Is your DON allowed to pass meds?

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When you are short staffed, Is your DON allowed to help pass meds? At my facility, we are told NO. We are told that per medicare guidelines our DON is not allowed to pass meds.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

If the facility is larger than 60 beds, the DON can not be the charge nurse. I think that is the only regulation.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Last facility I worked, I saw the DON on the cart more than 1 time d/t staffing. I'm going to call bs on this, as they are a nurse! I may be wrong, but I think laziness may be a factor.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Last facility I worked, I saw the DON on the cart more than 1 time d/t staffing. I'm going to call bs on this, as they are a nurse! I may be wrong, but I think laziness may be a factor.

I'm going to say sour grapes and/or jealousy may be a factor in your post. It's apparent you've never been a DNS. Do you know how much work we have to do so you have a job? I help my staff every day which is why my days are 10,11,12 hours long (I am salaried so don't think I'm getting overtime). I do the care plans, review labs, input admission orders, treatments, take over their dining room duties, I run interference with pesky/angry/needy families, I assess patients to help determine if they need to be sent to the hospital. I do almost everything to help out. I do NOT do meds. We do not make the med

pass into the most important thing of the day. It's been years since I've done a med pass. It would take me far longer than it does most of my nurses, so,yeah, I won't do it. But, and I'm sure you're not considering this, when I'm done helping you, I still have to get my own work done. You are home...I'm still at the building trying to work the budget so we have sufficient staff. Do I resentt having to help? No, I'm still a nurse with excellent skills. Passing meds, however, is not one of them.

It's been said on here before (probably by me) walk a mile, or a day, in my shoes before you call me lazy.

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Our DON has...rarely though.

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If I were a DNS, you'd never catch me passing meds. It's not their job, for one- they have a job mandated for themselves. On the flipside- are staff nurses allowed to help the DNS when his/her assistants or other department heads are short staffed? On a related note, if the DNS were to help pass meds, would you offer up a chunk of your pay as compensation, knowing the DNS doesn't get OT pay, and already more than likely does work lots of OT, anyway? Hmm. Fact is, everyone in LTC is overworked.

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

The DNS has took a shift where I worked at. She was a floor nurse for 3-4 years and can do about anything. She was super stressed out all the time though.

Where I work now...um no we know it would not happen. Not one of the managers will or would take a cart. It's between us staff nurses to cover for call outs and such.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

I think we all agree that every level is stressful. Sorry if I ruffled feathers, not my intent

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Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

My DNS is allowed to take a cart, but to be honest, I would rather take a cart than see the DNS have to take it. I work 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri. as a MDS nurse, but if we had staffing issues and nobody to take a cart, I would do it. The DNS has enough on her/his plate IMHO. I appreciate the good ones very much.

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I'm going to say sour grapes and/or jealousy may be a factor in your post. It's apparent you've never been a DNS. Do you know how much work we have to do so you have a job? I help my staff every day which is why my days are 10,11,12 hours long (I am salaried so don't think I'm getting overtime). I do the care plans, review labs, input admission orders, treatments, take over their dining room duties, I run interference with pesky/angry/needy families, I assess patients to help determine if they need to be sent to the hospital. I do almost everything to help out. I do NOT do meds. We do not make the med

pass into the most important thing of the day. It's been years since I've done a med pass. It would take me far longer than it does most of my nurses, so,yeah, I won't do it. But, and I'm sure you're not considering this, when I'm done helping you, I still have to get my own work done. You are home...I'm still at the building trying to work the budget so we have sufficient staff. Do I resentt having to help? No, I'm still a nurse with excellent skills. Passing meds, however, is not one of them.

It's been said on here before (probably by me) walk a mile, or a day, in my shoes before you call me lazy.

I wouldn't take that post personally. There are all kinds of DONs, and clearly you go above and beyond. There are some really crummy LTC/SNFs with poor DONs. If one only has experience in poor facilities, the opinion of the actual responsibilities of a DON is going to be poor.

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Specializes in geriatrics, IV, Nurse management.

I'm a DON. I work on the floor 3 days a week and pass meds. I do agree with the above poster though - we work a lot of hours that are not paid OT.

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in the four years i have worked at my facility i have never seen her pass meds. ever.

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