Re: the neverending med pass
i worked in long term care and its the hardest job ive ever had.
most of our long terms were on vents, even.
its pretty sad when most of the patients dont even really care about the pills, they just want someone to talk to.
i work in an ltac now and its a bit easier with less patients, and i wonder how i ever got through taking care of 20 vent patients in a nursing home.
(nevermind having to hang all the ivs because i was the only rn working at night some nights, and doing staffing, and yadda yadda)
it makes me sad that older people are not better taken care of.
we try our best and still go home feeling like we didnt do enough.
its awfully stressful
and the med pass is a joke.
working 7p-7a you have the first med pass of "hs meds" that takes roughly 3 hours (on a good day)
then around 11 or so you have the second round of "hs meds" (people who are a/o enough to not want a sleeping pill at 9pm. (about an hour)
then minimal charting, then its time for the 4am med pass, and after that, the 6am med pass.
throw in some accuchecks, patient falls, random codes, and you have 12 plus hours of nonstop "action"
for as hard as long term care works you, its amazing the pay is the lowest ive ever received.
getting to know the patients is really rewarding.
and i respect all honestly decent nurses who work in ltc.
(old people are the best)
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