[oramar]

Originally posted by oramar:

Originally posted by readnour:
Hi, everyone!!
I am D.O.N. at a Long Term Care Facility in Iowa. I am interested in making acquaintances with other D.O.N.'s in similar positions. I have a variety of issues I'd like to share and converse with you about. I have many good ideas - some tried and worked, others tried and not worked - and would love to hear some of your ideas. The LTC industry is changing rapidly, and nurses in our positions are growing evermore accountable and responsible for just about everything entailed in the LTC arena nowadays. Furthermore, I find the Quality Indicators Reports very useful and beneficial in providing more direct focus to our Quality Assurance team/activities.

If anyone is interested in sharing thoughts and/or ideas, please respond. My email address: huckle@netins.net

Thanks!!

I am not a DON but I hope you will not mind if I tell you this story. My sister-in-law has been a CRNA for the last ten years. She is a hard worker and a very concise worker. She was a joy to anyone who was on duty with her. She was just hired by the post office. The money is better, the hours are better, the shift is daylight only and if she eventually gets hired full time the benefits will be excellent. Hospitals and LTC facilities are being forced to increase the workloads and cut the benefits and even sometimes the pay of employees who can easily go elsewhere. My sister-in-law has of course reported back to her former co-workers about her delight in her new position, she especially likes the 15 min. break every two hours, all the other CRNAs are buzzing about that. About half of them have put in applications to the post office. What a nightmare you DONs and other managment people have looming, I actually feel sorry for you. I think it is going to get worse.

PLEASE EXCUSE me for typing CRNA when I mean to type CNA, I am NOT talking about Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, I am talking about Certified Nurses Aids. Sorry if I confused anyone.

[belinda]

ORAMAR--
I am not sure how to respond to your post. Please tell me, are you making fun of DONs? Are you trying to prove a point? I will admit that your post made me a little angry.
I am a DOBN and I work very hard to help and be there for my staff. I think that you must understand that budget cuts and low pay are not the DONs fault. I think that you need to look at the government. Look at what your government reimburses for a person to stay in a nursing home. At times we are forced to care for residents that we recieve lower reimbursment than it takes to care for them. At times, our resdients cost us money to care for...because of your goverment. As a DON, I do have to follow a budget, however I do not set the budget..I am just responsible for sticking to it.
I am a DON because I love LTC. I love taking care of the people at the facility. Sometimes it is a very difficult job with absolutely no thank you's. But still there are nurses out there willing to do it. I think that we should thank these people for being a DON.

[oramar]

Originally posted by belinda:
ORAMAR--
I am not sure how to respond to your post. Please tell me, are you making fun of DONs? Are you trying to prove a point? I will admit that your post made me a little angry.
I am a DOBN and I work very hard to help and be there for my staff. I think that you must understand that budget cuts and low pay are not the DONs fault. I think that you need to look at the government. Look at what your government reimburses for a person to stay in a nursing home. At times we are forced to care for residents that we recieve lower reimbursment than it takes to care for them. At times, our resdients cost us money to care for...because of your goverment. As a DON, I do have to follow a budget, however I do not set the budget..I am just responsible for sticking to it.
I am a DON because I love LTC. I love taking care of the people at the facility. Sometimes it is a very difficult job with absolutely no thank you's. But still there are nurses out there willing to do it. I think that we should thank these people for being a DON.

Sorry Belinda, I do not blame you for being mad, I sort of stuck my nose in a conversation meant for DONs and not me. Absolutely you are not to blame for the current shortage of health care workers. The problems is totally the fault of the politicians who speak of cracking on down on neglect and abuse while at the same time cutting funding. I want you to know that I have notifed my state and federal representives with mail and email about the situation and I have just this week been at the local office my state representive. Good luck and best wishes PS Out in the real world I sometimes hear an interesting conversation not meant for me and stick my two cents in, it does not alway go over well, you are not the first one to get angry.

[This message has been edited by oramar (edited July 25, 2000).]