Assisted living facilities

Blackcat99 · Mar 13, 2008

Eastern Washington state $18 an hour. I run my legs off every shift:(. Make doctors appointments,do new doctors orders, do blood sugar checks, insulin,nebulizer Txs, inhalers, minor dressing changes, charting, dealing with family members. Most assisted living facilities use med aides for medication passes.

lovablelvn · Mar 13, 2008

I am in North Central Texas, where the cost of living is lower. I was making $13.50/hr and that was my first job out of nursing school. The ALF I worked at had excellent benefits starting from day 1. I did everything the poster above stated but I also did med passes. I was the only nurse for the entire building, with a med aide working the Alzheimer unit with 2-3 aides and I worked usually 2 aides on the "regular" assisted living side. I still was to do all blood sugars, insulin, immediate wound care, orders, contacting family,Dr, home health and anything else you can think of. I pretty much did it all. But that's not to say I didn't love everyone minute of it. If you have anymore questions please feel free to contact me. :specs:

moviefan2000 · Mar 13, 2008

Hi Everyone,

This is my first reply to a posting. I work in NJ as a fresh LPN grad, this is my second month at this job. I didn't need benefits, and they offered me 25 $/hour, which I happily accepted. (Right after passing the NCLEX I worked at a sub-acute place where they paid $21, and the pace was really crazy, the nurse/patient ratio didn't leave any time for conscientious nursing, and I was a stressed out mess, dreading to go to work every day. I did this for a month, then quit.) I like this assisted living facility, but most of the time it feels like an administrative job that has very little to do with nursing.

scrapgirl2000 · Mar 14, 2008

Hello, my assisted living facility is great. You become close to your residents and they truely become family. The assisted living facility I work at is in so cal. Here, the LVN's job is to check blood sugars, give insulin, and mostly paper work. If a resident needs to be sent out (via family, BLS or 911), we make the determination and send them out. We do not pass meds since we have med managers to do that. I posted a response in the LVN section, and I have heard so many bad stories about working in SNF's which is why I chose assisted living. My supervisor is great and they are willing to answer questions. The staff is great with the residents, so I can't say enough good things about the facility. Here at assisted living you are pretty much on your own. It took a while for me to get used to being here, because the residents are independent and pay for services. They are allowed to self medicate (with meds in their room), or have them given to the by med managers. If they are diabetic, they have the right to eat whatever they choose. Where as in a hospital, we can refuse to give them certain foods because they are diabetic. I feel that my license is protected. Our patient load is the same as a SNF, but keep in mind we do mostly doctors orders, paper work,etc. Meds are passed for us but we supervise. We cannot have IV's, trachs or vents, no foley's, no g-tubes and nothing above a stage II decub. They have to go to a SNF for that. I feel that I made the right decision starting my new nursing career here, and would recommend assisted living highly. Granted you are not using your skills here, BUT in a SNF it is dangerous because you are sometimes pressured to cut corners and your work load puts your license in danger. If you want to use your skills more, a hospital is good because you get the same pay as assisted living and you see a variety of patients, but your workload can be very heavy and very stressfull. The upside of a hospital is that unlike a SNF you have protocols to follow and you learn to do things right and safe. The downside is that now mostly all hospitals are not utilizing LVN's or if they are, they want you to have 6 months to 1 years experience as an LVN. Hope this helps!

smak60 · Mar 14, 2008

Thanks for the replies!!.....I am just starting out...and thought assisted living would also be better...I just had to go do a drug test...and I guess when everything checks out...they will call....I will be starting out less than part time...prn....but...thats ok...this assisted living facility has several locations....so I can be on call..after orientation (sp)....etc.....It is a really nice place!!!! I did not ask what the pay rate was....I didnt know if it was the right thing to ask???? But in away I just wanted to get my foot in the door and see how it would go...then go from there....I had started out looking for a job at a Dr office....but no one was hiring.....but I almost got a job at a pediatric office..and the office manager told me it was 13.00. But a girl that had left decided to come back...but she was going to keep me in mind....because she liked me....but I cant wait!!!! I need to work!!