Assisted Living

I work in an enormous ALF that has LPNs for morning and afternoon shifts. It is a bit like a LTC. Lots of charting, orders, meds, ordering meds from the pharmacy, assessments (called an LPN summary) that are due monthly, care plans, etc. Same for our SCALF only it has a LPN all three shifts. I am the RN in charge. I oversee about 100 residents and staff of 30. I love the residents and my immediate boss. Overall, it is probably one of the nicer Retirement communities to work for (LTC, SNF, ALF, SCALF, Independent Living).

Our SCALF (on third floor above our ALF) LPN is in charge. There is also a CNA at night of ALF. Two CNAs on SCALF. It's a little inadequate but we manage fairly well.

Most AL's do not have nurses 24/7. I have worked at one that did but difficulty keeping nurses who had to do aide & housekeeping duties as well. As a former D.O.N. of an AL, I know 24/7 nurses usually not necessary.

Where I live, nurses are not required. However, because of the sheer size of our facility and how it is run it is necessary for us to have LPN 24/7.

What is a SCALF?

I'm going to guess it's a skilled care ALF. (I never heard of it either)

I am the LPN at an ALF. I am overseen by an RN who has to sign off on all meds I add/discontinue to the MAR and is responsible for the initial and 6 month assessments. The CNAs/aides are trained to assist in passing medications after I have checked them in from the pharmacy or set them up in med sets per MD orders. Our facility is fairly small (16 resident capacity.) I am always "on-call," meaning I can be called for med questions, falls, changes in order from MDs, etc. In my 11+ years in AL, it has been my experience that the residence runs fairly well with the aides; really no need for 24/7 nursing.