I work at a retirement community that plans on converting from a traditional LTC setting with a central nursing station and halls to a Neighborhood model. In this model, there are households of 10 -11 people centered around a kitchen. The nursing assistants prepare dinners, help with meals and Nurses are expected to help also - with tasks like cleaning the kitchen. Does anyone work in a community like this? Does it work? How many patients do you have? Right now I have the same amount of patients I believe I will have once the construction is complete. I don't see how I'll have time to do extra duties in addition to our charting requirements and nursing duties and we are better staffed than most nursing homes. I love primary care, I have no problem with the new model if it's feasible. But it sounds frustrating. I've been at this a long time and there is no question LTC needs to change- but is this the way to go? From what I've read, communities like this are boasting less staff turn around and higher staff satisfaction, but they are relatively new, so I'm not sure time will prove them effective. I'm a but nervous frankly. Ours is a good home, the residents are taken well care of, unlike others I've been in. I would so hate it to be a change for the worse! Foes example if the CNAs are stuck cooking, whose toileting? Etc, Etc. Do things get done timely. The meds in the room are good, but not having my unit clerk handy is - stuck in an office away from us is going to be difficult to say the least. Thoughts? Advice?
