I am a new grad LVN. I've been looking for work and nada. I randomly called a Long-Term Care Facility near my home and they hired me on the spot. Hm. So I start my merry way thinking "wow, finally the experience I've been waiting for" after being an Administrative Assistant for over 4 years now. I guess we learn from experience. LTC is not for me. I had pretty much 2 days training and an overwhelming load of residents. Of course it's not like school where they baby you and give you 2 residents, bed baths, head-to-toe assessments, and vitals. This was just definately an experience I will never forget. I have never seen such thing in my life. Policy and procedures not being followed, pushing meds like there's no tomorrow, copying last shift's charting (or the day before), and giving horrible reports, let alone if any report on the residents' current status. Jesus christ! I guess I'm still too green, but this setting is not for me. The RN that was orienting me one day said she left at 5 am (being on a 3-11) shift, due to charting and finished passed out her 9pm meds until 1 am. I did not expect this. I quit today. Their turnover is horrible. I will never work LTC ever again. I'll stick to what I know, the hospital. I am currently waiting for an interview. Wish me luck! But at least I know that I want to care for my patients and not LIE! The liability .... think of your license people! You work so hard through nursing school, and to have it taken away because you signed off on meds you didn't give and your patient is going off the walls??? Oh noooo!!!!

Whew.

Well first of all, I work in long term care and love it. It is not as bad as the place you just described. And in regards to your coment about liability..... If you do what you are supposed to do and chart from your own assessment and not the persons before you you wont run any risk of losing your hard earned license. Just a tip.

I have been an LPN for 6+ years, and I have to say my experience with LTC facilities has been generally horrible. The one saving grace of LTC facilities is that they have a few people very dedicated to quality care. The med passes are ridiculous sometimes. I've had to pass meds on 50 residents on 3-11, had 23 tube feeds at another facility, countless times no labs were done for months at a time on residents with coumadin, lasix, dig, etc.

Charting? What a mess. Shift report? Here's the keys, there's the residents. One place I work now I will not take the keys until I do a walking report with the nurse that is signing off. Tired of finding people on the floor, or covered in vomit, pad alarms not in place, or residents missing!?

I am glad that some nurses do care about what they are doing and work in facilities that take good care of their residents. The sad reality is that most places do not, and they sure don't care about their nurses. Liability is a huge issue, even if you do what you are suppose to do. It is a compromise situation. You barely have time for med pass, but if somebody falls they will blame you in a heartbeat and not give you any support. Your license is in jeopardy over things you have no control over.