need LTC advise ASAP

ktwlpn, LPN · Sep 25, 2003

Originally posted by renerian
Please anyone who has worked in LTC I would like your advice. My friend ended up signing on with Beverly for 24.09 per hour plus a 5k one year commitment sign on bonus. They are on 8s/ every other weekend. Ratio is one RN on the skilled unit per 25 residents with 1 CNA per 25 clients which is alot I think. Right now they have 18 IVs/they do not do vents. Agency free. When I was there talking with the DON I was waiting in the hall and a resident wheeled over to me and asked me who I was. I told her I was an RN considering employment with their facility. She told me don't come here as the staff has to work alot of doubles? Odd and I cannot picture a resident saying that if it were not true. The DON, who is an interim, says that is not true and they have no forced overtime.

Russell thanks for your PM and I appreciate your thoughts and anyone elses.

I was supposed to start as an SDC but they said at this point they are to short to train me and it has been several weeks and I need to work.

renerian

I amnot sure what your question is.... I am sure the DON was truthful-we don't have forced OT at our facility however we are short on all 3 shifts now but we all seem to pitch in and work over when we can.I say "no" when I have family obligations and offer my services when I can and it is not aproblem.My supervisors are grateful for what I can offer and thank me anyway when I refuse.I do feel that the ratio of cnas to clients is not good....and I would run for the hills....

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2003

Thank you for replying. I am sorry I was not more clear. I was just posting a snapshot and wondered what anyone thought. I appreciate you taking time to reply.

renerian

ktwlpn, LPN · Sep 25, 2003

Originally posted by renerian
Thank you for replying. I am sorry I was not more clear. I was just posting a snapshot and wondered what anyone thought. I appreciate you taking time to reply.

renerian

Sure....I found my niche in LTC,by the way.I liked med-surg,too but my body really took a toll...I enjoy the challenge of working with dementia residents,particularly.Good Luck

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2003

Wow that is one area I have trouble with. Sometimes I feel so bad for a confused patient I become sympathetic rather than empathetic. Are you still in LTC?

Do you ever struggle with feeling so bad for the residents? I feel so sad when I see them sitting all around the nurses station.

renerian

angelbear · Sep 26, 2003

I loved geriatrics and would go back in a heartbeat if they would improve their staffing levels. I worked 3rd 50 residents me (LPN) and two aids. Days and nights had 1 nurse to 25 res and 1 aid to 25. Those are rediculous numbers very dangerous Run!!

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2003

Thanks Angelbear. I appreciate your thoughts!!!

renerian

nursegoodlove · Sep 26, 2003

Hi renerian,

In our LTC facilities there is one RN, one LPN (LPNs give out routine meds) & 4 NAs for 25 people in the day. There is one RN and 4 NAs for an evening shift. In the night, there is one RN and one NA for 50 residents. IVs are "rare" and usually run at the most - 48 hours for IV antibiotics. No vents. We have no particular "skilled unit" - it is straight geriatric (some younger folk, i.e.: ms, als, parkinsons, etc.) There may one or 2 tube feeds - via pump.

Personally, I don't agree with nurses doing "doubles"(safety issue and burnout) and I am truly against "forced ot".

Hope this helps. :rolleyes:

moonchild20002000 · Sep 26, 2003

I worked geriatrics about 10 years ago. I have never worked harder. I Had a CNA for every 8-10 pts and it was still hard to meet everyones needs. One CNA for 25 residents?Are they crazy? Run ,don't walk away from that facility!

I enjoyed the residents but I felt like I could never really give them the care they needed. I made it for about 2 years before I just had to quit. I felt like at the time I had a great group of people working with me. We tried to give ouur residents the same care we would have given one of our family members. I just got so burned out because I got so upset when we could not provide good care, I guess it just was not the place for me. Sorry to ramble on......

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2003

nursegoodlove and moonchild thanks for posting. Never having worked this type of health care I had/have no idea if what the interim DON is saying that the norm is, is good or not. She said they meet the minimum staffing guidelines which sounds like they only put on what they need to.

renerian

nursegoodlove · Sep 26, 2003

renerian, the nurse/cna ratio you have given sound far too low. I would be really worried about this, plus the type of pts. you are caring for ("skilled unit") & the number of IVs you are trying to trouble shoot. :eek:

A person could always choose to go "on-call"/casual......and work a few shifts just to get an idea of what is going on there? Or perhaps there are nurses working there already that you could try and approach and ask them what they think?

In my minds eye - the scene sounds far too heavy for everyone. Look after yourself!

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2003

I called the interim DON to give me an accurate number of CNAS. I know there is a minimum requirement they have to have but I do not know what that is LOL.

I am concerned for my friend who is in orientation today there LOL. I hope she does okay.

I will let you know what they say.

Thanks again for caring and posting,

renerian