How does working for Assisted Living Facility Differ from LTC/SNF for LVN/LPNs?

idobelieve · Jul 12, 2011

I am an LPN working at an ALF that uses only LPN's and not med techs. I pass meds to 15-30 people all based on which shift I work. The treatments are very minor like skin tears and if anything beyond that then a wound care nurse comes in from the outside and do those things. I supervise staff that works with the residents ranging from 4-8 people all based on which shift. Incident reports if the resident is found on the floor or with a skin tear. Chart in the LNS book which resident had treatment done, receive oxygen during my shift or sleeps with a CPAP on my shift. Their are no IV fluids to be concerned about and if they have a foley it is for a very short while. Drama can be anywhere but you usually have a much smaller staff at ALF than LTF. If an ER arise than you send them out to the hospital do all the necessary paperwork as normal. This is what I do and the pay is not bad at all.I hope this is a help.

idobelieve · Jul 12, 2011

Also computer skills are the basic.

Debilpn23 · Jul 12, 2011

I work 11-7 on a dementia unit in an ALF

I have 24 residents I am responsible for with 1-2 LNAS My med pass is for 18-20 residents.

I have about 2-3 blood sugars. Like the earlier post said incident reports on any falls or skin tears . Treatments as ordered

We do have foley caths . we have residents on hospice,

I do monthly summaries 6 month nursing assessments,care plans & monthly edits

We do all physician's orders, and incident reports on the computer under a program called PCC

Pay is okay

Hope this helps

MommaRN86 · Oct 13, 2011

This might be a late response, but thought I'd add here what I do in AL. I am an RN and am called the team leader for memory care. I have 14 residents that I am responsible for and I oversee one or two CNA's who help care for our dementia residents. I do all med passes for these residents, take new doctor's orders, assist with monthly evaluations etc. Because I work the PM shift, I am also on call for any emergencies in the Assisted Living/Independent Living sectors. I respond for falls, CP, SOB or really anything that the CNA needs back up for. That part can be exciting but also slightly frustrating because I don't know these residents as well or have only met them once or twice. I also do certain medications in for AL residents not living in memory care. I have never worked in a SNF, only the hospital, but I would think that the biggest difference is just that a resident living in AL really has to be somewhat independent. You should be seeing residents here still able to perform some/ most ADL's who don't require any extensive or technical medical care. I usually think of it as being more of a "wellness nurse". Kind of like a school nurse only for adults. I didn't really understand the nurse/patient ratio when i first started, but now I understand why it can be way higher. That being said, the range of level of care probably varies greatly from facility to facility. Sometimes residents that need a higher level of care are still placed in AL for various reasons. Thats when it gets tricky. Good luck with your job search!!! hope this helps!

MommaRN86 · Oct 13, 2011

PS: Even though I said I'm an RN, there is an LPN who has the exact same job duties as I do where I work.

angie1368 · Mar 10, 2012

I am a new grad and currently working at an ALF. I've been working for over a month now and i have about 60+ residents to pass meds to. I do the same work as the previous posts have said. However, with the amount of residents i have, i don't like my job. While at work, I usually work in the locked dementia unit, in which i've been hit multiple times and meds have been thrown to my face. This is my first job as a LVN and to be honest, i'm not sure anymore if nursing is for me. Everytime, i'm about to go to work i feel like having a panic attack because i'm afraid that another resident will hit me again. I'm just hoping that nursing overall is not like this.

take care.

Shell5 · Nov 20, 2012

It's not.