Crazy med pass +

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

I am an evening charge nurse, brand new out of school. 40 Residents. 2 med passes, the first goes right into the second. The med pass alone lasts the entire shift. 16 diabetics, 2 sticks per shift. 35 treatments, 4 pressure ulcers. 6 Foleys. Last night I only had 3 aides who were disgruntled because of the shortage. How can I be in the dining room and pass meds? No med cart in the dining room rule. Have to keep a portable phone on my cart to answer calls. Sat down at 1115 to chart. Left at 1240. Im gonna burn out fast if this continues. Advice?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice, Home Health.

don't walk.....RUN out of there........I couldn't do it. I was a hospital nurse for 10 yrs before leaving for hospice....the max I had was 7 patients/shift. I couldn't do what you are expected to do, safely.

linda

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this does not sound like a good place for any nurse - much less a new grad. Go to a hospital where the pt load is MUCH smaller and you will learn real nursing skills - not just pass pills all day. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

Leave !!!

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
I am an evening charge nurse, brand new out of school. 40 Residents. 2 med passes, the first goes right into the second. The med pass alone lasts the entire shift. 16 diabetics, 2 sticks per shift. 35 treatments, 4 pressure ulcers. 6 Foleys. Last night I only had 3 aides who were disgruntled because of the shortage. How can I be in the dining room and pass meds? No med cart in the dining room rule. Have to keep a portable phone on my cart to answer calls. Sat down at 1115 to chart. Left at 1240. Im gonna burn out fast if this continues. Advice?

My unit is 42 beds-we usually have 3 nurses and 6 cna's on days...And a unit clerk during the week.Evenings often has 3 nurses and 4 cna's....

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

you really need to leave that palce. your license and the welfare of the patients are all in jeopardy....believe me, i speak from experience. leave!

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Specializes in SN, LTC, REHAB, HH.

Yeah i would definately leave this horror house! no one should have to work like that. management should really be ashamed. i would report their butts to the state.

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Specializes in LTC/D&A/AL.

They defiantly need to get more staff! I work Assisted Living and when I first started as a care manager and I head the words "No night nurse in the building" my jaw dropped. We have one on call but seriously what will they do? I want to get into a hospital because I can keep my skills up but its so hard here because one hospital wont acknowledge my school that I went to. The other may be promising but I have to drive out of town to get a decent job.

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

When I worked LTC, I had about 28 residents on days and evenings and that was a challenge, and I didn't even have all the diabetics and foleys you've described! On night shift we had about 45 residents each, but the med pass was was extremely light. That situation sounds unsafe. When I leaving LTC, the state was beginning to mandate how many nurses (and maybe even aides) had to be in the building at all times, so we began to have a free charge nurse to help out. That was in DE; however the LTC I began working at here in VA sounds much like what you described and is exactly why I left very soon after starting.

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I worked at a place like that fresh out of school. I was always the last to finish every night. I discovered that they were giving pm and hs meds together. I left soon after that.

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Specializes in Home Care.

If I was in your shoes I would have worked one shift and never gone back.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

I guess that's why the pay and benefits are good, but still they can't get enough help. It happened again last night, I am so sad and tired. Sad because I can't do the job I want to do with taking good care of my residents. And, there's not a whole lot of LPN jobs in this area. I hate to think of training, orienting etc again. And what do I tell a new employer why I left? And will it just be the same thing everywhere? Oh boy, this stinks. I was so happy and excited to have my first nursing job, I'm not young and inexperienced either, this is a second career for me, I was a teacher for 18 years and have a BA. Anyway, thanks for the advice...New in NY

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