I am hoping for some input to a questions that has been really burning my butt. I am a new nurse, and recently switched from med-surg at a local hospital (loved the job, hated the 12 hour shifts and the 45 minute commute), to a nursing home in my home town. I have spoken to numerous people about my new job, which I have, by the way, found to be very different but no less challenging than the work I was doing before. I am learning every day, and I truly do enjoy the job. I made the choice to change focus due to the fact that I have small children, 5 and 8, and the opportunity I had was a 7-3 shift, mon-thur. The money was less, but the savings in travel and not having to pay daycare made up for that.
Soooo, My big problem is, why is it that it truly seems that so very many nurses seem to look down their noses at long term care and geriatric nursing? I have even had one of my fellow graduates, (we both graduated May, passed the boards in June) actually say "I'm so sorry.":madface:
I couldnt believe my ears. And after I picked my jaw up off the floor, all the things I could/should have said came to me. Of course.
Has anyone else had this experience, or is it just me? And if you have, how do you deal with it? It is bad enough we undervalue and dont respect our elders, but now, I feel as if I have lost respect in the nursing community, (I am generalizing, I know, and I DO know that not every nurse feels this way, please dont feel that I think all nurses feel this way, cuz I do not).
I have been reading the nursing posts from so many of you on this specialty, and I can see that people who have worked in LTC understand. So sorry, I just needed to vent and get some understanding and hopefully advice from some of you more seasoned LTC geriatric nurses. During my med surg experience I felt more like a waitress than a nurse, it was kind of like 'turn em and burn em', without any time to connect with any patients, you were scrambling so hard just to meet their basic needs. I also realize that as a new nurse, I would have gotten better at the scrambling part, but still, after just two weeks at my new position, I already know almost all my 24 residents names, many of their likes and dislikes and have already been able to forge connections. So back to my question, how do you deal with it when you feel like other specialties look down on us?
I have also had ER nurses from the local hospital be VERY condesending to me when calling. Just twice, same nurse both times. And in case you are wondering, I am pretty thick skinned, I dont get my panties in a bunch over any little comment.
Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehabiliation Nursing.
I have to say, the replies to my post have opened my eyes to MANY things. I also appreciate all your respnses and honesty. I did fall into LTC by accident, but I do love it. I am surprised by my own response, because all i ever wanted to be was an ER nurse. Now I feel comitted to my residents. I know they are there to live out their life span, but when the little confused lady takes my hand, with such trust and love, I cant help but feel so very needed. I have 60 year old Downs syndrome patient who is such a sweetie, I just cant stand it. (sometimes I worry about the profesionalism aspect of it, but these people just need a little attention, a little love, ya know)
So,,,,, Thank you all so much for your encouraging words, I know I did make the right choice, and I will continue where I am. I may change focus in a year or two, but who knows? Maybe I wont want to. I dunno.
Actually, I started out as a midnight charge nurse in a LTC, worked in it for approx. four years, became a geriatric psych. nurse and then an Administrator of a nursing home (loved it - was in a position to change things!). Then because of stress (frozen shoulder) I left and went to hospitals...oh my gosh !!! They think LTC's don't do what they need??? Hospital puts in a foley, usually decides they are "confused" so of course we need wrist restraints or safety bed, and turn??? Sorry honey, the nurses are so busy they can't sneeze let alone turn - and forget the MST (in most cases, but I did have two great ones). Now I am a DON in a SNF and absolutely LOVING it (great career path folks...you can be a ADON, DON OR Administrator if you really want to implement change). To answer your question though, there is an old saying, "Never blow out someone's candle to make yours shine brighter". Nurses as a whole have low self-esteem and they have to believe that whatever they are doing is the only way to go. Hopefully someday we will all see that we are here to help everyone, children, teens, adults, and elders. Different ages, different specialties. Geriatrics is a specialty - and you can take a LTC nurse and put her in the hospital and she will survive. Do the opposite and the hospital nurse will drown. LTC's move a lot faster than people think. Hange in there and enjoy your chosen SPECIALTY, educate yourself on the older population, dementia, physical therapy, etc. Learn learn learn. Enjoy !
I worked for many years at the hospital - WON'T go back!!
At my LTCF, there are a couple of awesome nurses, an RN and an LPN, that I've learned a lot from:bow: .
One problem, tho, could be some of the nurses themselves - I've heard from some of the other staff "It's just a nursing home." And I resent it!! I've even heard it from the DON, as her excuse for not calling doctors at nite.
One reason may be that LTC facilities owners are not worthy of respect.They dont respect the patients, they dont respect the staff, we dont respect ourselves, the only thing that gets respect is the almighty dollar.We can help change this by helping ourselves , by empowering ourselves so we can be the type of nurse who DEMANDS respect. UNIONIZE.
I agree it has to do with the low self esteem thing. Most people who berate other professions are usually unhappy about themselves, and must make themselves feel better at other people's expense. It's not just with this situations, it happens in many situations and has caused a lot of sufferring and grief, seggregation, probably even wars.
But it's human behavior, as wrong as it might be it's an easy fix for a bad day. You can't really change this, but you can change the way you cope with it, by realizing what is going on, and either walking away from it, or setting them straight.
Well let me go from the ER nurse prospective. Please dont shoot the messenger.
We often get patients from LTC that their care often times leaves alot to be desired. Often times we get a patient whos condition does not match the report/paperwork we get from the facility. If we get any paperwork that is. When we call to get more information we get met by staff who have no clue about the patient or their history.
So you who may have nothing to do with said problems get lumped in to the same boat. Personally I give everyone the benefit of the doubt until you prove otherwise.
All this I believe is a symptom of our health system. Personally no nurse should be responsible for that many patients (24) is the number you mention. Of course its like everything else it comes down to money. Just imagine all the health care one could buy with the money that we are pouring down the rat hole called Iraq.
Raj
I have taken report about a resident that will be admitted to LTC. Many times the nurse states" This patient is new to me" .When asking questions, the nurse cannot answer. So this works two ways.
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Quote: "We often get patients from LTC that their care often times leaves alot to be desired. "
Helloooooo....we sent a patient out rescue and our screener got a 'comment' from the ER nurse that the patient wasn't shaved when he arrived. Wait...wait...hold the ambulance...the man is having a stroke, but let's stop and shave him before we let them bring him to the hospital." For crying out loud, it was 7 am and the hospital nurse was trying to give me a ration of S*** because the man had a few whiskers. Get over yourself,sister!
I'm so sorry that the OP feels that LTC nurses don't get respect. It's really awful that we all pass the same NCLEX, yet have to look down on one another.
Early on in my career I worked 2 Sundays a month in a LTC facility. I also worked full time in the ER. I can honestly say that the jobs were VERY different. I learned things in the ER that i'd never learn at a LTC facilty, and vice versa. I liked this particular facility because it was very clean, and I had done some clinicals there while in nursing school. The only thing I didn't like about it was the "mean-ness" of the aides.
I'd like to add that some of the skills that I learned at the LTC facility are now helping me in the ER. In the ER, we hold patients for DAYS at a time now. Some of these patients have tube feedings, skin conditions, and peg tube meds. Those are not normal "ER" things, but it seems with the trend of holding patients they are. I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn these things in LTC.
Also, as an ER nurse, I've heard awful stories from the EMTs. In report they tell me that they picked up the patient for shortness of breath, they arrive at the facility and the patient doesn't have oxygen on. YIKES.
Just last week a facility transported a "possible stroke" patient to the ER by basic ambulance service. (not an ACLS service) YIKES.
It's sad that stories like the above have to happen, but they probably always will. We are all nurses, and we shouldn't look down on each other. The reason nursing is so great is because of the vast opportunity of "different" jobs available.
Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.
I don't care which you work in, nursing is nursing...Bashing each other isn't the way!
Although, I have only been a nurse for a year, and LTC is my first nursing job, I have been accepted for other specialty positions. The one's that require me to leave LTC, but I just never seem to leave...
I have been bashed by everyone... Doctors, PAC's, NP's, etc... Whoever whenever. But, in the end I know my stuff and I do the right thing!
The ER bashed me one day. It wasn't only the nurses, it was the doctors. I had a patient sent back from the hospital bleeding through IV line. She was on Lovenox daily... The bleeding didn't stop, the EMT's made the decision to take her back, they didn't even get her off the stretcher... Of course they told the family that my coworker and I were dumb and she only had a fever. (I would too if I lost that much blood...) Well, at the end - her Medical Director thanked us, said that we did the right thing! That was the only moment I doubted the ER, but of course they were trying to cover there own butts!!!
Have been sitting here reading all the LTC posts, and the most I can say is Thank God I have been called to be a LTC nurse. I was an aide for 21 years, all LTC, and have been an LPN for 13 years, also LTC. Strictly agency for the past 8 years.
Working LTC is hard, back breaking work for CNA's. Having an average of 15-20 patients, most of them non cooperative to say the least. So, I know where my roots are planted so to say. And they hold me firmly grounded.
I have had the extreme pleasure of taking care of our Veterens, who once passed their prime, are put in a home to live out their days. They bring with them smiling pictures of young handsome men in uniform, themselves in former days. Young women in pictures in wedding gowns, beaming in love, now surrounded by a few peices of furniture and noone to talk to. Working in LTC is more than passing meds, and charting. I can not tell you the number of patients hands' that I have held, prayed with as they have been called home. To see a confused, combative patients eyes light up and hear their strong voice loud and clear when they hear a Bobby Vinton song (miss you Irene). You have to be called for this job, and such a blessing to be called.
I guess I have rambled long enough, so, the next time you feel as if you are being treated as second class for being who you are, bow your head and thank God for your calling, for He watches over us and knows our thoughts and will bless us, for we are taking care of his next angels.
I just quit my LTC RN job. The most disrespect I got for working there was from the DON of the facility. She was really nasty. I did start as a new grad, and in my annual review, she basically told me that she didn't trust me b/c of this - but don't you think working for a year gave me long enough to prove myself? And talk about bad nsg judgement - this DON was scary.
Oh well-I got hired into a hospital system (psych unit) and the pay and bennys are significantly more. And I cant help but say it made me feel good when an old coworker from this LTC told me that they couldn't find anyone to hire into my spot and had to use agency. This DON HATED agency nurses!!
I don't hate LTC's - I started working as a CNA in one, and I may work for one again, maybe thru agency or PRN. Some are better than others.
lvs2nrs3535
130 Posts
I have to say, the replies to my post have opened my eyes to MANY things. I also appreciate all your respnses and honesty. I did fall into LTC by accident, but I do love it. I am surprised by my own response, because all i ever wanted to be was an ER nurse. Now I feel comitted to my residents. I know they are there to live out their life span, but when the little confused lady takes my hand, with such trust and love, I cant help but feel so very needed. I have 60 year old Downs syndrome patient who is such a sweetie, I just cant stand it. (sometimes I worry about the profesionalism aspect of it, but these people just need a little attention, a little love, ya know)
So,,,,, Thank you all so much for your encouraging words, I know I did make the right choice, and I will continue where I am. I may change focus in a year or two, but who knows? Maybe I wont want to. I dunno.