attitudes. You will find selfish, gossiping nurses wherever you go. It's human nature.

There are some wonderful LTC facilities out there. Keep in mind that the majority of LTC facilities are severely understaffed and underfunded. That may contribute to your bad experience. When one nurse has to pass pills, do dressing changes, treatments, assessments, etc on 30 residents they are bound to be stressed.

I worked in 2 LTC facilities. One was horredous and I quit after 3 months (no one gave a damn) and the other one was filled with nice wonderful people who cared about the residents.

Rizpah · Apr 26, 2007

I've been at the same LTC facility for 16 years - started as CNA, went on for LPN, then RN. Yes, we have some staff with attitude, but we have many, many wonderful staff members too - which makes it a really good place for our residents and for the staff that stay long term. Out of our 75 or staff members we have almost 1/2 that have been there 10 years or longer.

When I was a student, my bad rotations were at the hospital and I can pin it down to just a FEW staff members and I still remember their names. Who knows, if not for them, perhaps I would have chosen to give hospital nursing a try....but they really left a sour taste in my mouth.

It all comes down to each person - giving attitude or dealing with attitude. Only you can chose how to respond to bad attitudes or negativity. Ever hear the phrase, "kill 'em with kindness" ? If nothing else, you'll feel better for not sinking to their level.

Good luck in your nursing career and don't let yourself turn into one of the baddies...

swatch007 · Apr 26, 2007

I guarantee you that you'll find different degree of attitude problem wherever you go. It is not so much where you will encounter people with attitude, but the most important is how much you can tolerate. Remember your Psychology class? Different people have different level of temperament. What's yours? I know I don't have much, but I've been working on it, and I'm doing well so far.

The good news is human being is highly adaptable. Our great, great ancestors survived in a hostile environment. These first human species had no match for the speed and strength of their animal predators, but they used their highly distinctive thinking power to survive by inventing tools to use as their weapons. From there, we are here today stiill existing in a modern jungle--needless to say, we have new kind of predators.

There are millions of books available out there from handling difficult people to surviving workplace politics and many more. You only need one to gain an insight. This will help you use your mind as a tool for survival.

You may not be able to control how people are treating you because of their attitude, but you can control yourself and the way you response to the situation. Easy said than done, but better than stressing yourself for something that you have no control.

Wishing you the best!

nursedawn67, LPN · Apr 26, 2007

Well at my facility yeah some of us can get an attitude...depends on the day and how much is being dumped on us by higher up nurses and if we have residents that have taken a turn ..that type of thing. But for the most part I think we do alot of laughing with eachother and our residents. We try to keep the attitude in check, because it isn't the residents faults that they are there and we are suddenly having a cra**Y day.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 26, 2007

Difficult and dangerous to generalize about staff! With only two facilties under your belt, that's not enough to say "all LTC staff." I used to work in LTC as an LPN many years ago (1990-1991). It really is a facility atmosphere type of thing. As a student, you have to tolerate it, get around the attitudes as best you can and try for the best clinical experience that you can.

I try to take my negative experiences and decide what I didn't like about them and then go from there. Good luck...and at least you don't work there - lol.

KYGrace · Apr 26, 2007

I have worked in LTC and in hospitals and I agree with the others--you can find attitudes just about anywhere you go! LTC is not an "easy" job as others might think and the stress can be overwhelming.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2007

You will find that anywhere you go. Not nice to generalize!

linzz · Apr 26, 2007

It is not just LTC, I have seen some very nasty people at the hospital too. I think the nastiness often has too do with discontent with the facility, not you as a student or even the other nurses at the facility. I did my clinical in a hospital with many, many problems and this certainly affected the nurses in a big way. So, yes the other posters are right, nastiness can be anywhere or you may be surprised where you find truly great people.