DON states she can't work as a nurse in LTC facility.

[LHH1996]

This is seems weird to me. i have been a DON in the past. But i never heard of any "regulation" that states a DON can't work as a nurse or help nurses on the floor because he or she manages a facility with over 60 residents. I do understand that as DON, the hours worked don't count towards "hours per patient day"/staffing. But i don't see how this relieves the DON from being responsible for the care provided. For example: a resident was unusually short of breath. she asked the busy nurse to give the resident a breathing treatment because she wasn't "allowed". then today she informed us that she couldn't draw blood from one of our residents PICC line because there are more than 60 residents in our facility and she is not allowed to work in "nursing capacity". (this only came up because several of us RN managers were off that day and it was expected that she would do it). We were suprised to be informed she wasn't "allowed."

I really want to be respectful, but i am having a hard time understanding. the times i have been a DON, i have always held nurses accountable and never let them take advantage of me, but i also didn't let them sink either. if there was a "crisis" i was right there to help. I also covered this same DON for 3 months while she was off on medical leave. no one told me i wasn't allowed to help because we were greater than 60 beds! (it doesn't matter anyway...patient care comes first in my opinion)

Someone please help clarify this! It bothers me to know that she has no plans function as a nurse when needed.

At the same time..i don't want to be frustrated if there really is such a rule.

[Midwest4me]

You say that you covered for this same DON when she was on medical leave. She never informed you that you weren't allowed to do patient care when you filled in for her? I'd bring this up to her for clarification....something like:"I'm confused about something. Is there a new rule stating that, as DON, a nurse cannot assist on the floor as needed? Because I did so when I covered for you whe you were on medical leave that time. I don't want to violate this or risk a reprimand in the event that I fill in for you again."

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

You will probably have to check how the actual regulation is worded. I believe that the DON with so many beds is not suppose to be scheduled as part of the "regular crew", but I have never heard or read that the DON isn't suppose to touch a patient - basically what you describe. That is crazy. Every DON I have ever known would come help in a pinch, even if they could only spare a few minutes they'd come help in an emergency.

Either she is misunderstanding the regulation, or she is feeding you a line of crap and hoping you fall for it.

[caliotter3]

I had a DON who worked a second job that was geographically quite far away. I wondered how she could do this, both as a matter of practicality and whether it was ok. I read a section in Title 22 that states that the DON can not hold a second job as a DON. I do not remember it specifically prohibiting a DON from holding a second job that was not a DON position. But the wording, as I interpreted it, clearly meant that the DON has her/his hands full with one job. You know, the spirit of the law sort of thing. If I still had access to the Title 22 regulation, I would give the specifics.

[Jailhouse nurse]

Sounds like your DON is working pretty hard at avoiding engaging in any sort of patient care.

It strikes me as a bit weird at best, suspicious at worst.

Good luck with her, LHH1996!

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

is she lazy or is it something else ? she should be filling in where you are short staffed. makes me wonder about her.

[caliotter3]

She is probably one of those people who feel that once they have reached a certain "station" in life, that they are "entitled" to the perks thereof. In other words, she thinks she is too good to dirty her hands with mundane patient care. Good, bad, or indifferent DONs that I have had, I never had one who absolutely refused to do anything for a patient.

[Batman24]

You say that you covered for this same DON when she was on medical leave. She never informed you that you weren't allowed to do patient care when you filled in for her? I'd bring this up to her for clarification....something like:"I'm confused about something. Is there a new rule stating that, as DON, a nurse cannot assist on the floor as needed? Because I did so when I covered for you whe you were on medical leave that time. I don't want to violate this or risk a reprimand in the event that I fill in for you again."

I'd go that route as well and I'd follow it up with saying you'd like a copy of it in writing for your own records. I don't buy it. It sounds like she is trying to avoid helping with patient care and I wonder if she feels she's above that now. Barf.

[oramar]

This will go on my list of weird stuff management people say when they are trying to rationalize the shaky things that some of them do. I think she does not want to touch a patient and may also fear her skills are so rusty that she might harm a patient if she did touch one. That is why I think she said that.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

So if a pt fell to the floor and needed CPR and she was the only person standing there she wouldn't be able to help.....PLEASE!

[LHH1996]

thanks for all of the advice and responses..i was thinking along the same lines but i have to admit she intimdates everyone, including me. I am actually afraid to even stand up to her about it. I was basically just curious because i couldn't imagine avoiding patient care just because i am not counted. i have only had about 1 year of real DON experience and then covered for her for 3 months so i thought i was missing something..lol

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

i think shes feeding you a line of crap!

her hours dont count since there are over 67 beds but that does not mean she cannot perform pt care.

i had a DON of a 180 bed facility and it was nothing to see her in her heels and skirt changing a pt or helping me with MARS, charting or assessing pts and helping on admits.