charge nurse for ltc need advise

mustangsally · Oct 2, 2001

Regulations vary from state to state. I haven't been in long term care for over a year now, but maybe I can help. The most important thing before they leave you to be in charge on your own is that they give you enought time to know the policies and procedures at least the basics of and feel comfortable with the plan of the day is for being in charge. I am not sure do you mean supervisor in charge or a manager of a nursing unit. I am assuming you mean supervisory duty. The most important thing is chart, chart, and chart (I am still in w/d in the hospital setting, j/k it is a nice break from all of all of the medicare charting in ltc). What areas exactly do you want to know, I will be glad to help at least from my experience.

soulwaters · Dec 1, 2001

Originally posted by antralan
hello nurse's my name is antralan i been a nurse for 10 years never work in ltc intil now i'm use to the rn doing charting,doctor orders also they usely in charge the LVNs do the meds at the va hospital i just quiet i want more exper i feel like i need alot of pointers because i like the differents in ltc you feel like you can learn much more than just being med nurse. please help with charting the many key in being in charge .when a pt dies what all need to be in chart please help me.so i can be a good nurse not just in for money thank you very much

soulwaters · Dec 2, 2001

i have been a charge nurse for ltc for a long time. the one thing i always dread is a nurse who has been a nurse for more years than i have been but not in geriatrics. many new nurses in the geri field don't realize that the elderly will not show traditional s/s because their bodies systems are shutting down. therefore, a pt with chf may only have advantagous lung sounds, no edema, no temp. many pt with pneumonia for example won't run a temp due to system shut down. confusion in geri pt often times is related to a simple urinary infection. i have seen pt. go septic with a ua before showing any s/s except for confusion. always, always,always, listen to your cna's. if you are not out on the floor with them then they know when something is up with their patients. go to their chart and review like an investigator. check diagnosis,lab reviews, etc.

soulwaters · Dec 2, 2001

okay, I am attempting to figure out how to do this right. Please bear with me and ignore my previous mistakes on this page. smiles