[Jennifera]

Help! I work as a day shift charge nurse at a LTC facility. I love talking with and caring for the elderly residents and communicating with the families.That is my favorite part of nursing!
But the work load is just crazy- I give all meds, do all tx and charting and general charge- for 26 patients. While most of the CNAs are ok, I feel like there is no support from other staff ,administration- DON, secretary, etc..When I get an admission which many times they do not inform me until minutes before they arrive, no body helps- even if it's the middle of my medpass.etc...
Ok everyone. I've been a nurse for 14 yrs and know it's not any easy job but having teamwork , job security, (because I feel like I could loose my license if this keeps up)and 30 minute lunch ea day would be nice.
Any suggestions for another field of nursing? or is it the place I work?

[carebearRN08]

What's the job market like in your area? Maybe home health would be a nice change of pace from LTC but I'm not sure what's in your area. More power to ya sister, I don't know how you guys in LTC do it. Just the fact that you've been putting up with it for this long is amazing.

I think if you would like to move on to somewhere else, you'll find a way to make it happen. If I were you, I'd start sending out a few applications just to see what pops up. Good luck!

[pepperann35]

I am the night-shift supervisor. I work 8p-6a. Most of our admissions come in the evening. I usually ask that the nurse on the floor do the body assessment, have the patient sign some paperwork and verify the meds. I will do everything else..write up the orders, do all the other assessments, care plans, etc. We can get anywhere from 1-6 admits per day. The DON does not really like that I do the admissions, she just wants me to check them when they are done. Well, if I don't jump in and help, the nurses are overwhelmed....that is the truth of it. It works well for my shift except one new nurse that wants to do it all herself, but can't.

[snowfreeze]

When you feel burned out it is time to look for another position. LTC tends to abuse a nurse to the limit, when you reach that limit go elsewhere. Where? maybe back to school, maybe doctors office, outpatient treatment, dialysis, home care, agency to see what the hospitals offer, apply to an ER as your geriatric experience will be greatly appreciated. The options are unlimited, go where your heart leads you. Each new experience in nursing offers a decent orientation in most places. good luck

[Jennifera]

Thank-you all! I know that I want to move on to something else. Anyone know anything about home care for elderly like Nurse Next Door or Home Instead ?
I have to believe we have pretty good job security as nurses and with the aging population the possibilities are there.

[CentralCAGrrrl]

Originally Posted by Jennifera

Thank-you all! I know that I want to move on to something else. Anyone know anything about home care for elderly like Nurse Next Door or Home Instead ?
I have to believe we have pretty good job security as nurses and with the aging population the possibilities are there.

Check with your discharge planner/social service director to see which agencies are the strongest and best respected in your area. You don't have to say why you're wondering... you might be asking because your family or friend needs an agency, you're looking to moonlight somewhere, etc - no need for anyone to know that you wanna jump ship. As a DC planner I get asked that all the time and rarely give it a second thought.

[CapeCodMermaid]

I used to be the unit manager of a very busy sub acute unit in a SNF. One day we had a callout and were short a nurse. We were expecting 4 admissions,3 discharges, and the usual numbers of patients going out to appointments. To say we were all straight out would be an understatement. One of the nurses called and asked the day supervisor for help. She got spoken to for not following the chain of command and why hadn't she asked the unit manager first? I got called into the office and the supervisor and ADON wanted to know why I needed help!!
Unfortunately some managers have forgotten what it's like to run a busy floor or work on a busy unit...believe me, these 2 had never worked on a floor as busy as mine. What their actions did was to solidify the nurses on that unit and cause mistrust and resentment between us and them.
Now I'm the DNS. Do I have piles of my own work to do? Of course...reports, deadlines,budgets. But I know what it's like to try to get everything done. Once again (3rd weekend in a row) I was in the facility trying to get caught up. The nurses on the short term floor were out straight and in rolled an admission. They didn't complain...they just kept going. One of them came back to the desk. I handed her the orders which I had written out and called the doctor to verify. That few minutes of my time made such a difference to her..that's what goes a long way to building team.
Find a place with a supportive work environment. My nurses know I expect much of them and have set very high standards, but they also know, I won't expect them to do something I wouldn't do myself (well, okay, with the possible exception of a 16 hour shift as a floor nurse...they are all in their 20's and I've been a nurse longer than that)

[celestial1]

It sounds just like the facility I work in. We were recently told that we would be taking admissions during all hours and on the weekends. Same as you no one wants to help with the process no matter when they come in and yeah I usually find out from the weirdest people like housekeeping or maintenance. Communication would be greatly appreciated.

[tatgirl]

I worked at a facility like the ones above too. 46 residents total, 2 nurses, 4 cnas. Lord help us if we were short (which we usually were). Admissions always came on my shift (3-11). You would think that the don or adon would tell me if I was having an admission, nope, usually the housekeeper would tell me!!!!!!!!!!! After 2 years of this, I have had enough. I miss my residents, but not the chaos which is ltc. I now work with handicapped children and am loving it!!!!!!!!!!

Wendy
LPN