Why do RN's avoid LTC positions?

Specialties Geriatric

Updated:   Published

What are the pros and cons of working as an RN at a LTC facility? It seems as though many RN's avoid LTC positions.

Is it the nature of the job (LTC duties)? Lack of variety? Do hospitals look view LTC experience as unfavorable experience?

I'm pretty new to the nursing world, but am learning that hospital jobs are highly sought after, while LTC facility jobs the ones to avoid. (Not necessarily my opinion, merely an observation.) Just looking for some insight/opinions!

Specializes in Dialysis.
23 hours ago, Tired nurse said:

We're are all these RNs working in long term care as floor nurse? I have worked in various states rarely see an RN on the floor.

In my small town, there is at least one on each shift due to the state requirements regarding skilled care. What constitutes skilled care varies by state, and every facility can staff accordingly, or choose not to accept patients that fall outside of those time parameters or levels of care

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Specializes in long trm care.

Same reason LPNs want out lack of respect and an impossible work load. My DON who rarely is seen thinks 40 sick and mostly younger than 60 yrs old residents is an easy assignment. The *** had no clue and she is the only RN on staff.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

I loved long term care.

The ratios were ***

1 nurse to 75 patients on the PM shift. They've just announced a massive increase in funding to bring aged care up to the same pay rate as DHBS. Until they increase the ratios which are based on a 2003 suggestion doc written by our ministry of health things will still be a mission

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Specializes in Dialysis.
3 hours ago, Tenebrae said:

I loved long term care.

They've just announced a massive increase in funding to bring aged care up to the same pay rate as DHBS. Until they increase the ratios which are based on a 2003 suggestion doc written by our ministry of health things will still be a mission

I loved LTC as well, my body just couldn't do it anymore. My pay was always well above my peers in other settings, except dialysis. Unfortunately,  it's that ratio thing that keeps everyone away. If they would hire folks and give decent benefits, from the Executive Director to the newest housekeeping aide or dietary aide, people would stay

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Specializes in long trm care.

There is no orientation of LPNs in LTC they only train RNs because they are going to be supervisors and never leave the office. The LPN work their  asses off caring for more residents than is humanly possible while the RN is coddled and praised. I love my residents but LTC is now a dumping grounds for hospitals putting younger sicker pts in nursing homes at the expense of LTC older residents. Nursing homes refuse to staff properly and the old folks are suffering and being neglected do to younger hospital pts who are more demanding and abusive to overwhelmed staff.

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If RNs avoided LTC there wouldn't be any RNs in LTC.

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Specializes in long trm care.

I love the old folks but LTC has turned into transitional care with younger pts and ivs tubes drains and monitoring. The LTC nurses almost always LPNs are overwhelmed and burned out. I have personally had as many as 60 pts to pass meds to, how ridiculous and dangerous is this! And then there is the total disrespect shown by management whom are almost always RNs who consider floor work beneath them! So stop putting the LTC staff down it is a thankless job but real old fashioned nursing were you actually talk to and care for people not just walk around in tight uniforms and brag about being an RN.

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Specializes in long trm care.
NocturneNrse said:

I started right on Med/Surg/Tele after nursing school because that's what everyone in school advised me to do. "Go to Med/Surg, get good experience, learn all you can there.." blah blah blah.

Well, I tell ya what I got from Med/Surg.. alot of chaos, running around, feeling like I was not providing safe care, not having a SECOND to learn about a medication or procedure, etc.. Backstabbing which sucked out most of my energy and spirit, just plain OVERWHELMED.

I was hesitant to try LTC because everyone talked down a"bout it. Basically gave the impression that the nurses who worked LTC weren't "real" nurses.

I am in LTC now RN Supervising. I WISH I had started in LTC. I have time to really get to known the patient, learn and absorb all I can about their conditions (which are plentiful!), the medications, learning how to interact w/families/MDs/other nurses/Labs etc.. Learning about procedures/protocols. Where I work, we also have post surgical pt's.. so we get total knees/total hips/ etc etc you name it,, just a few more days past their surgeries than you'd get on Med/Surg.

I have heard that LTC management is horrible. Where I work now.. it's pretty dang good. Where I'd previously worked, it stunk. BUT.. as an RN you are in demand in LTC and can try out different facilites to find the best one. THEN.. after a yr in LTC..if you still feel that need for hospital work.. I personally would hire a nurse from LTC BEFORE I hired one straight out of school...and I have heard other nurse recruiters would also. You will enter the hospital with FAR more knowledge and working skills that will have you all set to learn what Med/Surg has to offer... without feeling so overwhelmed.

That's how I wish I'd done it. = )

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Specializes in long trm care.

Your an RN and now supervisor no offense but this 1 thing wrong no nurse with supervisor experience. LTC loves inexperienced RNs that can join their corporate team and boss the LPNs around! Long term care sucks just ask the overworked LPN.

 

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Specializes in Dialysis.
Tired nurse said:

Your an RN and now supervisor no offense but this 1 thing wrong no nurse with supervisor experience. LTC loves inexperienced RNs that can join their corporate team and boss the LPNs around! Long term care sucks just ask the overworked LPN.

 

2 LTCs in my area are fully staffed with RNs, as there are not many LPNs graduating anymore, most are going straight for RN. So I'd like to know which LPNs that they're bossing around. Also, want to note that your bad experiences are not necessarily everyone else's bad experience, so please stop with trashing people that you don't know, and most likely never will. I'm wondering if your situation created your negative attitude or if your negative attitude created your situation. We all know that there are bad LTCs out there, but there are also some good ones

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Specializes in long trm care.
NocturneNrse said:

I started right on Med/Surg/Tele after nursing school because that's what everyone in school advised me to do. "Go to Med/Surg, get good experience, learn all you can there.." blah blah blah.

Well, I tell ya what I got from Med/Surg.. alot of chaos, running around, feeling like I was not providing safe care, not having a SECOND to learn about a medication or procedure, etc.. Backstabbing which sucked out most of my energy and spirit, just plain OVERWHELMED.

I was hesitant to try LTC because everyone talked down a"bout it. Basically gave the impression that the nurses who worked LTC weren't "real" nurses.

I am in LTC now RN Supervising. I WISH I had started in LTC. I have time to really get to known the patient, learn and absorb all I can about their conditions (which are plentiful!), the medications, learning how to interact w/families/MDs/other nurses/Labs etc.. Learning about procedures/protocols. Where I work, we also have post surgical pt's.. so we get total knees/total hips/ etc etc you name it,, just a few more days past their surgeries than you'd get on Med/Surg.

I have heard that LTC management is horrible. Where I work now.. it's pretty dang good. Where I'd previously worked, it stunk. BUT.. as an RN you are in demand in LTC and can try out different facilites to find the best one. THEN.. after a yr in LTC..if you still feel that need for hospital work.. I personally would hire a nurse from LTC BEFORE I hired one straight out of school...and I have heard other nurse recruiters would also. You will enter the hospital with FAR more knowledge and working skills that will have you all set to learn what Med/Surg has to offer... without feeling so overwhelmed.

That's how I wish I'd done it. = )

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After working in the dietary area(planning on getting RN licensure) and my position in that area getting laid off due to cuts for a five meal a day plans, I will never go back to LTC. The facility I was at always had the state there due to complaints from one resident, and even then, some of the staff all around was calling in. And housekeeping has even came out and said some of the aides are lazy(I've seen it too).  And my sister in law told me her own mother in law's sister was there and it was horrible for her. 

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