Long term care rotation was a very hands on and meaningful experience. I was able to care for residents over time, which made this rotation different from others because I was not only seeing patients once and moving on. Since many residents were there long term, I was able to build relationships with them, check in on prior concerns, follow their progress, and better understand their baseline. This helped me learn how important it is in LTC to notice subtle changes, because even small changes in function, mood, appetite, skin, or urinary symptoms can be clinically significant.
One of the most valuable parts of this rotation was the procedural experience. I had the opportunity to perform multiple urinary catheterizations on both male and female patients under supervision and guidance from the Urology PA. I was able to participate in both inpatient and outpatient urology follow-ups and gained experience with Foley catheters and suprapubic tubes. This helped me become more comfortable with the steps, sterile technique, and understanding why catheter care is so important in long-term care patients. I also gained a lot of experience with wound care through working closely with the wound care specialist, who taught me how to properly assess wounds, measure them, clean them, pack them, and document them. She explained details such as wound depth, staging, drainage, tissue color, what supplies to use, and how to place packing appropriately. Being able to do wound care myself with guidance helped me become more confident and also made me realize how much detail and consistency goes into proper wound healing.
Clinically, I was able to practice writing H&Ps, presenting patients, and discussing assessments and plans with providers. I learned how to think through what exam findings mattered, what tests should be ordered, and what could be managed conservatively. LTC also taught me not to jump straight to medications, procedures, or aggressive workups without first understanding the patient’s baseline and situation. For example, some problems required simple but important interventions such as reminders, scheduled toileting, wound monitoring, fall precautions, skin care, or checking whether a patient was due for routine follow-up or screening. This rotation also helped me understand that managing LTC patients means looking at the patient as a whole. It is not only about treating the acute complaint, but also making sure chronic conditions are being followed, medications are appropriate, wounds are healing, mobility is supported, appointments are up to date, and the patient’s goals of care are respected. My preceptor was very helpful in explaining how to approach medically complex residents and how to balance medical management with comfort, function, safety, and quality of life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this rotation because I learned a lot clinically and procedurally while also developing stronger relationships with patients. It improved my confidence with urinary catheterization, wound care, focused exams, H&P writing, and thinking through plans for medically complex LTC residents. Most importantly, it showed me how important patience, consistency, and patient-centered care are when taking care of residents over a longer period of time.
