Longterm care nightmare job

[dblpn]

As I was reading her post I thought I wrote it. Wow that is exactly how it is where i work. never a break, lunch, Nothing! I was asked to come in on the day shift this saturday and i said no. i oriented on days and it was a complete nightmare. as soon as i'm done with RN school i'm outta LTC for good, i hope.

[dblpn]

I was wondering how does that one Nurse just sign off meds but does not give them all? Do you have the bubble pack system where you work? That is so wrong on all levels!! Also someone is paying for those "ungiven" meds.

I've found popped medication from the previous shift in the med cart. i guess they were so busy popping and NOT giving the meds they forgot they were in there. sad very sad.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I was wondering how does that one Nurse just sign off meds but does not give them all? Do you have the bubble pack system where you work? That is so wrong on all levels!! Also someone is paying for those "ungiven" meds.

When I was a CNA at a hospital, not a LTC facility, I witnessed this on a certain neuro/trauma unit. Thats bad enough in and of itself. But this lady took it a step further:

SHE WAS THE CHARGE NURSE. HAD THREE PT'S COMPARED TO EVERYONE ELSE HAVING SIX. WHAT THE HECK MAN.

Yep. She was infamous for not giving meds. She'd get report, go str8 to the computer and have her assessments, charting and meds all done for all three patients 20 min. later. Without ever entering a single room, no steth. around her neck and call light system blaring right in her face (which she ignored, but hey, on a good day, she'd be kind enough to pick it up, ask in her cranky old woman vice "What do you want" and then tell the RN of the pt to get whatever it was).

[starletRN]

I could not imagine going through what you have been through. I have worked in the same place since I was 18, it is large, 304 licensed beds-4 neighborhoods. Each is different and each has its problems, but not taking off patches, giving medications or doing treatments is unacceptable. I have noted one thing over the years, teamwork is not what it used to be, everyone does not pitch in to help like in the past. Jobs are not as plentify as before, so if you feel that you need to go somewhere else get another job first, but have an exit interview and tell them what is going on and why you are leaving, perhaps that will help change things so the residents get the care they need.

ICAM I started a couple of months ago at a LTC. Had to move so I had to quit my med-surg job. At the hospital we helped each other out and I didn't hear nurses bad mouthing another because something had to be passed on to the next shift. At the LTC where I work now it's a daily thing to hear one of the nurses complaining because the previous shift didn't get everything done. "It's not fair that I have to do this...blah blah blah."

I'm not saying that hospitals in general have better folks. Not even close. There are bad apples in every bunch. It just seems that his particular facility has a lot of back-biting and finger pointing going on. Makes me extremely uncomfortable.

[cecilsgirl]

Another comment I have is to say that in any other profession-- not giving meds , or charting things you have not seen,--ect-- is FRAUD, even though there are "Boards of Nursing" I think it is up to other co-workers to turn these nurses in who do this stuff!!! We wouldn't hire a contractor who didn't do their job, or we would report him or her, why do we as Nurses put up with this crap? These message boards are full of this kind of complaint- It makes all good Nurses feel bad, and the day it don't is the day I get out of Nursing.! Now having said that, I know it won't be easy- but something needs to be done. I will do something if I find out this is going on at my Place of work, will other Nurses do the same??

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Another comment I have is to say that in any other profession-- not giving meds , or charting things you have not seen,--ect-- is FRAUD, even though there are "Boards of Nursing" I think it is up to other co-workers to turn these nurses in who do this stuff!!! We wouldn't hire a contractor who didn't do their job, or we would report him or her, why do we as Nurses put up with this crap? These message boards are full of this kind of complaint- It makes all good Nurses feel bad, and the day it don't is the day I get out of Nursing.! Now having said that, I know it won't be easy- but something needs to be done. I will do something if I find out this is going on at my Place of work, will other Nurses do the same??

I agree in principle but would add that many of these people have been turned in and 99% of the time, nothing is done. Management and administration are much too busy to be bothered with such things. "Why are you telling me this now, do you not realize we are having a meeting with some of the hospitals biggest administrators to discuss whether to have the hedges trimmed or go with the untamed outdoor look this year?". Thats the attitude you get most of the time.

In my case, with the nurse on the neuro-trauma unit, she was reported, on a weekly basis, and management always put the burden of proof back on the nurse reporting her. "Did you REALLY witness this or is it just a gossip driven conspiracy theory?" None of the nurses had time to care for their patients AND keep an eye on her so..........eh, it continued.

[Vonique]

I'd like to thank everyone for responding and sharing support and horror stories. Some of them made my nursing home sound like a treat! In the last week I've gotten a little faster at passing meds and have actually been able to get lunch. Plus, I've decided that I was too fast to judge some of my coworkers, as I've discovered that some of the can be very helpful if approached the right way. So, I've been having a better time of it, but I still don't like the fact that things are being signed off and not done. So, I'm going to actively look for another job, but I'll stick around long enough to give a notice (as opposed to just never going back like I wanted to do the first couple of weeks after I started). That is, after I've gotten another job.

The sad thing is I've gotten to love the residents even in such a short time, and I will miss them. But I can't continue in this environment. I hope I can find another one because I love LTC and always have.

Well, thanks again, and good luck to all!

Vonique

[gabrielle76]

EVERY SINGLE THING you wrote about is exactly why I left my last facility. I worked too hard for my licence (i was a supervisor, not floor nurse) and i was not willing to put myself in a situation because my administration was to cheep to hire more med nurses for our floors. Its unsafe and unfair to the people we take care of. I could not do it anymore. My patients and staff were too imortant to me.

Get out while you still can. I left after 2 years and 2 promotions. Not the best decision to just leave but it was truly the only decision I had at the time. State was in and the facility received an G tag for LACK of cleanliness. All the kids have strep G, and enough was enough. Adults being coded that were DNRs. I just had it!!!

Get out!

[Leelee2]

"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 would put my running shoes on, and start looking for another position, Now!! This place sounds like a real nightmare!!