Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Geriatric Nurses and LTC Nursing /

Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,565 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.
Page 1 of 5 1 2345 >

Jul 02, 2008 02:47 PM

Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?


Hi-

I am a new grad RN working on a subacute/rehab unit at a LTC facility. Received 2 weeks worth of orientation and have some questions.

I average 18 pts. on the 7-3 shift. I was surprised that the CNA doesn't do vital signs in the am, was told that they are not "certified" (huh?) so it's my responsibility as the RN to get vs. Now, we all know that the majority of the senior population is on some type of cardiac or antihypertensive med, so that means I have to stop at each pts. door, wheel in the machine and take their complete vs, then give meds. First med pass is 8am and the seniors take a lot of meds! This process takes up a chunk of the morning. Oh yes, it's also the RN's responsibility to do blood glucose checks. Between the 8am, 9am, 11am, 12pm and 2pm med passes, I also have wound treatments, charting, follow-ups, etc. to do. At my clinical rotations in the hospital, the CNA or PCA always did vs and bg's. Is this job reasonable or am I just being a newbie? Don't know if I should start looking around for another job after getting some experience. Even my preceptor told me that she's lucky if she takes 10 minutes for lunch and gets to go the bathroom once a day. Thanks for your input!


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Page 1 of 5 1 2345 >
Reply
45 Comments
No. 1
from oramar
Old Jul 02, 2008, 02:58 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
From what I hear this is not unusual on LTC. However that does not change the fact that it sucks.
Top

2 Readers Gave Kudos
 
No. 2
from pinksugar
Old Jul 02, 2008, 02:59 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
No, it isn't reasonable! You are getting dumped on. I think it is time to start looking for a new job.

I have the utmost respect for LTC nurses. I just don't know how you guys and gals do it!
Top

3 Readers Gave Kudos
 
No. 3
from coltsgrl
Old Jul 02, 2008, 03:06 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
I am a CNA in Indiana, and we do not take vs or glucose...the RN's at our LTC do all of the things you say you are doing and I know on our hall they each have 23 pts. I would say it's probably just a matter of you getting into your routine. We have 2 RNs during the day and either 3 or 4 CNA's and we work our tails off and still don't have any extra time to do some necessities...not that it is your fault, but as a CNA, if you added those 2 things to MY day, I'm leaving!!!...and not because I mind the extra work, but because I am one of those people that don't half-azz anything, and asking us to do more than we already have time to do is absurd. Hire more people!!!! Ok, I'm done hee hee
Top

2 Readers Gave Kudos
 
No. 4
from josn07
Old Jul 02, 2008, 03:53 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
Hi,

I also just graduated as an RN, and work in a LTC sub acute unit. Basically everything you said about pt load & CNA responsibilities is right on w/ my job, only we do have a wound tx nurse (when he/she is off, then we do the wound care). Also I had about 2 months of orientation.... other than that, it sounds just like your exprience is similar to mine.

Thank you for posting your experience, I was beginning to wonder if other LTC facilities ran differently. As for me, I plan to learn from this experience, "pay my dues", and then specialize in another area.

Good luck!
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 5
from joolia
Old Jul 02, 2008, 05:29 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
I'm a CNA in FL. We do VS, but we are not legally allowed to do BG. That falls under a nurses scope of care.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 6
from Dolce
Old Jul 02, 2008, 05:44 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
As a former LTC nurse, I had all of the CNAs get my VS. It was part of their job description. They didn't get BGs though. I fail to understand how they are not "certified" to do that. The main problem is that you are overworked and the CNAs are overworked. I honestly do not understand how LTC staff can get it all done. There is just so much work. I really feel for you.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 7
Old Jul 02, 2008, 06:23 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
If they are true CNA's, they "should" be properly trained in taking VS. I haven't worked in a facility that didn't have the CNA's doing the VS while I did meds., treatments, Accu checks, ect...

I was under the impression that the "C" in CNA, stood for certified.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 8
from JettaDP
Old Jul 02, 2008, 06:33 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
At the LTC center in my town, the CNA's do all vital signs. They can do blood glucose tests as long as they have been certified as a phelbotomist. And of course they get paid more because of the two certifications.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 9
Old Jul 02, 2008, 06:43 PM

Default Re: Is this reasonable or am I being a newbie?
In Ohio the STNA training doesn't include vitals or blood sugar testing and STNA's are what they staff nursing homes with. I took an additional week of what they call PCA training (patient care assistant) (which included vitals and blood sugars) and that is what my hospital required to work on acute care floors.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
Page 1 of 5 1 2345 >
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
105 members
1,384 guests
1,489

2

lawsuit - But don't most RN's work through breaks/lunch...

0

Patient Evaluation of Retail Clinic Care

0

The hard to reach on-call doctor, and its effects on...

4

Woman charged with passing off prescription drug as...

10

Man in "Vegetative State" was conscious for 23...

2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

12

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

63

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

10

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

10

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't



1

Society Needs Care Too

13

Why am I doing this, anyway?

2

Nurse Heal Thyself

9

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

17

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

16

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

38

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

20

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

19

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

24

Error and Attitude

11

It's Just a Shower





Sponsored Links

Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: