I currently work in a Nursing Home and I have a few questions..

catnip3 · May 23, 2009

For an idea of what an RNAC does, read the posts under the MDS coordinator forum. I've been an RNAC for 8 years and it really is my "niche". It sounds like you're seeing a lot of negative in the Skilled Nursing Facility setting. EVERY job has positives and negatives, and no job in nursing is ever easy. Try searching for the positives, and you may get a whole new outlook.

Ling07 · May 23, 2009

For an idea of what an RNAC does, read the posts under the MDS coordinator forum. I've been an RNAC for 8 years and it really is my "niche". It sounds like you're seeing a lot of negative in the Skilled Nursing Facility setting. EVERY job has positives and negatives, and no job in nursing is ever easy. Try searching for the positives, and you may get a whole new outlook.

I didn't tend for this to be a negative thread. I was just stating what I observed. This is one of the best jobs I've ever had, and I've worked in a lot of fields. I like helping people.

snowyRN · May 23, 2009

There will be unhappy/mad/moody/disgruntled employees no matter where you work, maybe you could bring about some positive change around there!

ktwlpn, LPN · May 23, 2009

Some people are miserable-that's in any field.I believe that when you clock in you put on your "game face" and treat everyone you come into contact with pleasantly and professionally.Look at it another way-working along side :madface: makes you look : yeah:

We don't have many staff from outside of the USA at this time-it might depend on where you live.With the economy tanking Americans are being forced into taking positions that they may not have considered a few years ago..

My current DON has not yelled at anyopne that I know of-Our former one yelled at me twice.Both times I turned and walked away.I won't stand still for that treatment and neither should you.

Our DON and ADON have alot on their plates-our administrator stays focused on the budget side of things more so then the nursing aspect.He is really clueless when it comes to nursing-he has proven it time and time again.He needs to stay with the bean counters.

Your staff development department and/or your quality assurance staff are responsible for making sure that you know the policies and procedures in your facility. They should be auditing staff regularly all year so that you are not caught when the state comes.But carrying a cup is not good infection control and it is basic nursing knowledge (sorry)

Charge nurses "do it" in may facility without any additional pay and it's a thankless job.They burn out fast.Most days we don't all get a full lunch break.

Yes-our central supply guy does not like to bothered-he thinks he knows it all...Can't stand him.

My entire body sometimes feels as if I have been sprayed with bacteria-can't wait to hit the shower after work.

I seldom smell urine/feces on my unit.Only when someone is actually going or being cleaned up and the smell disperses fast.The cna's do q2 hour rounds and never leave soiled linen lying on the floor or wet disposable incontinence products lying in a trashcan.They are taught how to properly contain those odors while giving care.Your staff should be doing the same.But-nothing puts me off of lunch-not even a big funky GI bleed or an impaction.

Your RNAC is the person who gets the bills paid-she needs to know exactly what each residents needs are so she can make sure they are documented correctly which insures appropriate reimbursment.She's the bottom line.She can also teach you alot-Be nice to her and she'll help you out.They can be a very good resource because they are looking at the big picture and can often pick up on problems a resident is developing before the floor staff does.

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · May 23, 2009

1. i thought nurses were supposed to be nice compassionate people. i understand they are really busy but a few of the nurses at the nursing home i work at are really rude and annoying. they're really bossy.
nursing is like any other profession, an it takes all kinds to run a nursing home. luckily they are few and far between. this profession will definately make you tougher!!!

2. why are most of the cnas from another country. i'm not saying that's a bad thing because i'm from another country, i was just curious. and i understand their job is stressful but it would be nice to see a smile every once and a while.
hahahaha.

3. does your don yell at you?? mine does. i guess she's under a lot of stress. i still like her though despite the yelling part.
i haven't had mine yell at me, but then again, i work night shift and she's usually sleeping when i start my shift :nuke:
4. does your administrator stay under your don all day?? mine does. she's always around the don.
see above answer. although my administrator seems laid back

5. why didn't someone tell me when the state comes, we're suppose to be on our best behavior. why can't i carry a cup of coffee?

the whole osha thing. it's complicated!

6. how do the charge nurses do it. like i said in number 1, i understand they're busy but i just don't understand how they do so much. they answer phones, dispense medication, call families for emergencies, update nurse's notes, paperwork, count medication from pharmacy, meetings, and tend to the residents. i rarely see them eating lunch. how do they do it??
1 phrase, super nurse!!!!!!

7. does your central supply person have a major attitude like mine?? when cnas and nurses run out of supplies she gets a major attitude. i don't get it. it's not like it's coming out of her pockets.

oh my gosh yes!!! i dropped a thermometer ( resident in merrywalker knocked into me and i lost grip on the thing) and the screen broke, so i had to tell her to order me a new one, and you would think that she had to pay for the darn thing out of pocket! i think they're just as stressed as the nurses are, with the combination of pressure of the afore mentioned nurses with 'tudes, don, and administrator.

8. why do my hands always feel dirty even after washing them. is it mental or do i literally feel the germs on my hands.
well, for me it was mental. until my hands started cracking and bleeding from being washed too much!

9. how can the staff eat around the smell of pee and feces??
after awhile, the smell doesn't bother you. trust me, if you're hungry enough you won't even notice it.

10. what exactly does an rnac do?
no clue, but i'll definately google it.

with everything i just said, i still love working where i work. i love the residents. it's really all about them.

you're absolutely right!

Ling07 · May 23, 2009

There will be unhappy/mad/moody/disgruntled employees no matter where you work, maybe you could bring about some positive change around there!

Yea, that's what I'm thinking.

Ling07 · May 23, 2009

Some people are miserable-that's in any field.I believe that when you clock in you put on your "game face" and treat everyone you come into contact with pleasantly and professionally.Look at it another way-working along side makes you look : yeah:
We don't have many staff from outside of the USA at this time-it might depend on where you live.With the economy tanking Americans are being forced into taking positions that they may not have considered a few years ago..
My current DON has not yelled at anyopne that I know of-Our former one yelled at me twice.Both times I turned and walked away.I won't stand still for that treatment and neither should you.
Our DON and ADON have alot on their plates-our administrator stays focused on the budget side of things more so then the nursing aspect.He is really clueless when it comes to nursing-he has proven it time and time again.He needs to stay with the bean counters.
Your staff development department and/or your quality assurance staff are responsible for making sure that you know the policies and procedures in your facility. They should be auditing staff regularly all year so that you are not caught when the state comes.But carrying a cup is not good infection control and it is basic nursing knowledge (sorry)
Charge nurses "do it" in may facility without any additional pay and it's a thankless job.They burn out fast.Most days we don't all get a full lunch break.
Yes-our central supply guy does not like to bothered-he thinks he knows it all...Can't stand him.
My entire body sometimes feels as if I have been sprayed with bacteria-can't wait to hit the shower after work.
I seldom smell urine/feces on my unit.Only when someone is actually going or being cleaned up and the smell disperses fast.The cna's do q2 hour rounds and never leave soiled linen lying on the floor or wet disposable incontinence products lying in a trashcan.They are taught how to properly contain those odors while giving care.Your staff should be doing the same.But-nothing puts me off of lunch-not even a big funky GI bleed or an impaction.
Your RNAC is the person who gets the bills paid-she needs to know exactly what each residents needs are so she can make sure they are documented correctly which insures appropriate reimbursment.She's the bottom line.She can also teach you alot-Be nice to her and she'll help you out.They can be a very good resource because they are looking at the big picture and can often pick up on problems a resident is developing before the floor staff does.

I think our Administrator carries the DON everywhere because she needs her help with the medical side of things. But I mean, THEY ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER. And it doesn't seem to bother the DON. I can't walk away when the DON is yelling at me because I think she doesn't mean anything by it. I think she's under a lot of stress and she wants everyone to use their brain. When people are being yelled at, most of the time it's like a mother correcting her child. She means well. Currently, I am not a nurse so I don't know about the coffee thing.

ktwlpn, LPN · May 24, 2009

I think our Administrator carries the DON everywhere because she needs her help with the medical side of things. But I mean, THEY ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER. And it doesn't seem to bother the DON. I can't walk away when the DON is yelling at me because I think she doesn't mean anything by it. I think she's under a lot of stress and she wants everyone to use their brain. When people are being yelled at, most of the time it's like a mother correcting her child. She means well. Currently, I am not a nurse so I don't know about the coffee thing.

Are you a cna? If so you really should know about infection control. As for being yelled at- I don't

care how nice the howler is-no one deserves that kind of treatment. Everyone has stressors-that does not give one the right to abuse their co-workers.There are more appropriate ways to "correct" someone. Everyone deserves respect-I wouldn't yell at my car mechanic or hair stylist and if I did yell they would probably escort me out the door and tell me not to come back -why should we allow that treatment in healthcare? We accept it from our peers and this just fosters an environment in which it's acceptable behavior from docs,patients,their families and visitors.That's crap.We deserve better...Heck-my DON is under stress too-she's in charge of a 200 bed facility.She actually came to my unit a few weeks ago and answered the phones for me for about an hour...