Long-term care nursing is a growing and rewarding career. The demand for long-term care nurses continues to rise as the population ages. Nurses find a lot of employment opportunities in different work environments. Are you looking forward to pursuing a career in LTC nursing? Keep reading this blog to learn what long-term care nursing entails, its roles, types, and examples. Long term Care Nursing:

What is long-term care in nursing?

Long-term care nursing is a community health specialty that provides preventative care, health services, health education, and intervention to a specific population. It includes medical and non-medical care provided to patients who cannot perform daily activities such as bathing or dressing. People require long-term care as they get ordered, after a heart attack or stroke, or as illness or disability worsens.

LTC aims to enhance the daily living activities and independence of patients with disabilities, injuries due to accidents, and chronic illness. LTC nurses work with care managers, physicians, social workers, and other professionals. They work in diverse settings such as assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, schools, rehabilitation centers, hospice and home health.

The most common type of LTC is personal care, where patients are assisted with daily activities such as dressing, bathing, eating, grooming, moving around, using the toilet, etc.

What is the role of the nurse in long-term care?

Long-term nurses care for patients who require extended care due to disabilities, illness, injuries, etc. You will care for the same group of patients daily, enhancing a close relationship with the patients. Patients in long term have a severe illness that results in death. Therefore, you must be emotionally mature to cope with the death of patients you have created a bond with.

LTC nurses focus on medical care, recording and monitoring vital signs, and administering medication. They also perform treatment and therapeutic procedures such as massages and exercises. Nurses also provide support, comfort, and guidance for patients and their families. Responsibilities of long-term care nurses include the following;

• IV and respiratory therapy
• Wound and ostomy care
• Checking vital signs
• Variety of motion exercise
• Administering medication
• Educating patients about their condition
• Providing emotional support to patients and their family
• Enteral tube feeding and catheter care
• They help patients with daily activities such as dressing, bathing, standing, etc.
• Collaborating with other professionals to develop a comprehensive care plan
• Helping doctors to examine patients

What are the three types of long-term care?

Finding the proper care for people who cannot perform basic activities or even take care of themselves can be challenging for those who require it. In-home caregiving and community services may not meet an older adult’s need for safety, change in health, or personal needs. In other cases, individuals with minimal assistance can live in residential facilities where they can socialize with peers.

We have compiled various types of long-term care services which can help you identify the right choice for your loved one below;

1. Home healthcare nursing

Home health care involves personal, health, and support services to help patients at home living independently. Most home-based care includes help with personal care such as bathing, taking medication, dressing, and supervision to ensure the patient is safe. Caregivers in home-based care may include home health care aides, nurses, homemakers, and therapist

Home health care can be offered as a weekly service or as a 24/7 service which will depend on the patient’s needs. This care is the most expensive and is preferred by people who need care without leaving home.

2. Skilled Nursing

Skilled nursing provides 24/7 medical care or supervision depending on the patient’s needs. People who prefer skilled nursing receive rehabilitation therapy, advanced medical services, laundry services, meal activities, a 24/7 nursing team, and housekeeping. Skilled nursing can be used by long-term and short-term patients and patients who had surgery or a hospital stay.

3. Assisted Living

Assisted living includes suburban neighborhoods, condos, and apartments that offer assistance with personal needs, laundry, housekeeping, social and recreational activities, and medication. This long-term care differs from skilled nursing since it does not offer a 24/7 care team. Assisted living can be best for older people who need extra help and do not have complex care needs or severe medical conditions.

What are the four types of long-term care?

The following are four types of long-term care;

1. Adult care homes

Adult care homes serve adults who require help with personal care or 24/7 supervision where they live in a group residence with common areas for recreation and social activities and common dining areas. Nurses provide supervision, personal care, healthcare services, a program for individual and group activities, laundry and housekeeping services, etc.

2. Hospice care

Hospice care focuses on palliative care and addresses patients’ and their families’ emotional, physical, spiritual, and psychological needs. It can either be in a hospice care facility or in a home for people who are ill and have a life expectancy of fewer than six months. Some nursing homes work with hospice organizations to achieve supplemental services such as inpatient care which gives home caregivers a break.  

3. Community care

Community care services include adult day care, transportation, senior centers, meal programs, and other services. This kind of service can help individuals in home care and their families. Adult daycare services offer social, health, and other support services during the day, which gives friends or family caregivers a break.

4. Continuing care retirement communities (CCRC)

CCRC assist aging adults when they move into a single-family apartment belonging to healthy and independent adults. They can move to nursing homes or assisted living facilities as their needs change. The benefit of CCRC is that a resident only needs to move into the community, and from there, they will transition into other levels of care as their need change.

What are examples of long-term care?

Long-term service is a suitable option to assist individuals in various situations. The following are examples of long-term care;

• Patients recovering from injuries
• Nurses assist patients who cannot manage household tasks independently, such as meal preparation, basic cleaning, bathing, etc.
• Patients with complex medical needs who require 24-hour monitoring and medical care to maintain well-being
• Patients recovering from orthopedics surgeries such as joint replacement
• Patients recovering from severe illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, or cardiac surgeries
• Patients with temporary or long-term disabilities
• Patients with permanent or temporary physical impairments that disable them from managing basic activities such as bathing, toileting, etc.
• Patient with a cognitive issue such as dementia which impacts safety and quality of life
• Patients who require assistance to manage medication or have difficulty getting to a medical appointment

Long-term care is for any patient who cannot function independently at home, whether temporary or permanent.

Long-term care nursing skills

Long-term care nurses should see their patients more often because when interactions are limited, you might not impact their experience. You should have excellent communication, assessment, and observation skills. Nurses must pay attention to new health complications or early warning signs of illness since they are in the first line of defense. 

Nurses should recognize their ability to help individuals maintain purpose and meaning in life. The following are skills and competencies needed to be an excellent long-term care nurse;

• Skills to mentor and build a team with others
• Experience in medical and surgical nursing
• Organizational and leadership skills
• Ability to see death as part of life
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to build a good relationship with patients

How to become a long-term care nurse?

To become a long-term care nurse, you must be a registered or licensed practical nurse. It would be best, to begin with, education, complete your program, pass National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and earn a license to work in the state. Then, you can start working in a long-term or short-term position.

You should get involved if there is a nursing group in your area. As a long-term care nurse, you can work in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Assisted living requires minimal support. The resident’s ability can vary, and the facility receives a high level of cognitive and physical needs.

Nursing homes offer fully-supported care and minimal assistance since they offer a high level of care as needed. Another place you can work is at a hospital that provides programs for geriatric patients.

You can also choose to continue with an education focusing on long-term medical care. The American Association for Long-Term Care Nursing (AALTCN) offers the certification. To sit for the exam, you must complete one of their program, including a certification exam and study material.  

Bottom line

Long-term care nursing provides a unique opportunity to improve a patient’s quality of life. Long-term care allows you to connect with your patients and their families. Helping people do activities that provide meaning and purpose is a good feeling. Now that you have learned what a career in long-term nursing entails, it’s time to decide on the career path you want to take.