Assisted Living Nurses'

Just wondering if there are any other members that work in assisted livings

would like to talk:nurse:

I don't work in assisted living, but am extremely interested in it. Would you share what it is about? I'd like to ease into an assignment like that.

I've been workin in assisted living for about 8 months now. Ask me as many questions if you want and I'd be happy to answer as many as I can. :monkeydance:

I don't work in assisted living, but am extremely interested in it. Would you share what it is about? I'd like to ease into an assignment like that.

Assisted living is totally different, it is like working in a nice Hotel but you are still taking care of residents,Still being a nurse, As DON you are responsible for everything ( just like an RN would be) see they trust the LPN to know what they are doing. We get to do activities,outing and such. The residents are usually not frail so they can do more things . there is NO SKILLED CARE INVOLVED. Most all residents are up and about , walker or wheelchair,We laugh and have alot of fun. Where I am I am planning a party on the 31st with cake and suck for the residents. And for Thanksgiving we are having a family dinner with all the fixings. If you would like more info go to Assisted living .com

Assisted living is totally different, it is like working in a nice Hotel but you are still taking care of residents,Still being a nurse, As DON you are responsible for everything ( just like an RN would be) see they trust the LPN to know what they are doing. We get to do activities,outing and such. The residents are usually not frail so they can do more things . there is NO SKILLED CARE INVOLVED. Most all residents are up and about , walker or wheelchair,We laugh and have alot of fun. Where I am I am planning a party on the 31st with cake and such for the residents. And for Thanksgiving we are having a family dinner with all the fixings. If you would like more info go to Assisted living .com

I've been workin in assisted living for about 8 months now. Ask me as many questions if you want and I'd be happy to answer as many as I can. :monkeydance:

Please describe the work setting, your responsibilities towards your clients and your daily activities! Thanks for answering!

I also work at a kinda assisted living. It's actually a residential home. Non-state mandated.

My responsibilities is to set up the meds for a week.

Check each of the residents 2x a week.

Take residents to the doctor.

Monitor for changes.

Blood draws basic assessments. You name it I do it pretty much.

All my residents (only have 6) are DNR. So currently I have one that wishes to live out her life where she's at. She is failing rapidly but I can do nothing to help her. She refuses hospital/doctor. I am basically just making her comfortable.

All and all I work on average between 16 - 20hr/week there.

I also sub for a school nurse. So it all works out.

I love my job. It's very laid back and fun. We often have parties (a couple a month) bingo everyday, Movie night 2 times a week, dominoes and "42" games everynight. At our facility if you don't walk you don't live here. With the exception of 2 people who have had strokes while living there everyone walks indepedently or with a walker. We don't do any skilled nursing, so If that's what you are looking for it's not going to happen at a ALF. I am a charge nurse with 1 CMA and 2-3 aides a night. During my first few hours at work ( i work 1p-9p) it's mostly communcation with dr.'s, families, charting and all that good stuff. Then I have a 4p med pass then another 8p med pass. Not everyone gets meds and several are self-meds. So on average a med pass will last me about 45 minutes to an hour. Of course there are times when there are falls or incidents when Residents have to be sent out and that can kinda mess up you night. Of course all jobs have there ups and downs but an ALF is awesome. Feel free to ask me anything else, if I left something out.

I love my job. It's very laid back and fun. We often have parties (a couple a month) bingo everyday, Movie night 2 times a week, dominoes and "42" games everynight. At our facility if you don't walk you don't live here. With the exception of 2 people who have had strokes while living there everyone walks indepedently or with a walker. We don't do any skilled nursing, so If that's what you are looking for it's not going to happen at a ALF. I am a charge nurse with 1 CMA and 2-3 aides a night. During my first few hours at work ( i work 1p-9p) it's mostly communcation with dr.'s, families, charting and all that good stuff. Then I have a 4p med pass then another 8p med pass. Not everyone gets meds and several are self-meds. So on average a med pass will last me about 45 minutes to an hour. Of course there are times when there are falls or incidents when Residents have to be sent out and that can kinda mess up you night. Of course all jobs have there ups and downs but an ALF is awesome. Feel free to ask me anything else, if I left something out.

Sounds like something worth looking further into. I live in New York, and maybe I'll Google some sites and see what I can come up with. What is a CMA?

It's a great job! Good Luck with you job search. A CMA is a Certified Med Aide.

Hi

I am a new grad but have 25+ yrs in medicine. I have a second interview on Monday at an assisted living. I am so drawn to this type of environment.

Can a new grad make it here?

Dot

I love my job. It's very laid back and fun. We often have parties (a couple a month) bingo everyday, Movie night 2 times a week, dominoes and "42" games everynight. At our facility if you don't walk you don't live here. With the exception of 2 people who have had strokes while living there everyone walks indepedently or with a walker. We don't do any skilled nursing, so If that's what you are looking for it's not going to happen at a ALF. I am a charge nurse with 1 CMA and 2-3 aides a night. During my first few hours at work ( i work 1p-9p) it's mostly communcation with dr.'s, families, charting and all that good stuff. Then I have a 4p med pass then another 8p med pass. Not everyone gets meds and several are self-meds. So on average a med pass will last me about 45 minutes to an hour. Of course there are times when there are falls or incidents when Residents have to be sent out and that can kinda mess up you night. Of course all jobs have there ups and downs but an ALF is awesome. Feel free to ask me anything else, if I left something out.

If the CMA is administering medications, then, what does the nurse do regarding meds? Is the nurse the one that gives injections or administers narcartics? This is sounding more and more attractive! :wink2:

If the CMA is administering medications, then, what does the nurse do regarding meds? Is the nurse the one that gives injections or administers narcartics? This is sounding more and more attractive!

At our facility we also have a secured Alzhiemers unit. About 15 residents live there, so the CMA is usually over there helping work the floor and doing their meds. Which I don't mind at all. She does occasionally come to the AL side and help and when she does that's when I only do injections and narcs. But again even without a CMA it's great. :wink2:

AND...

Hi

I am a new grad but have 25+ yrs in medicine. I have a second interview on Monday at an assisted living. I am so drawn to this type of environment.

Can a new grad make it here?

Dot

You can absoultely make it as a new grad. AL was my 1st job out of nursing school and I don't regret it for one minute. Good Luck with the interview and let us know what happens.