Whats wrong with working in a nursing home?

bvouge · Apr 15, 2013

It's not that there is anything wrong with working in a nursing home. It's the thought that this is the only thing you can do until you become an RN. In FL there might be only 3 hospitals that allow LPNs to work there with decent pay and doing the things they learned. I would prefer not to work in a nursing home. I work there as a CNA, not really my forte.

jasminewilliams · Apr 15, 2013

Thank you for your perspective. I don't plan on being a LVN for too long just long enough to get my pre reqs for a RN program. Thank you.

kalevra, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2013

woops

LiteCandles · Apr 15, 2013

I like nursing homes (well I've only worked at one... So I should say I liked the only one I worked at a lot) as a CNA. I don't see me having any issues being happy there as a LPN. I think it really depends. There are still LPN jobs in hospitals here in Michigan but not as many as RN's..

Iâ™¥Scrubs, LPN · Apr 16, 2013

LTC is just not for some people. Here in NY a lot of LPNs do LTC but also the clinics and doctor offices. I go to clinical sites for school and they have past grads from my program which is nice to see. However, some people just do no like nursing homes. I personally prefer the clinics so far. I didn't love or hate the nursing home, I didn't love or hate the medical or surgical floor in the hospitals, but I do always love the clinics! I never want to go home, I don't mind staying late! It's just personal preference is all.

Mewsin · Apr 16, 2013

I don't think there is anything wrong with it, the only problem I would have with it is if that's the only job you can have as a LPN. Being a practical nursing student I'm looking forward to working in the hospital. Our lpn scope of practice is wider than in the US though so I know I have options, it's good to have options.

jasminewilliams · Apr 16, 2013

Thanks guys. I don't start my nursing program until August 2013 and won't start my clinicals until a few months in. Every nurse is different I suppose and prefer different work environments.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Apr 16, 2013

I really enjoy working with the elderly but I do not want to work in a nursing home. That being said, I know as an LVN I will probably end up working on one.

The reasons I'd rather not work in a nursing home are as follows:

1) the poor funding leads to a lack of supplies, often. I mean soap dispensers and sanitizer are not accessible as they should be when providing patient care

2) some nurses who run the places, or cnas who run the places, don't know enough to actually be in their positions and they make poor clinical decisions that affect patients. I mean, for example, people who routinely don't follow precautions, out of lack of knowledge

3) lack of organizationAl systems. I have a back ground in both business and teaching so I know systems are necessary to meet goals. I don't see these in place often enough.

4) I don't like seeing call lights unanswered for 30 mins at a time,, I don't like seeing people who are confined to bed also being forced to sit in their own bowel movements for hours.

Call me am idealist, but my experience has shown that these are routine occurrences in LTC.

Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN · Apr 16, 2013

Here in PA, majority of the LPNs work in LTC. A lot of people say that nursing homes are a lot to deal with and is too stressul.

libran1984, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2013

I hate LTC. I hate it with an undying passion. I truly feel if it were my only resort I'd just leave nursing altogether.

In my experience, my patients were not "stable".

I never had proper supplies let alone hand sanitizers.

Orientation was pointless ( 2 eight hour shifts and ur on ur own)

The charting was redundant to the point of sheer ludicrous.

Everything was on paper and then expected to be transcribed to the computer.

Hours were watched like a hawk for fear u go over.

You never left the med cart.

The MARs are illegible.

The meds are disorganized and u are encouraged to steal from other resident's supply to fill an empty med slot for another resident.

Med pass should be but a medium chunk of the day, not all of it. If I were actually at my computer and not in my iPhone I would write very precisely every thing, in detail, that is wrong with many LTC settings.

The environment is toxic and leads to... No, encourages poor nursing care.

On a side note, this has only been my overall impression of LTC from observation and experience.

I look at LTC centers where LPNs are few to none and the staffing seems much better. Get this.... In a pediatric LTC center for rehab (and some hospice) there were no LPNs, but instead an all RN staff and QMA's who passed meds. The RN approved PRN meds for the QMA, she did all the charting, VS's, assessments, and treatments. The RN never had more than 8 patients at a time.

Now why are the RNs making more and doing less? Why are her patient ratios so much smaller? Why does she have someone dedicated to med pass so she can do the appropriate work required of her position.

I, an LPN, had to deal with brand new strokes straight from the hospital who were total care pts. Ppl in recovery for post op open heart, ppl who would regularly be placed on bipap (srsly), and ppl with god awful infections of varying kinds and at least half are on IV vanc and merripenem (!!!) thru their PICC lines. How am I supposed to deal with meds, new admits, treatments, ADLs, blood draws, daily weights, accuchecks, more meds, and spontaneous colostomy seepage when I, an LPN am responsible for 16 patients and btw, WHERE is the foresaken handwashing station!!!!!????

That's not even that bad. My friend went to a diff LTC center for her LPN to RN critical care clinicals and some dude was on Levophed- and he was awake!!! Seriously, the same "levophed leave 'em dead" stuff. This is the kind of stuff LPNs have to deal with in LTC.

Yes yes- someone is going to say that isn't the typical LTC experience. That is correct. Many LTC facilities hold are not SNF's, or rehab, etc. it's just an elderly, frail, person who needs a little guidance and reminder to take all their meds- but that has not been my experience.

And working in the ER, when I get report from a LTC nurse, it generally results in a lot of eye rolling. Seriously who continues to give Norco's for a fever to a dialysis pt and then wonder why she's become lethargic. /facepalm

I hate LTC. I feel very strongly on this subject and believe "hate" is sufficient to convey the amount of contempt I have for LTC.

God bless all the nurses who work there because I cannot.

Sorry this tangent kept going on and on

libran1984, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2013

Oh and vintagemother had another point.... The call lights never EVER stopped. NEVER!!!!

I worked in fast food during my teens and early twenties and heard less beeping at the drive thru than I did with the incessant call lights.

I'm getting so worked up and angry over all of this..... Phew.... Just breathe....

I hate LTC

Edit:: heaven forbid someone uses their call light for resp distress, choking, or CP... They might not survive the 20-40 minutes it takes to respond!!