LTC facility trying to fire me over refusing to take on 50 residents

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I have to get opinions, i cannot find much about the GA law against LTC facilities and nurse to resident ratios. So, my situation was basically an employee called out for the unit that is on the same floor as my unit. I get to work and they tell me that I have to take on both units all night! Both units contain 49 residents and one of the residents is very violent and has attacked many nurses. Management even threatened that if I did not take the keys to other hall that they would report me to state for abandonment, yet I was NOT scheduled to work that unit, and there and the day Nurse was still there. Also, I work 12 hr shifts, I had gotten called in on my day off just the day before this mess happened. This happened on a Thurs. I had already worked Mon, Tues, off wed, Supposed to work Thurs, Friday, Sat, and Sun. and they wanted me to take on 2 units by myself. Is this NOT crazy!!!

Specializes in School Nursing.
The OP has already clarified:

Even in a complex skilled unit, 45 is actually do able.

I've worked 2-10 shift with 24 pts in ortho/rehab LTC and between 6-10 I had admissions, discharges and med passes-- I was there until past midnight and still had hours of paper work waiting for me the next shift. Tell me please, how 49 patients is doable in a complex skilled unit?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I've worked 2-10 shift with 24 pts in ortho/rehab LTC and between 6-10 I had admissions, discharges and med passes-- I was there until past midnight and still had hours of paper work waiting for me the next shift. Tell me please, how 49 patients is doable in a complex skilled unit?

First, by organizing what needs to be done, plus noting PRNs, then figuring out if discharge packets are information is ready.

In the beginning of my shift, I organize to what needs to be done vs med pass vs treatments; Clustering meds and treatment as well as discharges can occur; the PRNs and meds for those pts are clustered( that takes me a little over two minutes to cluster; Vital signs and BG first; next pull meds and treatments for the priority pts. Next, meds for pts who needs to be discharged; next people who are not discharged, later PRNs, and simple treatments. Documentation next, rounds for the rest of the shift and bathroom breaks and lunch break taken as well.

Granted, I have worked in this business for nine years, so it may be simpler to me than someone who may not work in that capacity; however I have mileage in know how to discharge and admit pts while giving meds; it can seem stressful, yet doable; and I clock out on time.

My nursing practice is always honed in on anticipation-anticipating admits, room changes, discharges, send outs to the hospital; my units has a ton of skilled complex nursing, along with wandering dementia pts who have a ton of safety issues; things get done through team work as well. :yes:

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Specializes in School Nursing.
First, by organizing what needs to be done, plus noting PRNs, then figuring out if discharge packets are information is ready.

In the beginning of my shift, I organize to what needs to be done vs med pass vs treatments; Clustering meds and treatment as well as discharges can occur; the PRNs and meds for those pts are clustered( that takes me a little over two minutes to cluster; Vital signs and BG first; next pull meds and treatments for the priority pts. Next, meds for pts who needs to be discharged; next people who are not discharged, later PRNs, and simple treatments. Documentation next, rounds for the rest of the shift and bathroom breaks and lunch break taken as well.

Granted, I have worked in this business for nine years, so it may be simpler to me than someone who may not work in that capacity; however I have mileage in know how to discharge and admit pts while giving meds; it can seem stressful, yet doable; and I clock out on time.

My nursing practice is always honed in on anticipation-anticipating admits, room changes, discharges, send outs to the hospital; my units has a ton of skilled complex nursing, along with wandering dementia pts who have a ton of safety issues; things get done through team work as well. :yes:

Maybe after 9 years it'll be doable for me too... hopefully sooner. I think for a relative newbie, it's too much to expect.. I know one of the nurses at my facility can do 50 pts in her sleep- but she's been doing it for 30 years... I don't think it's necessarily safe though... even with experience.

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I have been nursing for 29 years.... and it would not be possible to do that assignment up to MY standards....

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I have been nursing for 29 years.... and it would not be possible to do that assignment up to MY standards....

And that's you; trust me, there are plenty of nurses that do this job with HIGH standards; because we do it for OUR patients. :yes:

Don't mistake that we don't believe there should be a lesser ratio; but until that happens we are here for our pts. :yes:

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Patient care is compromised when there are so many patients and just because its doable doesn't make it okay.. I haven't been a nurse long but, in will tell you this; I have kids & I have a life, these facilities could care less about me or the residents. So,I'm supposed to bend over backward for these greedy companies to save $ ? I'm not killing myself, risking my life, my license or stressing myself out. The way some of these companies are, is just the reason why turnover in LTC is ridiculously high.

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What part of Georgia is this GeorgiaPeach?? I live in Georgia also (Atlanta) and its hard for me to get used to the practices here in LTC coming from Alabama. I used to work one facility in which I had 54 on 11-7. I'm beginning to think I did better staying I. Alabama.

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New nurses like to talk a lot about risk to their license. Trust me, the risk to to your license is almost non-existent. 50 is acceptable on 11 PM - 7 AM, but I would have a problem with it on 1900-0700.

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It depends on the 50 patients. anything more than simple custodial care, with a few meds, not really.

New nurses like to talk a lot about risk to their license. Trust me, the risk to to your license is almost non-existent. 50 is acceptable on 11 PM - 7 AM, but I would have a problem with it on 1900-0700.
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New nurses like to talk a lot about risk to their license. Trust me, the risk to to your license is almost non-existent. 50 is acceptable on 11 PM - 7 AM, but I would have a problem with it on 1900-0700.

I'm no where a new nurse and I have concerns of my license. Too many nurses I have worked with have disciplines on their license due to not complying to the many threats of a ltc facility.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

trickieTam

i like your comments,

but I have a suggestion re your avatar picture.

it makes it very easy to identify you, if it is your

actual picture.

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I'm no where a new nurse and I have concerns of my license. Too many nurses I have worked with have disciplines on their license due to not complying to the many threats of a ltc facility.

Sounds like they needed a better attorney.

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