Need Advice ASAP!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I have been offered a RN charge nurse position at a LTC facility.

The "unit" I'd be working has thirty-plus residents.

I will be on the 7p-7a shift.

I asked the ADON about staffing.

She said there is ONE nurse, and ONE cna for thirty-plus residents; and NO med tech! Which means I'll have to do ALL the 2100 meds, and PRNs, insulins, treatments, charting, etc., on thirty-plus residents????

What about the residents who require more than one assist to get them up?

ONE CNA FOR THIRTY PLUS RESIDENTS?????

I need a job ~ bad! ~ but I don't even know whether to take it!!!!!

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?????

Please answer asap!

:eek:

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If you are for real about the situation which is actually very apalling, my advice to you is RUN FOR THE HILLS!

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As an aide who cares for 22 residents on night shift.....18 of whom are incontinent, 4 of whom are wanderers and require 1:1, and one of them is always up.....One word....RUN........

I love my residents and we are just experiencing the summer "jumping of the ship" in terms of staffing. People can make more money waitressing, so why take a job that is physically demanding, emotionally challenging, and spiritually (at times) draining. And it is hard because with the 18 all I have time for is to perform the basics. Clean, dry and turned. No time to do the little extras and raise the bar for quality care. I would like to jump ship myself.....Can't abandon my residents or coworkers though....

If those are normal ratios RUN RUN RUN.......

Tres

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Better to have no job, if it means keeping your license. Something better has to be around.

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I agree with everyone else... keep lookin'

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

Sadly, you are very likely to find most LTC jobs with similar stats. If there is a God, bless the long term care nurses - they need it. The care with which we treat our elderly in the country continues to appall me. Those wonderful Don Quixotes of the ECF's have my eternal respect.

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Don't touch that job with a 10 foot pole!!!

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And just wait until the CNA calls in sick...

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Nursing Education, LTC, and HHC.

Good Point Todd, about The CNA calling In.. Boy would that be an ugly mess. I know that our staffing ratios will permiy a nurse to have up to 40 patients and still meet state compliance, ( though this is still crazy) But at least there are 3-5 CNA's depending on census for the night shift.

I would Not advise taking this job, It is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and I am so sure you don't want to be it.....

Happy Hunting!!!

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God bless and thank you all!

I was sooooooo excited to get this job!

I went today to have my TB skin test read and a physical and do paperwork....that's when I really delved into the staffing question.

I was appalled when she told me there is only one nurse, one cna, and NO MED TECH for over 30 residents!!!

It is a private facility.

Wonder if that would have anything to do with it.

When I went to get my physical, he asked me where it was for. I told him, and he said he does ALOT of physicals for them, "They must have a high turnover rate....."

Then he started asking me about FACTORIES where I live!!!

(hint, hint!)

Gawd almighty, all I want is a job where I have a decent nurse/patient ratio, so that I can actually TAKE CARE OF THEM.

Is that so much to ask?

:o

Anyone knows of any good places to work around the Evansville, IN area.....clue me in...or Western KY.

Also Carbondale, IL. That's where my fiance lives...I may move up there.

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I turned down a position exactly like the one you describe. When I kept pressing the ADON for questions about my role and the staff to support the pt's needs, the Q never was answered directly.

I ran.

Please copy me....

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Take it from one who's been there: DON'T accept the position. If they told you this much on your initial contact with the facility, I guarantee that it's far worse than that.

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