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  1. This is a discussion on I would love any advice here! in Geriatric Nurses / LTC Nursing, part of Nursing Specialties ... I'm an RN of 15 years doing a variety of things - ER, cardiac, neuro, stepdown, yada, yada, yada. ...

    by Oct 25, '11
    I'm an RN of 15 years doing a variety of things - ER, cardiac, neuro, stepdown, yada, yada, yada. Anyways, I haven't worked for several years due to health reasons but have constantly been keeping up doing classes. I finally get to go back to work and on Thursday I'm meeting with HR at a skilled/rehab facility. I was on their webpage and it didn't actually say LTC.

    Can anyone tell me what to expect? What to ask? Things like that. Any insight would be great!

    Thanks so much!
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    by saskrn Oct 25, '11 8:15 pm
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  3. 8 Comments so far...

  4. Oct 25, '11 by
    Not exactly sure what you are looking for, but maybe this will help. My facility is skilled/rehab. About 70% of our residents are long-term, the rest of the beds rotate. We get patients that come in with PICCs for antibiotic therapy, rehab after MVA, post surgery for recovery and rehab, post fracture (we get a LOT of hips), older folks for therapy only following falls, etc. etc.

    RN duties differ between facilities and different shifts. For example, at my facility 7-3 and 3-11 RNs do not have a hall of residents to care for, while 11-7 does, in addition to supervisor work. I've read on here where some night shift nurses care for several halls or an entire floor. I'd ask about what your specific duties would include and what the staffing is like on the shift you will be working. Hope that is helpful
    saskrn likes this.
  5. Oct 25, '11 by
    Quote from nurse_autumn
    Not exactly sure what you are looking for, but maybe this will help. My facility is skilled/rehab. About 70% of our residents are long-term, the rest of the beds rotate. We get patients that come in with PICCs for antibiotic therapy, rehab after MVA, post surgery for recovery and rehab, post fracture (we get a LOT of hips), older folks for therapy only following falls, etc. etc.

    RN duties differ between facilities and different shifts. For example, at my facility 7-3 and 3-11 RNs do not have a hall of residents to care for, while 11-7 does, in addition to supervisor work. I've read on here where some night shift nurses care for several halls or an entire floor. I'd ask about what your specific duties would include and what the staffing is like on the shift you will be working. Hope that is helpful
    Thank you so much for the reply! This really dies help me as I have NO idea what ratios and staffing matrixes are life in this type of facility. Do they usually have CNAs to help on nights as well? That seems like it could be unsafe...

    Thanks again!
  6. Oct 25, '11 by
    I just want to say good luck to you!!!
  7. Oct 25, '11 by
    Quote from SweetseRN
    I just want to say good luck to you!!!
    Thank you, it's much appreciated!
  8. Oct 25, '11 by
    Quote from saskrn
    Do they usually have CNAs to help on nights as well? That seems like it could be unsafe...

    My place has one CNA and one nurse per hall at night. There are 4 halls, 22-25 beds on each. It may also be of use if you have the opportunity to talk to RNs and LPNs who work nights there. Not sure if it will be possible for you to do that. I was able to talk to 7-3 RN - she had started on nights a few years before I was hired. It was helpful and she was better able to tell me how things work on that shift than the ADON was at the time.
  9. Oct 28, '11 by
    Quote from nurse_autumn
    My place has one CNA and one nurse per hall at night. There are 4 halls, 22-25 beds on each. It may also be of use if you have the opportunity to talk to RNs and LPNs who work nights there. Not sure if it will be possible for you to do that. I was able to talk to 7-3 RN - she had started on nights a few years before I was hired. It was helpful and she was better able to tell me how things work on that shift than the ADON was at the time.
    That is a good idea, but I don't think I can do it this time. When I was a travel nurse I used to call the units and ask a lot of questions. It was always helpful.

    Thanks for the suggestion!

    Oh, and how do things go with just you and a CNA? Do you think it's doable?
  10. Oct 29, '11 by
    Absolutely. We all healp each other as well. CNAs help cover each others' halls during breaks. Nurses answer bells as well of course. We all help each other.
  11. Oct 30, '11 by
    I work 7p-7a in the same type of facility. From 7-11 we have 2 nurses on my unit which holds about 46 when full and we have 4 aids. At 11, I take over both halls as the nurse and I have 2-3 aids. I am responsible then for tx's, prn meds, getting paperwork for appts in the AM, assessing those who are sick, on ABX, or get sick and need sent out, and then the 5-7 am med pass for both halls. It is doable, sometimes there unexpected things that come up such as a fall or the like and then paperwork and computer charting has to be done. Also, we chart about everything on the computer now. Good Luck! P.S. during the dayshift there is a nurse for each hall (21-24 residents) and 5 aids. This is the LTC side. On the rehab unit they have 18-22 residents who are in acute rehab and they do have alot more charting that needs done, but they have 2 nurses on dayshift and one at night with 2-3 aids at all times. We also have Unit Managers during the day and ususally an RN Supervisor at night.