Hello Nurses!
I am taking the prereqs to apply to nursing school and recently became a CNA. I'd read and heard that working in a SNF / LTC facility was not desirable to most nurses and I (wrongly) assumed that people who didn't want to work in LTC / SNF didn't care for caring for the elderly or thought the work was unfulfilling.
After my first experience landing a FT job in an SNF went horribly awry (scabies + MRSA, C-diff + no gloves, no PPE and no real training) I learned that these types of issues are at the root of the reason why many chose not to work in SN / LTC facilities.
The reality of it is that many of the available jobs that exist are in these facilities.
How can a new (RN) nurse (or CNA) tactfully determine whether a particular facility follows proper procedures prior to becoming employed?
Are there certain questions that can be asked or things to observe for?
eg Is it appropriate to ask about the ratios? What would good ratios be? Is is appropriate to ask about the policy for supplies being replenished during the interview process? How much /what type of training is appropriate to receive?
I am most concerned with protecting my own liability and keeping myself (and my family at home) safe from communicable diseases.