Advice about career

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities.

Hi, I have been a nurse in a long term care type setting for five years. I enjoy my job immensely, I work with a select number of clients living in 4-person group homes--and they are wonderful! In fact, I've had the same clients the entire time I've been employed. I have some great co-workers. It's a casual environment and I like that aspect.

However:--There are only 4 RNs in the whole agency. Our supervisors and admin team are not nurses, there is not a "leader" in terms of a DON etc.--We've been "told" we have to do certain things, but with no training. Like teaching a Certified Med Aide course (40 hours), handed a binder and told to go from there. Teaching to the rest of the agency. There was a teacher that was contracted in, but it was decided for us to do it instead. The contracted teacher was paid over $1000 for the week. I can understand the need to save money, but with no training, I don't feel comfortable. I don't have a background in teaching. This has since gone to a nurse who came back part-time (who has taught it in the past), but what happens if she's gone? I've expressed the concern, but received no feedback. I'd have to seek training on my own, and not sure how to go about or fund this.--

I needed to renew my license--and attended a Developmental Disabilities nurses conference. It was out of town etc. I can understand them not paying the expenses for us to travel. However, I attended on my own with no reimbursement at all. I also used PTO. We have very few opportunities in my field since it is so small--and wanted to meet other nurses that did the same thing etc. It wasn't in the budget, I get that. But that doesn't seem right to me to use PTO for the hours in the conference. Especially since a nurse in the same agency (different location) had hers fully funded and they do so every year. This is my first.

We don't have continuing education for nurses through our agency and was told that only for agency sponsored training that we can use PTO--We stopped having regular nurses meetings, due to a conflict in CMAs that are having difficulties, working under our license. I felt like it was something they just didn't want to hear...I'm not sure what the terms were for stopping the meetings except from what I have gleaned, because there has been no communication to us.--

While out of town, the nurse covering for me did not ensure a client had a certain test needed for abdominal pain. It was found he had gallstones when I went through my paperwork and made sure he was sent (10 DAYS after it was ordered). An office gave direction for an upcoming surgery--but was never passed along. Had to rush to make sure she had an H &P etc. I had told my coworkers and covering nurse there would be a call regarding this, and if not, to contact the number I gave them. Luckily, both are under control. Again, I informed my bosses etc and they wanted to know where I was getting at by giving this information.--

Management wants us to work direct care hours. That is fine, I don't mind it, but I am already putting in 5-10 hours over every 2 weeks (plus 90+ hours of on-call a week)I want opportunities to become better at what I do. I am not 100% familiar with what other work places do, as I have been here so long, but I have an idea--and this does not seem reasonable to me. I don't want to "rock the boat" but, there is something wrong here. I also don't want to be "helpless" but can't afford to train myself for everything.

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Specializes in LTC, medsurg.

Tried to read but didn't get quarter of the way through.It would be much easier to read if you could break in some paragraphs,Just offering advice, no offense intended. But for my old eyes, I have trouble reading really large paragraphs such as above. Sorry. Take care.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities.

I'll try again...lol, that IS hard to read.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities.

I'm pushing return after my paragraphs, and in the editing, it's broken up, but doesn't post that way. Hmm...

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I edited the post for you. When posting from an iPad or iPhone, there is no formatting. (I have the same problem - lol).

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities.

That's what I thought! Thank you :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
That's what I thought! Thank you :)

fYI if you have formatting issues you can report your post using the little yellow triangle and th emoderators with their super powers can edit the formatting (or title/content once the permitted editing time frame is expired).

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I have found if I edit the post after posting from my ipad it will accept paragraphs.... a pain but can be done

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