Am I right that these things scare me enough to quit.`

Poochee · Mar 16, 2008

Um, yes.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2008

1. Being told to work off the clock, everyone one else does, 2-3 hours.
2. Writing TO's into the MOR that 'the doc will accept and sign next week'.
3. Told med passes are too long, even though every other med pass has holes and medicine not given for days including coumadin.
4. Told the med techs do things much faster...(though I suspect their accuracy).
5. Answering the phone and paperwork has a priority higher than patient care such as taking bs, bp for HTN.
The world of LTC.
Old Mare, LPN

Sounds like the typical LTC.

Been there, done that, won't go back.

Jo Dirt · Mar 16, 2008

I'd say yes.

I'd also say, welcome to the typical nursing home.

nursbee04 · Mar 16, 2008

I'd quit without notice. You have to protect your license. It is up to you to practice safe nursing - a job is a job, you can always find another one. Places like this set people up for failure.

If I can't practice safely, its not a place I'm willing to work. There are too many other opportunities out there.

realnursealso/LPN, LPN · Mar 16, 2008

Quit, before you get into trouble with your license! Also how about someone care about the patient /staff ratio for LPN's in LTC. It seems that people are always worried about the ratio in a hospital. It's about time someone stuck up for the LPN's working in a nursing home. We are the workhorses that most ignore, because somehow, someway, we get the work done. But it's not safe, it's NOT FAIR! and somebody out there has to care about our workload! :yeah:

Midwest4me · Mar 16, 2008

Yep! You need to refuse to do these things or quit; go to the BON about this crap too.

pavanneh · Mar 16, 2008

That is why I quit working Nursing homes. There was only one I ever worked at that the Nurse to patient ratio was good and that they adhered to good medical practice. Sometimes I feel guilty about "abandoning" these poor patient's because I genuinely cared when it seemed no one else did, but I couldn't afford to lose my license.

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Mar 16, 2008

Yes, you are correct. They should make you run, run, run right out the door and never look back. You have a license to protect...

I feel so sorry for the residents there. I'd be reporting that facility to the appropriate people. Yesterday.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2008

I have to say, while we were always over-worked, we were never, in any facility, asked or expected to do anything dangerous orillegal.

caliotter3 · Mar 16, 2008

You're not describing anything new. I agree with pavanneh and the other posters. I left this area a long time ago and don't miss the strife. I miss the residents, but not enough to sacrifice my livelihood and peace of mind for. I know that I was only ever one person and could only ever do so much.

eldragon · Mar 16, 2008

The facility I work at wants everything : speedy gonzales on roller skates, ready and able to pass hundreds of drugs that are constantly being changed - from a MAR that has sheets falling out of it - and a med cart that is never stocked from the previous shift - and sometimes running low on medicines to boot;

and take everyone's vital signs, including temps and O2's, and pass a copy of it to them when we're finished;

and call the pharmacy and doctor whenever there is a question about anything;

and move our patients to their rooms to give them Lovenox shots, or meds in their feeding tubes, when we are already way behind schedule;

and document every thing we do and see throughout the day;

and do it with a huge smile on our face at all times;

and do it through our unpaid lunch if need be, and not become dehydrated or bitter at working off the clock.

It's hard to be all those things.