[eldragon]

Originally Posted by ktwlpn

Actually the "Lpn" who told you not to remove the residents tray was correct.The state would have field day with you.Instead consider some things to assist these slow residents with their meals.Can you get an OT consult for adaptive silverware and plates? After setting up the tray and offering the condiments always remove the scrap paper -it tends to befudddle the confused folks.Look at seating-maybe an area with less noise and distractions will help.IMHO the nurses I work with that have "desk jobs" are far more familiar with the ever changing regs-always take their advice. You are not going to be able to chane anything in this facility-it's all about the profit.

Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure why you had "LPN in quotes, as I am also an LPN.

The thing is, this woman is the first to get her tray, and has it for a full 45 minutes. She's eaten 90% of the food on her tray, and is allowed to drink her Boost drink,. but she doesn't want me to take her tray because she's playing with the butter, salt packages, etc. She takes a paper bag that bread comes in, and fills it with food from her tray. She's not hungry, and doesn't want to eat it. She's just playing. If I weren't on such an impossible schedule, she could sit there all day as far as I'm concerned, but she literally keeps me from having an early start on the med pass.

The LPN with the "desk job" gave a speech at my graduation, and I was seriously impressed that day, and told her so. But working with her is another story. She nit picks everything, and doesn't follow through on much. She's always picking on someone, and writing people up. She doesn't want to hear rational explanations as to why something didn't get done. She told me today I should stay 3 hours overtime if I have to, just to get it done. But the DON says no overtime. And when you just stood on your feet for 9 hours, without any kind of nourishment or break - and I'm taking NOT SITTING DOWN ONCE - it's kind of hard to give a crap about some of the stuff she nit picks about.

She loves to talk about how she's a patient advocate, and I believe she thinks she is, but not more than I am. I'm 44 years old, and had several interesting careers before deciding to go into nursing. I made that decision after volunteering at a nursing home for 2 years. So who is more of a patient advocate? Someone who spent 5 days a week and hundreds of dollars of month seeing that virtual strangers had things they needed, and a friend to talk to -
or someone who got paid to work with patients?

We both are, but I did it for free, or even at cost to me.

She'll even go as low as to say that, if a medication isn't in and there is no way to substitute or borrow it, you didn't give someone's medicine on purpose. Intentionally. Give me a break.

That's absurd. It's all about practicality and time limits.

[JeanineLPN1984]

Dear eldragon,
Hopefully they will get you out of the dining room early and you can get going. Over the years I've worked with that "desk nurse", basically they like to run their mouths, but will do nothing to help you. Unless it's really important just find something to do elsewhere- they get the message after a while. Sometimes nurses can be really weird for one reason or another.
I started march 1st at this facility after moving here and it is hard starting a new job. I love all I work with in the beginning I felt like a chicken without a head. Then I had one I was orientating with send me on the goose chases and " Oh, by the way......". It's like a pecking order thing. Everything is fine, and they are getting used to me now.
Well have a great day- night.

[squeakykitty]

Originally Posted by eldragon

I feel bad for my patients.
Just last week she had a meeting during which she told us the owner was losing money, and how lucky we were to have so much staff, because the facility could certainly operate with less.

I would love to see the DON working like this. It's easy to see where her priorities are, and they're not with the residents.

[CapeCodMermaid]

Right---when all else fails, blame the DON.

[eldragon]

I'm not exactly sure it's the DON in this case.

I think fault lies with every single employee, to some degree.

Just the past few days, I've found 2 medicine errors that could have killed the pts had they been continued.

And in both cases, common sense on the part of any medication nurse should have alerted them that something was wrong with the order. Instead, the orders were given - by nurse after nurse - shift after shift -and in one case - did result in injury to one patient.

I had already questioned this particular order, but was too busy to actually research in the pts chart and see when and if an error existed. Today I had ten minutes to investigate - and sure enough - an order for medicine that was supposed to be given q four hours prn - was written - q four hours, scheduled. It was a high dose pain medicine, and the daughter questioned why her mom was so doped up - LAST WEEK. Then, the woman fell out of bed and went to the hospital for several days, suffering injuries.

And finally, today, I found the error. I didn't have to be Sherlock Holmes, or an experienced nurse - just someone who knew that order couldn't be right.

And I had verbally questioned it to several of my superiors, and received downright dis-interested replies.

I find it quite grotesque and even negligent that employees who have worked there for years didn't question such an unusual order - when the pt herself was so out of it.

I can only imagine how many errors are being made everyday - in that place and others like it.

[CapeCodMermaid]

We ALL need to take responsibility for ourselves. I think some people don't report medication errors for fear of being punished or belittled. Many times it is a systems' problem. I know we're all busy but what amazes me is when an error is found and instead of the nurse being sorry or shocked that she's made an error, she has an attitude of 'so what'.

[eldragon]

Well, here it is the end of my 6th week on the job, and I just called in sick because my back is going out on me.

This is sad, because I never miss work or school - and strive for 100% attendance in everything I do.

But the extreme physical expectations of this job are unrealistic for me, and most people, I would assume. I am 44 years old and in good physical shape, but as I mentioned earlier in the thread - I run non-stop for 9 hours every single day, without ever having the chance to sit down.

Can you imagine having a full-time job that does not allow you a moment to sit in a 9-hour period? It's insane. The constant bending - passing out almost 30 breakfast and lunch trays and standing there while they eat - and then returning the trays to the rack - bending and reaching the whole time;
taking vital signs on all the patients - squatting on the floor while they are in PT, because they are in wheelchairs and I have to hold the glass to their lips for each sip;
doing cbgs on 10 patients - again - the same thing - squatting so that I can get to their finger while they sit in wheelchairs;
putting up supplies everyday - in high cabinets - the constant reaching and bending, it's not human to expect anyone to run like that for that long.

In the 6 weeks I have been there - I have never been able to take my ten minute morning break, or ten minute afternoon break. Not once. I have never had a lunch break over 20 minutes long,and that includes the distance I walk to the time clock, and to my car - and back - and using the restroom.

I am simply never finished, and by the time I get back in my car after work - I am almost limping out. The evening is ruined for me - because I am too tired to do anything else, and I am so stressed out - I can't sleep at night thinking about this miserable job.

It's all I think about, and all I talk about. It's the reason why - at 1:48 in the morning, I am sitting here on the computer when I should be asleep.

If I am emotionally and physically exhausted after a mere 6 weeks, what would I be like after 6 months? It's simply too much to pay, physically and emotionally. It's not worth it.

So today I will get some rest and type up a notice, which I will hand the DON on Friday, otherwise I will end up crippled physically or burned out on nursing.

Sad situation.

[poohmdsnurse]

I am VERY proud of you to recognize that you can no longer do it! It is not worth it physically or emotionally. I have been in your shoes many moons ago and finally gave my resignation (no two weeks either, I just said I can't do it- those two weeks can be pure hell) and found a job in a couple weeks- it required a pay cut but it was so worth it! I have been here going on 22 yrs now- work my way up the ranks from 3-11 shift floor nurse to a day shift nurse manager. You can do it !! Keep us informed...

[eldragon]

Thanks for the support.

I've actually lost 15 pounds since I took this job - which is good, but also shows how ridiculous my workload is.

(I'm a size 8 anyway.)


All through nursing school I thought I wanted to work LTC - boy, did I learn something these past weeks about that.

Now my goal is to work a job that allows me to function as a person and a nurse - and hopefully for a company that cares about patients and staff at least a little bit - and not just money.

Wish me luck.

[ktwlpn]

Not all LTC's are like that.I learned that lesson the hard way.The facility I work in now is county run-the benefits are much better then at the private LTC's in this area. We have great retention of staff and great staffing.I left the last private nursing home (chain) even after they offered me a considerable raise-it was NOT worth it.You've known you've been in a toxic situation for a few weeks now-it's taken a toll on your body. It's long past time to leave.