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I started a midnight position at an LTC about 3 weeks ago. I am still having a hard time getting all the medications and treatments done by shifts end. Is there a trick to getting to all the treatments? Do those of you who are experienced do your treatments before you begin your need pass? If so, how do you do this & what time do you start you're treatments & meds? Any insure or info would be helpful & greatly appreciated. Thank you
I agree with CapeCodMermaid, RN. I was a day nurse for almost ten years and it never bothered me that the night shift had different responsibilities and passed very few meds. The only patients that were assessed and given meds on night shift were critically ill (like on a heparin drip, getting a blood transfusion, or weaning off a vent). As soon as the patients were stable one of the first changes the doctors would make would be to d/c meds, vitals signs, tx etc on the night shift because sleep is important! Many nursing home patients are frail and elderly and do not want to be woken at 6am to take 1 pill (usually omeprazole) or strip off their clothes for a skin check. The reality is night shift simply has less distractions so anything missed can be caught and any errors researched and hopefully resolved without burdening the day shift. If the time is used well night shift should support the other shifts and alleviate the workload. For example:
aml_rn23
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I usually do treatments as early as possible..usally when my aids are doing rounds at 2 am. I cluster my care as much as i can to wake them up as little as possible. A lot of treatments are creams etc..sometimes ill get a dsg changes that will show up at 5 am but i refuse to do it that late bc i start my med pass at 5. From 2 am to 4 residents usually ask for prns, some IV abx show up at 4. From 5 to 7a im passing meds straight through and i barely finish on time bc something always happens; falls, skin tears, ppl with fall risks getting up on there own.. etc. If i am lucky i finish early, which is rare.