Lpn's Supervising Rn's-long Thread

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Hi All,

I work at a 63 bed SNF (7P-7A), I like the job (when I am on the floor), but everyday that I am scheduled (the 7p-11p section of my shift) I am the nursing supervisor, now during this section of my shift we have 2 other nurses on, 1 for each of the 2 floors, and then me. My complaint is that I am tired of supervising other nurses with a combined total of 50 yrs experience, now the reason that they do not want to supervise is b/c "they just don't want the responsibility". I have had my license only 3 years.....I was hired at this job as a floor nurse before some of these nurses where even hired (so would not senority-sp? be taken in to account here?). I have discussed this with the DON, and her response to me was "Well, I have no where to place you from 7-11p". I have suggested that she rotate us all to do this position, but she won't budge.....I am tired of being called for silly things.......like can I give this suppository, can I change this colostomy bag. Also some of these nurses expect me to chart for them, (which I tell them how can I chart on a pt that I have not been taking care of), this list can go on. I am a team player, but I am tired of busting my hump, it is even expected of the supervisor to do all the tx's in house during these 4 hours which I might add the tx nurse gets a whole 12 hours to do when she is in. Call in all labs, order drugs, deal with family member complaints, falls, send outs to the hospital as they come up, paperwork for the following day (pts DR'S appointments). I am thinking of starting to look for another job, but as I mentioned at the begining of this thread I like my residents and my job when I am not being the nursing supervisor. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..........on how to deal with this.

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Specializes in LTC, ER.

i totally understand how you feel. when i was fresh out of lpn school i was made a shift supervisor in a ltc facility. it was a joke! not only did i not know anything about being a nurse, i knew even less about being a supervisor. i finally figured out that i was being used, the don knew that i was young, single with no children, and that when they got a call off (which they did almost every day) i would have to be the one stay onto the next shift to work the floor if no one would stay over (of course no one ever wanted to stay over!).

it sounds like you are getting a raw deal, i say get the heck out of that place. i don't care how much extra they pay you to "supervise," it is not worth it in ltc-you end up having to wear too many hats, and it is exhausting!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

show the don the following ohio bon standards:

4723-4 chapter 4 standards of safe nursing practice for rns and lpns

lpn functions under direction of rn or physician. nothing permits you to "supervise" rn practice. when rn's on duty, they should be responsible for their own actions. you are in charge of your section only. experience does count.

be prepared to stand your ground or look at another position.

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If an R.N. is in the building they need to be in charge. I have worked in LTC my entire nursing career. First as an L.P.N then I became an R.N. Never let your facility put you in a position that is beyond your scope of practice. In the facility that I work the "charge nurse" is in charge of

staffing. Each nurse is responsible for there own unit which includes staffing issues and we always have a nurse manager on call. I would only chart on someones pt if you did the assessment. You could speak to your manager about your concerns and offer some suggestions regarding changing the charge nurse duties. Sometimes it can be easier to help change the culture of your current workplace rather than going to another job that has its own problems.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Karen said it all.

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:angryfire Many years ago when I worked in the state psych hospital we had an RN who refused to work as the "charge nurse"period. The LPN's would be the "charge nurse" because she refused to do it. :angryfire

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Thank you guys for your responses, I will speak with the DON again, and I will see how it goes, but I will more than likely move on, I do not see any changes being implemented.

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Karen was right on target, RN supervises LPN under state law. I think you will have no choice but to move on to another job. Good luck.

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Sounds like you've got a couple of really slick RN's there...they've effectively figured out how to get out of doing stuff they don't want to do, and how to delegate it to YOU. They're out of line and I don't blame you for being pizzed. Hate to tell them this, but they are liable anyway...no matter what their wrangling is to try and get out of it...LOL! Hope you can get this situation changed to make this a better workplace for you.

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Good news people.....I guess my months of complaining, moaning, and plain out bugging the DON.....she has now been rotating ALL NURSES (RN AND LPN) to supervise.....I now have a few nurses that are not happy with me, but you know what I really do not care.....they were dodging their responsibilities, and pushing the supervisor role onto the LPN'S....well not anymore......YAHOO :) :) :) :)

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Way to go Honeybear!

What do they say when you show them that LPNs are supervised by RNs by the BON regs? (you said LPN and RN are rotating)

:balloons: Good for you :balloons: :biggringi :lol2: :lol2:

:cheers: :bow: :smiley_aa

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Good news people.....I guess my months of complaining, moaning, and plain out bugging the DON.....she has now been rotating ALL NURSES (RN AND LPN) to supervise.....I now have a few nurses that are not happy with me, but you know what I really do not care.....they were dodging their responsibilities, and pushing the supervisor role onto the LPN'S....well not anymore......YAHOO :) :) :) :)

Awesome! I hope everything works out great for you. :)

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