the neverending med pass

I have 30+ residents on a locked unit and another 20 ICF/skilled. Unfortunately this isn't the worst ratio I've worked.

I really know where you're coming from with the comment about Aricept. The vast majority of all my Alzheimers patients have been on it regardless of how severe there condition had became. It seems the only way it is DCd is if the resident ends up on hospice.

In the brief instances that I actually have time to talk with my residents and to actually be their nurse I am happy and proud of what I do. Unfortunately most of the time I feel like a professional pill peddler and that is not nearly as rewarding. As far as the facility is concerned I think the only use I have is to get those meds out. I wonder what would happen if the talk of medication aides did come to pass, but that is an entirely different can of worms.

I thought LTC had a lot of problems when I entered it, but I swear it gets worse every year. I think the assignments I once hated would seem really good at this point.

The lawsuits and threats are sickening. I can't even count how many times I've had families and/or residents tell me they were going to sue. The first time I had a resident tell me they were calling Johnny Cochran I thought it was a bit funny...then I started seeing the Cochran firm nursing home abuse ads on tv and realized that their imagination wasn't running wild.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I really enjoyed reading them.

Oh and Nightowl.....you may be the official urine collector, but I am the magical insulin fairy.