HEELLLLPPPP!!!

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What do you do when you are a new nurse working in "assisted living" where you are told that you are not supposed to do any nursing except passing meds and you tell your DON that a resident is going downhill (after 2nd hospital stay this month) and they answer you: "Don't tell me that, I don't want to hear it- you're overloading me." I'm not supposed to assess (even though I do) but if something happens will I be on the line for not doing something that I'm not supposed to do?

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Honestly, if my DON or charge nurse wouldn't listen to me and I just knew my pt wasn't him/herself and something was really wrong (and my pt had no advance directives or other statements stating that I couldn't pursue other medical help) then I'd call the doctor. Tell him all the signs and symptomotology leading you to believe the pt was heading in a bad direction. He can tell you what to do (but be prepared that he could say to do nothing) You may have to take a talking to by your superiors but you could save someone's grandmother or grandfather or husband or wife!!

And as for you not supposed to be assessing or do any nursing except med pass....THAT'S RIDICULOUS!!! Always take a second and assess your pt because I can almost guarantee there is no written rule that says "do not complete an assessment" but if something happens and its something that could have been prevented by taking a quick listen to lung/bowel sounds or checking skin turgor then that's your hind-end and/or license!

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Specializes in LTC.

What do you do? Give your two weeks and run for your life

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If a patient is having a rapidly deteriorating change in condition, notify the physician to see how he/she wishes to proceed. If the physician does not return your phone call in a timely manner, call 911.

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