Tired Out

Specialties LTC Directors

Published

i'M A ADON, I'M SALARIED. I DO ALL MD CALLS UPDATES, ADMISSIONS, FAMILY CONCERNS, PT/OT/ST ORDERS/RECOMMENDATIONS/DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS, ASSIST ON THE FLOOR AS NEEDED. ++++ WORK APPROX 50-60HRS A WEEK. DON IS CONSTANTLY ASKING ME TO DO THIS, DO THAT, DID YOU DO THAT YET!! DRIVES ME CRAZY. I'M 63YRS OLD CAN'T WAIT FOR RETIREMENT, I'D RETIRE TODAY IF IT WEREN'T FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. NEEDED TO VENT!! THANKS FOR LISTENING:angryfire :trout:

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Specializes in geriatrics.

What do your nurses do? How many patients do they have? If they were working in hospital they would have to make all these calls....

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I'm sorry you're so stressed and tired. I would ask the same question: if the floor nurses aren't doing these things, what in the world are they doing?

I can understand tired. I'm the DNS. In theory I have this weekend off. My phone started ringing at 6:30 on Saturday morning.....7 calls yesterday. Apparently they have all forgotten how to make a simple decision. Today the calls started at 7. I have a weekend supervisor who is useless. She's forever calling asking something or other, yet when something major happens they don't call. I am fried beyond belief. In my long career in LTC, I have never seen anything like it. I was a supervisor...I called my DNS one time in 3 years and that's when the F.B.I.came in the building!!,

PS. MY ADON has been on vacation and I wouldn't let anyone call her. We ALL deserve time off and time away from the job.

Hang in there. At least your retirement is in sight!

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.
... She's forever calling asking something or other, yet when something major happens they don't call. I am fried beyond belief. In my long career in LTC, I have never seen anything like it. I was a supervisor...I called my DNS one time in 3 years and that's when the F.B.I.came in the building!!,

PS. MY ADON has been on vacation and I wouldn't let anyone call her. We ALL deserve time off and time away from the job.

Hang in there. At least your retirement is in sight!

Boy can I relate... They call for the stupidest things but the really important things... Thank G-d I close the phones on Saturday so for 24 hours...peace.

But really you have to pace yourself or you wont get to retirement- you don't have to keep proving yourself- no one really appreciates Super Nurse:down: (SHe died a painful death!!)- prioritize, take regular vacations:up: and try teaching the floor nurses how to do some of the things so that you can clear your overflowing plate a bit. Lots of luck.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Interesting to see a DNS-ADNS point of view. I am a shift supervisor [nights] with a faily new DNS that expects to be called about absolutely every little thing! I am used to handling everything but a truly emergency situation myself, and feel like the new boss a.) doesn'ttrust her nursing supervisors to do their job and b) needs to get a life! She has been there six months now, so I have hope that she will learn to trust us at some point - in the mean time I guess I will continue to waste time I don't have updating her on every situation, and try to avoid getting written up for unauthorized overtime bacause of it!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.
Interesting to see a DNS-ADNS point of view. I am a shift supervisor [nights] with a faily new DNS that expects to be called about absolutely every little thing! I am used to handling everything but a truly emergency situation myself, and feel like the new boss a.) doesn'ttrust her nursing supervisors to do their job and b) needs to get a life! She has been there six months now, so I have hope that she will learn to trust us at some point - in the mean time I guess I will continue to waste time I don't have updating her on every situation, and try to avoid getting written up for unauthorized overtime bacause of it!

I think you hit the nail on the head.... she is new. I take that as she is covering her own butt in case anything would happen and she is not aware of it but, is ultimately responsible. There are many items that need to be reported in a timely manner to the DON and not left for the next day or Monday to come along. Such as certain incidents that need to be reported to the state, questions on being able to accomodate a possible admission, and the list goes on. Most of us have very capable nurses to handle these things when we are not in the building but, if the DON is new, kudos to her for wanting to be on top ot it.

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

There is also a difference between needing to know what is going on and wanting to be called at home every half hour. Of course she needs to be updated as to the status of things that way she is prepared when a family member or her boss approaches her with a complaint and she can defend and protect you properly. If the frequent calls are cumbersome during the shift why don't you suggest some sort of written report you can slip under her door or in her mail slot (whatever you have ) so she can be updated without the multiple calls that keep you over-hours. Perhaps in time you will get the handle on what she expects. I doubt that she lacks trust in you or your work or she would have replace you. Good luck.

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Specializes in A&E, District Nursing, & Aged Care.

guys I hear you, and can relate to all of your comments!! I agree with not trying to prove yourself..take regular vacations. i manage a site but i report to someone off site who has paranoia. I cant be seen to be speaking to anyone else but this person otherwise they feel they are being underminded. i'm sick of handling this person with white gloves...i think they may feel threatened by me [i'm not being big headed] but i dont know what to put it down too.

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