I have a few things to say to some of the LTC staff I worked with yesterday!

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I can't of course say what LTC facility I went into yesterday as an agency nurse but......THANK YOU!!! To the nurses, aides, housekeeping, dietary and even the one OT guy...you guys are the S%$T! What team work and great attitudes!, the facility you are at doesn't even deserve any of you! You were all helpful and hardworking as hell! That place is crazy nuts....I had 27 residents and jeez, it really felt good to try and actually assess people b/c I have been doing private duty, but trying to assess put me VERY behind on an already horrendous med pass. I probably will never go back there, b/c I felt I could not give the care these residents deserve...but maybe I did make a small difference...the staff liked me and they said of all the nurses(RNs and LPNs alike)they have not seen anyone ask about a skin breakdown protocol. They were actually amazed I tried assessing some of the residents. They say the turnover rate is so high, agency is the norm! If I were the administration, owners, or whatever I would do whatever it took to hold on to these regular staff people!

When did this all start happening? the bare minimum staffing???, I was thinking if everyone had a reasonable workload, wouldn't there be less turnover and better patient/resident care? After working in med/surg, rehab, mh/mr, private duty, under the right circumstances I think a LTC facility would be a perfect match for me, b/c you do need strong assessment skills and how to communicate effectively, which I have. But I don't think, I will go again as agency or regular staff at a minimally staffed place. I will keep looking though:-)

The staff yesterday were saying that there isn't any sense to go anywhere else, b/c it is pretty much the same everywhere, so they stay....luckily for the residents! I wish that I were ready to open up a very ltc facility and hire everyone who worked with me yesterday! I would take less income as an owner to have it well staffed and my staff happy and residents safe!

thanks for listening fellow healthcare advocates! I think, I will use now instead of nurses, b/c there are so many people in healthcare that are not nurses, but feel just as we do!

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

It has been a gradual process the last decade, but took off once the economy tanked in 2007/8. Corporate excuse, we need to save money because of the economy. Meanwhile they are making billions. Cutting full timers hours without notice....we do this so no one gets laid off. Try...we are greedy and we can save more having all part timers. Insurance is expensive you know. Imagine the dietitian having to produce menus with five dollars per resident a day....hello??? Food prices are now at their all time high. I did say five dollars a day, not meal. 60 bed floors, down to one unit manager, two nurses and four CNA's during day shift...corporate says this is reasonable....for whom....They also must find a way to admit three or four patients to keep census up or we will cut your hours further..... these are people not aliens. Oh, you must punch for the lunch you did not take and if you do take it, you must be finished with your work on time and not a minute late. Okay. if you don't take it, you still must fill out a sheet saying you did, because we run this place by the law. Oh and don't worry, the MDS, ADON and staff development will help you....But they are hiding downstairs pretending they are working....oh, we cut their hours too. We are an equal opportunity employer. We know you can do it. We have faith in you. We picked you for your great work ethic.....thank you...now go get em. We are a team, we believe in excellent customer service, we believe in compassion, we believe in fun. Now go show the residents how much we care...blah, blah, blah..

Dag, I forgot the question. Peace!

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Hmmm, might this be why my mother died at the hands of a LTC facility?:cry:

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.
Hmmm, might this be why my mother died at the hands of a LTC facility?:cry:

I am very sorry for your loss. Take care.

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Oh and don't worry, the MDS, ADON and staff development will help you....But they are hiding downstairs pretending they are working....oh, we cut their hours too.

Dag, I forgot the question. Peace!

Really?? Pretending to work???:mad:

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.
Really?? Pretending to work???:mad:

Relax, it was satire. I am MDS. Peace!

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Specializes in LTC.
I can't of course say what LTC facility I went into yesterday as an agency nurse but......THANK YOU!!! To the nurses, aides, housekeeping, dietary and even the one OT guy...you guys are the S%$T! What team work and great attitudes!, the facility you are at doesn't even deserve any of you! You were all helpful and hardworking as hell! That place is crazy nuts....I had 27 residents and jeez, it really felt good to try and actually assess people b/c I have been doing private duty, but trying to assess put me VERY behind on an already horrendous med pass. I probably will never go back there, b/c I felt I could not give the care these residents deserve...but maybe I did make a small difference...the staff liked me and they said of all the nurses(RNs and LPNs alike)they have not seen anyone ask about a skin breakdown protocol. They were actually amazed I tried assessing some of the residents. They say the turnover rate is so high, agency is the norm! If I were the administration, owners, or whatever I would do whatever it took to hold on to these regular staff people!

When did this all start happening? the bare minimum staffing???, I was thinking if everyone had a reasonable workload, wouldn't there be less turnover and better patient/resident care? After working in med/surg, rehab, mh/mr, private duty, under the right circumstances I think a LTC facility would be a perfect match for me, b/c you do need strong assessment skills and how to communicate effectively, which I have. But I don't think, I will go again as agency or regular staff at a minimally staffed place. I will keep looking though:-)

The staff yesterday were saying that there isn't any sense to go anywhere else, b/c it is pretty much the same everywhere, so they stay....luckily for the residents! I wish that I were ready to open up a very ltc facility and hire everyone who worked with me yesterday! I would take less income as an owner to have it well staffed and my staff happy and residents safe!

thanks for listening fellow healthcare advocates! I think, I will use now instead of nurses, b/c there are so many people in healthcare that are not nurses, but feel just as we do!

And some wine waiting for you when you get home.

I worked this weekend 3-11 and we had very good staffing. 6 CNAs for 50 residents. On a weekend. Which is spectacular. Everyone was in a good mood. Nobody was complaining(well except for me because of pharmacy issues). On a normal day there's 4, 5 if we are lucky. With admissions. My medpass is 25 residents. Takes about 50-60% of the shift. If I do a certain hallway I can be done early because I know that hallway well. I totally do think that its staffing. When we have staff, there's more hands on deck, and a reasonable, doable workload plus teamwork. When we are short, our workload increases and we are stressed and begin to get burned out and tired and make silly little mistakes that one day.. could turn into a big mistake.

I don't think these corporate hogs have a shred of an idea what a LTC facility needs to run. 4 CNAs on 7-3? Even on 3-11 where things start to mellow down.. 4 CNAs for 50 residents is a beating. As far as the overtime goes.. I will not back down.. I sign out the time I leave to the minute. Whether its 11:15 or 1:07am. Its up to them whether they pay me or not. I want them to see what time I'm leaving, and that the workload is atrocious some nights, and it takes more than 8 hours and 2 LPNs to complete it.

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