Why did you choose LTC?

I love LTC because you really get to know and love your Res. You are there for them and their family through the joys and tears. I have worked Med-Surg and ER and I enjoyed it very much. But I also found myself missing my "family" Yes, LTC is long hrs, short staffed, and simply not enough time in the day, but when push comes to shove, it's what I was really missing when I was working in other fields.

Dolphin what you said was true, I also love to get to know my patients they become my grandpa and grandma's so at times it is hard but oh so rewarding.

I love the bond with my patients. i get to see them every day until they either pass away or are discharged from rehab. To think that i can make this persons life better everyday, makes me happy. They are not only my patients, the residents are my friends. Some can consider me their family, because they have none left. I feel safer in a LTC environment also because drastic changes rarely occur. I like knowing what to expect. but you never know... I also love to see how my gentle touch can help the worst wounds heal. there is nothing better than seeing a wound healing because of you!

Even the death of a patient is rewarding in LTC. Its sad to see them go, and you do miss your patients, but Its comforting to know that god finally came. thats what most residents in LTC are waiting for. its kind of grim, but i try to have a positive outlook on everything, even death.

LPN well said and I agree with what you said.

I'm still in nursing school, but I've been a CNA for 3.5 years now and I love working with the geriatric population, especially working with dementia/alzheimer's/psych. It's definitely my calling! I love the long-term relationships built, and I love how the smallest things make their day.

I'm at the hospital for clinicals right now, and I'm not too fond of it... I'd rather be in LTC anyday. I think I'm the only one in my nursing class that feels that way, ha.

I started doing volunteer work in a nursing home when I was nine and continued for the next ten years. Where else can you go to work and be told EVERYDAY that you are young and beautiful? There are days I get up and think ugh another day at work. Then I get to work and and someone says "I Love You and and thankful you are here"

I love hearing about their lives especially about how they met their spouses or about their childbirth experiences.

I have done ambulatory care, home health and acute care but LTC is truly where my heart is.

I agree with dreamyeyes, as a current nursing student, I much prefer the environment of LTC than the hospital. It is more personal IMO. I kept thinking i wanted to go to nursing school and then go into either ICU or cardio nursing but LTC seems more fitting, at least right now. I love going in and seeing my residents. Its hard work, I am kept busy the entire night, I get to experience a lot of different situations (medical and non-medical) and I can see the bigger picture of the whole nursing process in action. LTC is really rewarding, and I think after nursing school I just may stay.

I chose it because I became someone in someones life, whether it be patient or family. They respond to you and you and the staff become a surrogate family. Its more human. More of what Nursing should be but the system has spoiled a beautiful fulfilling job for many nurses that were overwhelmed with too much paperwork, inadequate staff, and administrations that just cared about how many patients and extra work they could squeeze into one nurses itinerary. And this(old age) is the part of life that you really NEED someone, when family and friends are dying off, your finances are dwindling, your health is diving and your mental status is declining. Its the last road people travel down with others who really care about you thats left in your life.