[Peggyd]

Hello,

I have never worked LTC but I am considering a taking a position at a nursing home. My job would be making out the schedule for entire nuring home. There are about 175 bed, 80 CNA's, I am not sure how many nurses. I will also be doing employee health, ppd's and giving hepatitis to employees I was told that there are not enough nurses, so I will have to beg and make deals to fill in the holes of the schedule. i just wonder if there is more to this job that administration isn't telling me. I have allready been told, No registery nurse allowed.

I am not able to do floor nursing due to my health, so at least this would be a job that I can physically do. I am just not sure if this job is for me. Has any one done schedules? I am worried that I will be the middle man with everyone upset. Any input will be appreciated. I have been interviewed and need to give an answer soon.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[NemoRN]

Hi,
Id say go for the best schedule possable. Id work m-f only. Id try for 7-3:30. This way you get in early, get out early and you dont miss any shift. Usually nights will be there till at least 7:30 and days will be there till 3:30 and evenings shows up at 3.
hope this helps.
PS id love that job!

[Talino]

The employee health tasks are a cinch. Keep a good record and you'll be fine.

Scheduling/staffing??? Not many nurses and "No registry"? 'may not be physically stressful but mentally???

Ask them for a week to think about it. See if you can request a copy of the staffing schedule in the last 3 months. Tell them you need to get an idea on how a schedule is made. But you're primary objective is to get a clue how the staffing really is.

Or, take the job. As long as there is no contract involved, you can always get out if you have to. Some people can handle mental stress pretty well.

You have an obligation to abide by the administration's financial objectives, afterall, they'll be paying you your salary. So, guess who the staff will be barking at ?

Have you heard of an MDS Coordinator position? Give it a thought. Good luck!

[Peggyd]

Hi again,

Thanks for the input. This is a new postion at the nursing home. Right now they have the assistant DON doing schedules. The employee part won't be bad. I am now a school nurse and keep records for 475. I like the school nurse job but the pay is really terrible. I will be working days. the suggestion made about getting a past schedules is excellent. If I take this job, I will be meeting with the nurse doing the schedules now on my next day off, so she can show me what she does. Then I will be trained.

I am just nervous about this because I have never worked in a nursing home and I have never done scheduling. So any input really helps. Thanks again.

[sunnybrook83]

Check past schedules AND their scheduling policies. Are PT staff required to pick up any extras shift /schedule (some places state if you are a 32hr/biwk person, you must pick up 2-3 extra shifts per schedule if needed). Also, I would check and get it in writing that I was not required to float out to the unit to work. Many places will tell you that, but then go back and say, sorry, not enough staff you need to come out and work the floor. Since you said you aren't able to work the floor, I'd make sure I had that in writing. Scheduling can be a real hassle, or it can be nice and simple, depending on the reliabilty of the staff. Good luck!

[sjoe]

" i just wonder if there is more to this job that administration isn't telling me. I have allready been told, No registery nurse allowed. "

and

"I would check and get it in writing that I was not required to float out to the unit to work. Many places will tell you that, but then go back and say, sorry, not enough staff you need to come out and work the floor. "

'nuff said.

[Peggyd]

Thank you everone for your help. Now at least I have an idea on what quetions to ask. Peggy

[AlixCoastRN]

Peggy, 1st time working in a nursing home a.k.a long term care facility? You will love it, especially if you can get to know some of the residents. We have one here we set up with a phone (not connected) and whenever the building phone rings, she answers hers and takes a 'message'. She even 'ordered' pizza for us!. As far as not working the floor, go for it! I know I would miss the resident contact, but you could manage that easily enough.

[LuvingNurse]

I also love the nursing home setting. The residents are great!! As far as the staffing, I do that at my facility as well as work the floor and granted that it is only a 70 bed facility as long as the aides and nursing schedules dont change to much (such as 4 on 2 off) and no one gets special treatment you should be fine!! There will be those that will quit or get mad but that helps you in the long run!!