[caliotter3]

You're not describing anything new. I agree with pavanneh and the other posters. I left this area a long time ago and don't miss the strife. I miss the residents, but not enough to sacrifice my livelihood and peace of mind for. I know that I was only ever one person and could only ever do so much.

[eldragon]

The facility I work at wants everything : speedy gonzales on roller skates, ready and able to pass hundreds of drugs that are constantly being changed - from a MAR that has sheets falling out of it - and a med cart that is never stocked from the previous shift - and sometimes running low on medicines to boot;

and take everyone's vital signs, including temps and O2's, and pass a copy of it to them when we're finished;

and call the pharmacy and doctor whenever there is a question about anything;

and move our patients to their rooms to give them Lovenox shots, or meds in their feeding tubes, when we are already way behind schedule;

and document every thing we do and see throughout the day;

and do it with a huge smile on our face at all times;

and do it through our unpaid lunch if need be, and not become dehydrated or bitter at working off the clock.

It's hard to be all those things.

[Rexie68]

I certainly understand how those things make you want to quit, and you have every right to do so, but it's not uncommon in LTC. You'll quit, they'll hire someone else. If only the good nurses would stay.....it's hard not to burn out. You do come to learn what short cuts are acceptable to yourself and what aren't, and even though it's not always technically "legal" or within your scope of practice, sometimes we push those boundaries.....kind of like driving over the speed limit.

[sharlynn]

Where are you all from? This has never been the norm for any LTC I have worked in!
I'd be out of there in a heartbeat!

[RNKittyKat]

If you work off the clock, you are not protected in terms of workers comp or malpractice. I didn't have to see the rest of your list. I would refuse to work off the clock and let the chips fall where they may.

[proud2b1]

Walks,talks and sounds "like a duck,"I bet it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[suespets]

get out! u can't change it,talking to don could screw up your referances for future, believe me they are aware! please know, not all ltc s are like this!

[DeLana_RN]

Are you kidding me, they expect you to work off the clock for several hours?! Why in the world would you even consider it (why would you work for free, not even mentioning the risks involved as pp pointed out)?!

RUN!!!!!

DeLana

[ElderCare.Nurse]

Call you state labor department first before you quit and file a complaint for unpaid wages for working off the clock. They will go in and check this place with a fine comb and fine them . But you have to file the complaint before you quit your job. The law says you can not file complaint unless still employed for employer. This practice of working off the clock is against the law. You may quit after you file the complaint. Then file for unemployment and list reasons such as having to work off clock, unsafe nursing practices are being done and your license is in jeopardy. Find yourself a good labor law attorney that works on contingency and file a class action labor law suit. You represent all the workers and seek money for back pay and compensation for all of them.
I recently filed a class action suit against my former company for unpaid overtimes wages, and a few other things. I decided I had enough of being used. The labor laws are out there to protect us workers and someone had to stand up and fight. The company did finally settle out of court and 110 other nurses joined in the class action suit. Call you state department of Health and report them as well. There are state and federal labor laws companies need to follow
http://www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/state_of.htm
http://www.dol.gov/index.htm

[catlynLPN]

I work in a LTC part time 2-3 days every 2 weeks, in addition to my regular job. I work 7p-7a.
Alot of what you say is true, but I do the best I can.
I don't stop my med pass until it's finished, I've never been told to do that anyway.

My people are in the lobby in front of the nurses station, and I give who is out there, then I go to the rooms. I've never been told I couldn't do that.

If the phone is ringing, I let it ring. My people come from first.
Screw the phone. If they get any complaints it's not being answered let em get a ward clerk for my shift.

I do NOT work off the clock and have never been told I have to. That's ILLEGAL.......the labor board would LOVE to get ahold of that.
If you clock out at the regular time....then leave. You're off duty.
Do NOT give them your time.

Re: the telephone ordrs you're told to write.......has the doctor actually been called for that order? If he was, then you have to write it into the MAR, which is legal. It's their responsibility to get the order to the doctor for signature.

I DID have an RN/DON once, who used to write orders herself, without calling the doctor. She tried to get me once, to write an order to reduce a patient's insulin. I wouldn't do it. She said, okay, then fax a copy of the BS's to the doctor, and do it that way. It worked....the doctor faxed back an order to reduce it.
She also wrote an order once for a patient to get a swalloing study. She sent him to the hospital for the study, and when the results came in to the doctor's office, the doctor called the LTC and wanted to know "Who the HE"double hockey sticks" wrote that order for a swallow study?" I don't know what happened after that.

You have to be careful what you do in this field. Some people will tell you to do certain things knowing it's illegal for you to do so, but if you do it, then it's your fault not theirs.
Just stand up for yourself and don't do anything that puts your license at risk. And certainly don't do anything that shortcuts your paycheck.......I'm sorry, some people will flame me for this, but I have to work for a living. I am there to get a paycheck, but I intend to do right by my patients as the best that I can, with what is in my power, while I'm on duty.