Just for fun :Ideal LTC

[hippylady7211]

Was reading some of the threads, work in LTC, am a baby boomer (not yet ready for LTC but is coming up) and a nurse.

As a nurse in a IDEAL LTC facility I would like:

:yeah:2 staff bathrooms per hallway (and time to take a potty break), a lunch break that has healthier food then a bag of chips and a can of diet coke!

:bow:One LPN and 2 aides per 10 patients. One RN teamleader for 2 LPN's and 4 aides and 20 patients.

:wink2:I would like a ward clerk to answer the phones, fill out forms, order the diets, order the equipment, call the therapy departments to set up time for the residents therapies, etc.

:heartbeatAt least 1 hour a day to spend with my residents (visiting) a foot or back massage paid for by the facility once a week, no cement floors, pet therapy for residents AND staff.

:up:Most importantly, funding to staff the facility adequately. Health insurance for it's employees, time and a half for weekends and holidays.

:nurse:HAPPY RESIDENTS, FAMILIES AND NURSING STAFF WHERE CARE REALLY DOES COME FIRST.

OK this is not going to happen but . . .

what would you add to my facility to make it better?.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Your staffing is way lower than mine would be.

I want an aide per two patients. NONE of them can do anything for themselves, and they are all hideously lonely.

I want less money spent on medications that cost a fortune and are of questionable value - Namenda, etc; Epogen; B12 shots - and more money on people.

I want "the right to fall" stricken from use.

[lpn1313]

I never want to hear 'That's not in the budget' when I ask for something that will help my residents.

I want incontinent briefs that don't make the wearer have bubble butt.

I want families that come in more often than Christmas and Easter.

And since we're dreaming... a chef on each unit so that food is served piping hot, not cooled down from it's trip down tray line and into the cart.

[Poochee]

If equipment does not work, please throw it away.

Equiment stations, two per hall, with o2 sats, and cna's should be able to do 02 sats.

AED's

All rooms should have views, to something.

Febreeze plug ins, in each room.

Nice spa like bathrooms.

A therapist to visit patients, they have no one to talk to.

This one is way out, but peg tubes for pt's who don't drink enough water.

shift reports, like hospitals, including diagnoses.

A nurses station free from clutter and organized.

Med carts that have room labels you can see.

Absolute highlighting of 1st 2nd and 3rd shift meds.

[flashpoint]

No more than five meds per resident...and all of them in a form that the resident can (or will) take.

Adequate staffing.

AEDs.

Hot food that residents will actually eat...and a variety of food. My LTC has had pork roast every Sunday for three weeks.

Bigger rooms and more ability to make rooms homelike.

A heating / cooling system that actually works.

More help for the activity director who is so overworked and underpaid.

Families that actually show up to spend time with their loved ones...and don't get in our faces and act like jerks when they do.

Families with realistic expectations.

Less paperwork for the staff on the floor.

[jnrsmommy]

1) 24/7 Doc and Pharmacist in-house

2) Supply closet that never runs dry and everything you need is right in plain sight.

3) Rooms to be private or semi-private depending on the resident's wishes, and not based on what they are paying for.

4) Kitchen stocked w/ a wider variety of snacks for my residents.

[littlebitark]

Nurses and Aids that are always in a good mood.

To be able to really work 4 on and 2 off

For the equipment and briefs to be always on hands- never running out of -

That the residents can sleep in as late as they want- NO more making them get up early- when I get there There better not be anyone in my room making me to get up early!

OH and pay raises on a regular basics- To be the highest paid nursing home in the area. A place that loves their employees- always giving us words of encouragment- smiling at us- :loveya:

[Ms.RN]

a sitter for confused patients to watch them 24 hours or more use of restraints instead of making facility restraint free and put nursing license in jeopardy when patient falls and fracture their bone.

a computerized charting

less paperwork for nurses.

nurses being able to transfer patient to the hospital, not " you cant send patient to the hospital until you get permission from the don first"

a better pay.

an acutal thank you from the managers and administrator, not pointing fingers at nurses because they are kissing patient and family asses.

[AmbCareRN]

How about more peaceful sounding call lights that don't stick with you and make you stop in your own house thinking you just heard one.

Also a DON that actually listens and helps you out instead of saying "Be creative, you're on your own"

A rule that only RELIABLE CNA's and Nurses are hired.

[pielęgniarka, RN]

I realize my nursing home could be much much worse, even though some days.... But I would LOVE it if we could have..........

1-A trial reduction of some of the other medications besides psych meds!!!

2-Resident rooms painted a soothing color

3-Resident bathrooms with enough room for at least 3 people to turn around, plus any lifts or stands, not just enough room for half a person

4-Several bath aides on staff that can give showers/whirlpools daily to residents instead of weekly. Scented lotion rub downs and toe and fingernail care done routinely!

5-Dynamap BP machines & crash cart with AED & MD that visits daily

6-Therapy animals like cats or dogs (Not birds) on hand at all times

7- A day care for the staff, that the residents can visit as well.

8- Annual cost of living wage increases

9- A way to let the residents go outside whenever they want, whether they are confused or alert and oriented, OR enough staff to sit outside with a resident all day if they have to.

I think if we could have some of these things, on this list and all the other wonderful lists, employee morale would be up and residents would be better behaved and happier. My god, it would be like heaven!!!

Sara

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I have had withdrawn, non-verbal residents spontaneously join in conversations when someone sits them at a table with other people who are not residents and engage them.

More staffing. Not more drugs, more CT scans, tests, dragging them to the dining room for lunch, toileting schedules - more staff.

We have a very demented, psychotic old woman on swing bed status right now. When I sit with her and soothe like a baby she calms down. Unfortunately, there is no time for someone to just sit with her.

[hippylady7211]

Would like activity therapy in the evenings, weekends and holidays,

Like the ideas of chef's and letting people get up and go to bed when they want to.

Like the idea of big rooms.