HCR Manor Care in S. Jersey -- RNs

invoke · Feb 10, 2011

Hi, I work at HCR ManorCare in Voorhees. I like it and they have treated me fairly. Every second though is filled with duties. I rush and run like a nut the entire time -- there seems no limit to our responsibilities... I do as much as I humanly can. We take care of 20 people each.

AtomicWoman · Feb 11, 2011

Thank you for replying! I assume you are an RN?

How many CNAs do you have for 20 patients?

I have friends who work LTC who have 30 or more patients. I guess it depends on the acuity of the population.

Thanks again!

invoke · Feb 14, 2011

Hi, Yes, I am an RN. The aids have 12 pts. each to care for. Some work together as a team and go down the gamete helping each other which is great, some work alone. Most are very nice hard workers.

The company is good, I work my butt of though. I've eaten lunch maybe 3x in 7 months. I run the entire time. But for a first time job it's been great experience I also find I get support from the other nurses when things go a rye. I'm appreciative for the opportunity... I was having a hard time obtaining something right out of school.

Ours has the rehab floor below and LTC on the 2nd floor. Even still we get the same amount of pts. each to care for -- this is at our facility. Will you be joining ManorCare? What type of job are you coming from?

AtomicWoman · Feb 18, 2011

Thanks for your reply! The ManorCare near me is hiring like crazy right now, as they are a fairly-new facility that is not yet up to census. Do you work LTC or rehab? The facility I interviewed at is almost exclusively rehab.

Did you get support as a new nurse? What happened when you needed to do a task/procedure that you hadn't done yet? My biggest concern is that I have less than 6 months experience, and my experience isn't med/surg. So there are some things (IVs, blood draws, wound vacs, for example) that I have very little (or no, in the case of blood draws) experience with. I did tell the DON that, of course. :)

One thing I forgot to ask: what time do you have to be there? 15 minutes before and after your shift? Half an hour before, or what? I can't believe I forgot to ask that!

How long was your orientation? Just curious how long the orientation for a brand-new nurse would be.

I wanted to PM you, but you can't get PMs until you have 15 or more posts.

Thanks for your help!

invoke · Feb 19, 2011

I work in rehab... it's a lot busier than the LTC as people come and go -- we have an admissions nurse who does all the paperwork for new admits. LTC you also get a chance to get used to the pts. We have 2 levels, upstairs is LTC. I feel I learn more in the rehab section. Wound Vacs are something our supervisor helps us with... not all nurses come knowledged on how to work those... don't feel bad saying you haven't done one after your in. We don't get them that often. I haven't had a pt on one for a month now.

I ask the other nurses for help if I need or the supervisor or DCD. And yes always someone is willing to help. I had no experience when I started. you will do fine. Supervisor will start IV if needed... we don't have that many that require them. Most have PO meds or antibiotics. Also blood drawls are taken by the lab... the come in the morning.

I clock in and can only do that 5 mins before... or the clock will not accept my punch so that's the deal there. I had 2 weeks orientation. : )