What's It All About, ALFie?--Help and Support for Assisted Living Nurses

Hi Lexibear99, I find my residents LOVE to reminisce! Talk about anything from the past. Having babies and talks of weddings are popular. We have an activity dept that does alot with our residents. Many different kinds of crafts, knitting, ect. They also love to listen to music, we have muscians from the community come in and play. And every Saturday, they love to watch Lawrence Welk.
As far as med lock up, I am in a large CBRF (114 residents) and we keep all the medication that we give in a locked room. Our state regs require any Scheduled II meds also be locked in a cabinet or a lock box that is permanently affiixed to a wall. Some of our residents keep control of their own medications and keep them in their room.
I am the RN clinical health services coordinator (fancy name for nurse manager but nurse manager is too clinical sounding) I oversee a staff of about 45 people, nurses, caregivers ect. I wear a pager 24/7 and I absolutely love what I do! If I can help with any of your questions, just let me know

Hi everyone I haven't been on in a while and so glad I founf this thread. I currently work as a NUrse Manager in a ALZ ALF we have two faclities and hold a total 36 residents. I love my job and wouldn't change it for the world. We have two amazing NP that make visits/rounds and I have learned a ton for them. IM incharge of almost everything ie. contacting MD, MARS, new orders all the wasy down to fire drils and ordering TP. Does anyone elso do the pill boxing system out there?

The meds that we give our residents come in bubble paks like in the nursing home. We are such a brand new facility that at this moment we only have a DON/Nurse Manager, 3 FT LPN's and 2 PT LPN's and about 6-7 FT and PT CNA's. We have assisted living in the back of the building and independent living in the front. We have 14 AL residents right now and about 25 independent. Right now we have 1 LPN and 1 CNA per shift except 11-7 which is one LPN. Until we get a few more residents, the LPN and CNA are responsible for heating and serving the meals, laundry, cleaning apratments and the building, activities and the LPN has med passes. It is a nice variety but I will be glad when we are able to bring on housekeeping and more dietary help!

I would like to apply for a job in assisted living! I think I would really enjoy it, I've worked in geriatrics for many years, I like the old folks :-) feel confident about my assessment of illness in the elderly and with time management.

I am trying to devise a list of questions to ask at any upcoming job interviews. Most of these are based on the posts I read here, so thanks! What would you add or change regarding the following list?

1. What are some details of the job, what would I be responsible for?
2. Who do I answer to, who answers to me?
3. What would a "typical" day would look like for the RN position?
4. What is the ALF residents' acuity -- what is the max level of care here?
5. On call hours? Other RN's?
6. How often does RN work the floor?
7. What is the 'call in' policy for the aides? Mandation? Find own replacement?
8. Do any physicians or nurse practitioner's come on rounds?

Thanks for reading!
~Sara

Great post, Sara. I am hoping to get an interview with an ALF and appreciate your list of questions. I am filling out an application (taking a cover letter/resume to attach) tomorrow and am hoping to show my face. I would appreciate any good thoughts, Karma, energies and prayers you good people are willing to send.

I've been an LPN in ALF for 3 years after retiring from a skilled nursing home position after 13 LOOOONNNNGGGG & painful years. This past year I was "asked" to return to a "part time position" as an RA (resident Assosiate) in order to retain employment hours. In other words, I had to go from $19 an hour (LPN wages) to $12 (top aid wages) an hour if I wanted more than 3 days a pay period.

I am just curious if other nurses have had to accomodate the "corporate machine" in this way. Our ALF has gone from 25 residents to 44 residents since January of this year. We have not been given any more nursing or RA hours or staff since corporate implemented these changes. Staff is resigning at phenominal rates & the company is unwilling to fill these positions. Unfortunately, those of us that have been loyal & stayed with the company through thick & thin are being worked to the bone!

At 62 years old (& in compromised health....diabetes related conditions) am I really being taken advantage of, as many of my co-workers suggest? Unfortunately, if I don't continue like this for the next 2 or 3 years I'll have to become a Walmart greeter until
I'm dead!

Just a rant, friends. I think I REALLY know what to do...

1. To be an MDS coordinator you must be an RN
2. Not many places will hire an MDS coordinator who has no experience.
3.Seems like too many patients even in a ALF

I submitted my resignation today at the ALF where I've worked as a "part time RA" and "prn LPN" for the last 3 years. I showed up for work yesterday to do the month end audits and was told that the week-end nurse (who broke her leg last week) was being replaced by a recently hired LPN from a "sister facility." He will be given all her nursing hours & RA hours until she can return to work.

This action by our Executive Director is an obvious ploy to get me to resign. Several years ago the parent company fired and forced resignation of 90% of their "older" employees which saved the company tons of revenue. I suspect I became the latest statistic...honestly though, I've had such a sense of peace & relief since turning in my 2 week notice today! It will just have to take us a little longer to pay off some bills & I can live with that.