I just started a new job a month ago. I had been out of nursing for awhile so I took a job in a local nursing home to ease back into things. Not because I thought it would be easy but because I'd had alot of ltc experience in the past and I like that the residents don't come and go as quickly as in acute care. Well what a rude awakening I have had. Firstly, the med pass in the morning takes almost four hours and sometimes longer. And that's only if I have the extra nurse to take the 8 accucheks and sliding scales as well as routine morning insulins. If I have to do those too, then that sets me back another 45 minutes to an hour. Now it's after lunch and I've had no break at all, my feet are killing me, I haven't had any time to look at the treatment book or see what the aides are doing, and residents who have had appointments are returning and I'm supposed to have their vital signs checked and be signed back in, after which I'm supposed to look take off the orders. But wait, first I have to spend almost 40 minutes in the dining room and help feed. After that I have to hurry and start my afternoon med pass which takes another 2 hours at least and also I have to endure resentment from the two nurses at the desk because I haven't done the "paperwork" and they are stuck with it. So now I'm up to 3 o'clock and I'm just finishing up the second med pass and then have to count with the oncoming nurse. After all this, it's time to fill out the "books", meaning I&Os, progress notes, daily notes in the notebook, and supervisor's report. There are also lists and lists of stuff to fill out and sign by the hour or even 15 minute checks for the residents who wander. By now it's about 4 pm because it just never ends, and I'm happy to get out by 4 because sometimes I'm there til 4:30 or 5!!
When I get home I realize I got no breaks or lunch, and my reward for sacrificing what I am owed is dirty looks from the other nurses who somehow get all these chores done with time to spare and are therefore superior. But one of them actually admitted to me that she doesn't even hand out most of the afternoon meds, just signs them off, except for a specific few. And I'm sure she doesn't do the treatments because when I come on after her, none of the heart or lidoderm patches have been removed and replaced. And then one of the nurses at the desk told me, "just sign them off" when I told her I don't have time to do the treatments!!
I found out that this particular home has been audited frequently by the state and is under "supervision" and I can certainly see why. I've talked to the DON several times and told her that I don't feel like a safe practitioner because I'm always in such a hurry! And she tells me, "just give it time." But after a month, I don't think I can work any quicker than I already am.
Should I quit and go somewhere else before something happens and my license is revoked?? I'm actually afraid of that. There are alot of jobs around here so I think I could find something else pretty easily but what if I find the same situation in those other places? What if I was away from it for a few years and now that is just how it is????
Shouldn't I be able to take a lunch break??? Oh, goodness what do I do?
