Interesting convo with a former coworker...

[herculean]

A friend/former coworker and I were speaking on the phone, and she told me about an LPN at her job. This LPN apparently finishes morning shift med pass in one hour or less, for 25+ patients and then sits at the desk for the remainder of the shift, helping out the floor supervising nurse with paperwork. Apparently the other nurses are upset because they feel as though she should be helping them if she finishes early. My friend suspects that this LPN probably does not pass all her medications.

I told my friend that she should say something to their immediate supervisor immediately, but my friend/ex-coworker thinks that she should stay out of it, mind her own business, and eventually this LPN will "get caught."

I'm appalled that someone would jeopardize their license by obviously not giving people their medications and/or taking lots of shortcuts.

Any thoughts on this? Do you think its possible to complete a med pass at an LTC in less than 2 hours? If so should this nurse help out the other LPN nurses with their paperwork, patient care etc? What would you do? :)

[systoly]

for a couple of years, i had a hall with 27 pt.s - 45 minutes tops for the med pass

i've also had halls with 20 pt.s - every bit of 2 hours for med pass

everyone has their own system, i like to make lots of rounds, but i don't visit

during medpass

weather i help you out if i get done early is up to you

do you help others?, do you have a big load or are you behind

because you're lallygagging

[Gabby-RN]

It doesn't sound like the lpn's coworkers like her very much which could be why she doesn't help them. If there is no proof that she is not passing meds I think it would be wrong to say anything because it would be pure gossip. Maybe it would be better to be friendly to this nurse and ask her how she is so efficient? Maybe she could teach your friend a thing or two and maybe she would even eventually offer to help her out from time to time. I think many people would be more apt to help out a coworker that was friendly and respected them than help one that talks about them behind their back (cause she has probably heard what others have said about her) or a coworker that feels they are entitled to help.

[caliotter3]

You suspect all the meds are not given. That may, or may not, be what is happening. The supervisor where I worked one time was made aware of the nurse who was not doing her work. So obvious. I even found evidence on the glucometer, where there were no values for the BG readings she was supposed to be doing. Know what happened? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But when it was time for layoffs at that facility, guess who kept her job? Be careful if you decide to be one of those who reports this nurse, with or without, evidence. Her hair may be fair with management and that could be to the detriment of all who work around her, including you.

[kate0x]

I have 25 residents at my job and I can get a 3-11 med pass (just as heavy as day shift) done in 1 hr depending on the night (:

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

We even have a sign on our cart that says we are the "Med Nurse" Please Do Not Interupt

But then there are the questions

"Does Mrs A need any meds before bed?"

" Can you grab MR. B's hearing aides when you are in there doing meds"

" I think Mrs C needs her dressing changed"

"I Need a skin check in the shower room for Mr D"

"First shift did not do X,Y, Z"

"Third shift did not do all the laundry"

" I need an extra break because I am working 12 hours toay"

"Second shift left Mrs E wet"

"Third shift left MR F covered in dried fecal matter"

and on and on and on..........

[LemonAide]

Depending on which med pass it is I can do it in a hour and I have 29 patients. Supper pass yes, HS pass takes a little longer due to treatments. When you have a high patient load time management is key. I know my patients well. I know who needs a pulse check and who needs BG. That I do first and I can get that done in 15 minutes before the pass and while I am doing that I check on anyone who frequently needs PRN's so I don't end up back and forth. That leaves 45 minutes. I do meds for the patients who come to the nurses station a lot or ring call bells for meds first to save time if I get to them before they ask it's much more efficient. I also try and do my whole pass from my station I pay attention to who heads to the dining area first and get the meds ready so I can catch them on thier way down the hall. Anyone who needed sliding scale insulin is next and I have asked my aides to swing them by the nurses station on the way to dinner. I don't do insulin in the dining area ever other nurses might but I don't. I'm not sure I am explaining this well but it works. The best time saver for me is close attention to patients needs if they obsess over meds I attend to them first (if I can) heck I try to find them before they find me it is a HUGE time saver. Also if I know patient A is always going to ask for biofreeze and a pain pill before supper I promise I am in that room with the pain pill and biofreeze ready to go before they ask.

I don't help the other nurses with their duties unless they ask or a patients asks. I will answer a call light on any hall after all good patient care is what is going to guarantee my job. If I do have free time I read to patients and hang out in their rooms and talk to them. I file things no one has time for and I set up labs MDS and things of that nature for the next shift.

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

Some med passes are heavier than others, if she has a system down, its possible. She is at the desk helping with paper work, so she IS helping someone else. Just not the ones that other people thinks she should help. No one can pass my meds for me, except for me....how is she supposed to come on your friends hall and pass her meds for her? Sounds like your friend /ex-coworker needs to worrying about her own med pass and get focused on her OWN game.

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

It's sad that no one has asked the LPN how she does it? Instead the assumption is made that she is doing something wrong.

That is a great idea...Ask her for some tips...