Just hired as Administrative RN at Assisted Living

[Karen0125RN]

I'm new to the site and need some advice. I've been reading the posts and you all seem very knowledgeable and experienced, so maybe you can help! I've just accepted a position as the only RN in an Assisted Living community. I am coming from an Acute Care, hospital background with 3 years of RN experince and 7 years total hospital experience. I took this position because I am interested in management and leadership. The salary was also quite nice. The CEO offered this job with the incentive of rapidly moving up in the company.

Here's my issues. The facility has had some problems and is changing management to correct them. There is a new Facility Director, who has lots of experience and seems very committed to turning the place around. They are letting go of the current RN, and hiring me to make the necessary changes and put systems in place to help the facility. It is a smaller community, only about 30 residents. My first priority is going to be the medication system, since there are "Medication Techs" handing out meds under my license. What else should I be concerned with? What are some issues I might encounter in this role and any advice on how to handle them? Any other advice you have for a newbie to the nursing management world would be greatly appriciated!!

[achot chavi]

You need to see a report of the last two inspections,

You need to orient yourself to the P & P , regs etc. You probably didn't get the best of orientation.

YOu need to be really organized, keep folders on everything, keep copies of everything including personal conversations.

You need to get to know your staff, sit with them for meals....

You did not say what the specific problems in the ALF, are, Based on that, you can build.

Good Luck

[DPRN]

I am an RN in assisted living with med tech's under me. My responsibility is to be sure the orders are transcribed correctly. It is the med tech's responsibility to pass the meds using the 5 rights. As a med tech, they do not have to know what the med is for. They only have to understand how to pass them. Be sure your MAR is marked with the tidbits such as to check an apical pulse for someone on digoxin. Med Techs do not know the background info about meds.

[blonde73]

speaking as a med tech being nice to them would get you a long way. My AL just fired our RN because she was rude to the med techs, (sticking her hands in our face and being rude.)And we do know some meds ,some of us are in nursing school which is a big help,or we have some experience .Good luck!