Charge Nurse

[Katie13LPN]

I am working for Maxim as a per diem nurse. They are going to assign me to various nursing homes in my area. What is the charge nurses responsibility on any particular shift. Are you supposed to tell them when someone is in declining health? What exactly do they do during a shift to help? If you decide to send someone to the hospital do you have to tell the doctor in charge of the patient? I have also been told that you should try to keep the client in the home and not send them out. Do doctors give orders for dressing changes or do you ask the wound care nurse? I am pretty nervous.

[Katie13LPN]

I have been reading the book Mastering Geriatric Care. Are there other clients recovering from surgeries in nursing homes today? The reason I ask this is because I had a friend recovering from bowel surgery. She lived alone as was recuperating in a nursing home.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

This sounds like a homework question. This is pretty basic stuff. If you don't have the experience to know these answers, you probably shouldn't float from facility to facility.

[Katie13LPN]

Gosh you guys are rough on me. I would like to stay at the place I will be going to. They really need people to work there.

[bluegeegoo2, LPN]

1.) Responsibilities will differ somewhat between facilities. Ask to be oriented to each.

2.) Always report a change in condition. Preferably with a full set of vitals and assessment.

3.) Your assignment and responsibilities should be clearly outlined by the facility.

4.) Always secure an order from the MD to send out unless a 911-type emergency, then call afterward to let the MD know. Always attempt to contact family/RP as well.

5.) If the resident needs to go to the hosp, they need to go. I personally will not hang my license on, "they wanted me to treat in-house." As the old saying goes, "When in doubt, send 'em out."

6.) Doctors will generally give orders for wound care, unless the tx nurse has a protocol with that MD. Regardless, the MD would still need to be notified as well as family/RP of an event requiring the need for drsg's.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

i have to agree with Cape Cod...

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

If you do not know the answer to these queries or how to handle these situations perhaps you should reconsider accepting an agency assignment as a charge nurse or staff nurse in a LTC facility. An agency nurse is expected to hit the ground running with minimal orientation and oversight. The orientation for an agency nurse is usually charting system, basic P&P, and patient report. You are expected to function competently and independently from the moment you set foot on the floor.

As to whether a temp agency position converts to a full time facility position depends on the contract between the agency and the facility.