Why is LTC so hated

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I hope I am not offending anyone with this question. I have been on allnurses for a while now, trying to find out as much as I can about the nursing career before getting started. One thing I have noticed is that LTC seems to be thought of as the last resort for nurses who can't get jobs elsewhere. I've seen many posts with people saying, "getting a hospital job seems hopeless, I guess I'll go to LTC." I don't get it, why is LTC worse than working at a hospital? I was thinking of volunteering at an LTC or hospice and getting a CNA position there later so I can hopefully be hired as an RN upon graduation. I am also interested in Hospice but that seems to be hard to get into for new grads. From some of the posts I've read though, it sounds like working LTC is the tenth circle of hell :confused:. Can someone enlighten me? Can LTC nursing be enjoyable?

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Good points sandygirl ...you pulled up an old thread. Another point of contention among nurses here on this site is that, after being employed by LTCs, it can actually be a strike against you if you go apply for an acute care job. There is another active discussion going on titled " The bad habits LTC nurses are known for."

The nurses who work on a sub-acute floor in a SNF have no trouble moving to the hospital. They are far better prepared for the workload than the hospital nurses who try to work on a skilled floor.

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

I like long term care. It is not for everyone...but it's where I end up migrating back to. I love the patient population.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

Do you all think LTC would be a good first job experience for a new grad like myself? How will future employers view my LTC career? I love the elderly so I would be happy to work in LTC. My ultimate dream is psych/correctional nursing, but unfortunately there is nothing open in my area.

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Specializes in kids.

Additionally, nurses who work in LTC are not nurses from whom you can learn. LTC and other post acute care providers are staffed by nurses who for the most part are not up to snuff. The majority of nurses who work in LTC stay because they can not make it in real nursing. This is sad and I know it will cause many to attack this reply but it is the reality of the situation.

In summary if you need the check and have no other choice or it is close to home or fits your life at the time- LTC is acceptable but if you want to learn, develop as a nurse and have a nursing career with some options, acute care is the place to be. LTC offers very few options and the "clinical experience" you have is limited.

Most hospitals will not even count your LTC experience in determining years of experience differential.

To those who say they love LTC...good for you- love it- but to new nurses or nurses who do not know about the nursing sector jobs...be aware about what LTC is really about.

Wow...just wow

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There's definitely a negative vibe associated with long term care, for which there are numerous reasons, but I think the main one is: any time you hear about substandard care issues, it's almost always a nursing home/LTC. next in line are mental institutions/ however, I believe that the majority of care givers in these settings strive to give the best care possible. sadly, the funding and resources they need to accomplish this goal are not always in place, and if management isn't really good at operating on a shoestring budget, patients will come up on the short end of the deal.

I've seen so many occasions where low paid employees end up bringing things from home, or buying items in order to properly care for their patients, or nurses buying wound care supplies because those things couldn't be found, or were never provided to begin with.

In reality, anyone who has worked in ltc and managed to do a decent job should consider themselves head and shoulders above the rest.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

It's apparent none of you ever worked in Massachusetts. I've worked in more than 10 nursing homes over the years and I would have had my family member at any of them. We give consistently good care. I could work anywhere I want....I have an extremely high IQ, am not the least bit lazy, and really care about what I do every day. I am one of thousands of nurses who work in long term care because we WANT to...not because we have to.

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I've been working at an ALF for the past few years. When I graduated and got my license I transitioned to nursing there. As a brand new grad I was suddenly responsible for 48 patients and I was the only nurse. I had no backup to ask if I was confused or concerned about something.

It's hard work. I run from the minute my shift starts to the minute I hand the keys over to the oncoming nurse.

I love it, but I don't think it's good for a new nurse. I really needed a support system in place.

That said - I managed and I learned a lot about picking up on subtle signs that something is wrong. Unfortunately though, My lack of experience usually left me telling the next nurse 'Something's just not right but I don't know what exactly. She's just behaving differently than normal.'

I love it, but as a new nurse I feel like it's important to know that you're somewhere that you'll get enough support.

That said - my last day there is in a few days. SNF would probably be a different story because I'm sure they have more than one nurse per shift.

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To clarify - I worked there for 2 years NOT as a nurse. I just got my license a few months ago and transitioned to the nursing position shortly after that.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I have been working as a nurse at a SNF going on 5 years and I truly love, love, love what I do. I came into this profession for the main purpose to make a difference in this chaotic world, and in my world, it's the Skilled Nursing Facility :) I go to work everyday, giving it all I have and praying that my all is enough. Is the work easy? Not by a long shot. Do I have many hard days? Yes, I do. I can tell you this: I know all my resident's by name, I know what their normal routine is and I also know their family members. I love each and everyone of my residents. It's almost as if they have adopted me into their hearts and family. I'm so thankful that I get to do what I do. :)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I'm a new nurse at a SNF on the rehab floor. I love my patients and in general, most of the people I work with. I am having trouble with time management (24 pts) and getting everything done within my 8 hour shift (usually more like 10- I'm told I'm going to get written up for clocking out late and not taking breaks). Because of my newness, the patient load, and general lack of support staff, the patient don't get enough care, IMO, but they seem to like me. My patient's often complain about their call lights going unanswered all night, and my higher maintenance patients complain to me about other nurses/staff not attending to them when I'm not there. Being new to the facility and field, I am often at a loss at how to handle it. I see so many things I want to make better so my patient's get taken care of 24 hours a day and no idea how to do it. I do love this population!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I'm a new nurse at a SNF on the rehab floor. I love my patients and in general, most of the people I work with. I am having trouble with time management (24 pts) and getting everything done within my 8 hour shift (usually more like 10- I'm told I'm going to get written up for clocking out late and not taking breaks). Because of my newness, the patient load, and general lack of support staff, the patient don't get enough care, IMO, but they seem to like me. My patient's often complain about their call lights going unanswered all night, and my higher maintenance patients complain to me about other nurses/staff not attending to them when I'm not there. Being new to the facility and field, I am often at a loss at how to handle it. I see so many things I want to make better so my patient's get taken care of 24 hours a day and no idea how to do it. I do love this population!

A few things:

1. Nursing is 24-hours....do your most competent care on your shift-pass what you can on report, and leave work at work.

2. Get a brain sheet or make one; label who gets finger sticks and insulin, who need vitals, who need safety checks, GT/PEG feeds (if applicable), who need treatments, ADL/Medicare notes, etc. It will keep you organized! :yes:

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Specializes in dementia/LTC.

I am an rn and I work in ltc. I get paid about $10 less an hour than I would at the hospitals here, which is standard for my area. Idk if the pay difference is the same everywhere. I am mostly a pill pusher. I don't get to do a lot of 'nursey stuff' and I get excited when I get to do blood draws, Caths, suctioning a trach etc. My position really only requires an lpn. We do have a rehab unit that requires rns and when I get floated over there there is always peritoneal dialysis or cool wounds a variety of ppl I graduated with work at my facility on different units and some are very happy, others just waiting to finally get hired at the hospital.

The benefits of starting in ltc for me have been bring able to get a grip on managing 30 pts at once, becoming comfortable managing /supervising staff and taking orders/talking to drs, getting to know meds and gaining amazing organization and time management skills. All without being scared of injuring a critical pt. An elderly person who fallen and broken a hip and is gushing blood all over from their head is no big deal to me now, I can handle the situation calmly and effectively.

Also I have a set 2 week schedule that just repeats itself until I decide I want to apply for a different schedule. They can't change my days on me or schedule me for a different shift. I work 7-3 day shift although I am always there until 4-439 finishing up my work. Of course there is overtime and I can pick up extra days if I want. The hospitals here don't have a set schedule and getting a strait day shift or strait pm shift is hard. Usually the work days/nights or pm/nights and every 2 weeks they find out what their schedule is. Makes it hard to plan ahead

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