LTC burnout

kejmq5 · Jun 8, 2005

I understand exactally what you are saying. I work in a facility that the staffing coordinator is not a nurse or CNA, so it does not affect her in any way when she borrows from Peter to pay Paul. Then when the nurse has double the workload cause somebody called in, its like "Oh your hall can do it, you guys are so good" Hell, who are they kidding!!!!! I am currently a unit manager, and I get right out there along with my nurses and pass pills and whatever is needed, then they all down in the office areas look at me like I am crazy! I cannot or will not sit back and let my staff drown. But on the other hand I respect my coworkers and they respect me. Keep your head up and maybe things will turn around. Sounds like you really care or you would not have been there all them years!! Good luck!! :balloons:

donmomofnine · Jun 8, 2005

deleted by me!:chuckle

Ms.RN · Jun 11, 2005

talk about work overload at ltc facility...this is my scenario last night at work charge nurse for 30 patients it's 4:00pm med pass due,( no tx nurse )peritoneal dialysis to start at 4pm, 7 blood sugars at 4pm due! 6 tube feedings to be flushed with meds @4pm,3 insulins to be given(4pm)all 30 residents meds due(4pm)!cna assigments(4pm)!2 residents returning from md appts with orders(4pm)!new addmission man with ca admitted for teaching for self suctioning with his new trach, son states he needs it now!(right 4pm!)nothing set up yet not even room!is all this really physically possible for one lpn!!!thank god no iv was due!i have said if one of the high and mighty super and i stress that word(super)visor rn could handle all this at 4pm+do it right i will work the floor for a week for free!facility looking for mistakes to write you upon ! boy after 23 years i am burnout!!!

hi!!!

this is just too much work for one nurse to handle. does your nursing home have a nursing supervisor that you can ask for help? maybe you can delegate to her to do blood sugar checks and insulin administrations to her. too bad cnas cant do blood sugar checks becuase in the hospital cnas do accuchecks. anyways, i come to work about 15 minutes earlier from when my shift is suppose to start and i do the cna assignment so that its out of the way. otherwise, you need to talk to don or whoever is responsible for assigning patients to the room. they can change the rooms around so that one nurse is not stuck with all the patients with tube feedings!! :angryfire why do you burn yourself out? tell don that you are concerned about safety of your patients. if she doesnt do anything about it, then i suggest you to find another job. good luck!!

Schmoo1022 · Jun 12, 2005

No..you cannot physically do all that..Noone can! That is exactly how my place is everyday and it is wearing on me too. It seems like there are so many things we need to do and no help to do them, but when something goes wrong, forget it! Someone is right there to write you up! It is not safe, and it is not healthy to be so stressed.

I love working with the elderly...but some days..I wish I became a dog groomer LOL

Happytocare · Jun 21, 2005

To overload in LTC.

I myself have felt overwhelmed at the patient to nurse ratio. I am often assigned two floors at a time, anywhere from 32 to 56 patients. I cannot physically be in two places at once. This means the LTC facilty (privately owned) gets a bang for their buck. I essentially do the work of two nurses. I always fill in workload forms. More often than not, the Director of Nursing will be on my back if something vital is missed. I Totally know how you feel, I think I have a Master's Degree in multi-tasking. Theses conditions are just waiting for a tradegy to occur and when it does I wonder who's head will it be on.

Mandylpn · Jun 29, 2005

Talk about work overload at ltc facility...this is my scenario last night at work charge nurse for 30 patients it's 4:00pm med pass due,( no tx nurse )peritoneal dialysis to start at 4pm, 7 blood sugars at 4pm due! 6 tube feedings to be flushed with meds @4pm,3 insulins to be given(4pm)all 30 residents meds due(4pm)!cna assigments(4pm)!2 residents returning from md appts with orders(4pm)!New addmission man with ca admitted for teaching for self suctioning with his new trach, son states he needs it now!(right 4pm!)nothing set up yet not even room!Is all this really physically possible for one Lpn!!!Thank god no Iv was due!I have said if one of the high and mighty super and I stress that word(super)visor rn could handle all this at 4pm+do it right I will work the floor for a week for free!Facility looking for mistakes to write you upon ! Boy after 23 years I am burnout!!!

That's exactly why I quit, see my new thread! Good luck to you if you stay! :smackingf

Mandylpn · Jun 29, 2005

hi!!!

this is just too much work for one nurse to handle. does your nursing home have a nursing supervisor that you can ask for help? maybe you can delegate to her to do blood sugar checks and insulin administrations to her. too bad cnas cant do blood sugar checks becuase in the hospital cnas do accuchecks. anyways, i come to work about 15 minutes earlier from when my shift is suppose to start and i do the cna assignment so that its out of the way. otherwise, you need to talk to don or whoever is responsible for assigning patients to the room. they can change the rooms around so that one nurse is not stuck with all the patients with tube feedings!! :angryfire why do you burn yourself out? tell don that you are concerned about safety of your patients. if she doesnt do anything about it, then i suggest you to find another job. good luck!!

i asked my charge nurse for help and if she could not help me, if she could get one of the other's to give me a hand, and she said she didn't want to because the other nurses would get "upset" with her! what a gal! :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3:

DONDenise · Jun 30, 2005

Who's head ?? Definately the DON'S....I have been a DON for 4 yrs. (Prior med-surg for 7 yrs.) and I am barely in my office because I am right along side my nurses... But, the minute something happens and the state is innvolved, they go right to the DON, (In fact, if a facility receives to many "Poor" marks by the state, the DON can personally lose or have their license suspended) AND, that's even if the DON had nothing to do with the issue and was not even there at the time etc....And, just as an FYI...I have a boss to who doesn't understand why all of the paperwork crud isn't always up to date, and why I'm always "Tired", and why I'd like to take some time off.....I handle all of the admits (from the decision to take to writing and clarifying the orders, to faxing the pharm.), all of the Discharges (including the DC talk with the pt. or family, and ordering any DME), all of the MD notifications after consultants have audited (Pharm.,Social Services, Medical Records, Dietary etc..), inservicing, staffing, scheduling, care conferences,problem patients AND families, pre admit tours, skin rounds (as well as completing the skin sheets), checking of all MDS' for accuracy....In addition, I carry a pager 24/7 (and its used!!!) and my cell phone last month alone had 4,200 work minutes !!!

I'm sorry that you guys have crappy DON's but we are not ALL bad !!