PennStudent

PennStudent specializes in LTC.

Latest Activity

1. Relocating to Phoenix

   PennStudent replied to PennStudent's topic in Arizona

   Wow! Thanks everyone. I think the best bet for me, it sounds, is to go out there, stay in LTC or home health, and finish working on my degree. I was checking out some of the community colleges out there. But the time I leave PA, I will have all of my...

2. Relocating to Phoenix

   PennStudent posted a topic in Arizona

   Hi everyone! I'm currently an LPN in PA and looking to relocate to the Phoenix area to be closer to my family. I have over five years of experience in LTC and am debating a few options. I would like to finish my associate's degree and get my RN (and ...

3. Namenda/Aricept/Excelon...is it worth it?

   PennStudent replied to sasha2lady's topic in LPN/LVN

   We had one on hormones for like 2 weeks. It was basically because the family was worried about her behaviors and "hot flashes." Obviously it was ineffective as she had rapidly progressing dementia and was just peeling her clothes off inappropriately.

4. Lets get a current salary thread going for 09/10

   PennStudent replied to Finallydidit's topic in LPN/LVN

   Dang. As a new grad in PA in LTC I started at $15/hr + $0.20 shift differential on evenings. Rotate every other wknd. I pay for my benefits and we have a 403(b). That doesn't sound too great on paper but the flip side is that I absolutely love my job...

5. how do you do it?

   PennStudent replied to bumLVN's topic in Geriatric

   I cried on the way home for like the first 6 weeks. That's prob not what you want to hear. It does get easier. Eventually you learn to get into a rhythm with your duties and then you can start picking up new things. Just ask a lot of questions and li...

6. Can the DON make you stay for OT if the next shift doesn't show or is called off?

   PennStudent replied to TonyaM73's topic in Geriatric

   At our facility they do. And actually, they can/do make you stay the entire shift. Leaving would be "abandonment."

7. New to LTC and charge?

   PennStudent replied to eesmith3's topic in Geriatric

   I think it really depends on the LTC. At my facility, the RN's are supervisors. So I as the LPN do the meds, treatments, charting, etc for my group of Residents. If I have a fall, the RN does her assessment to make sure there's no serious injury and ...

8. Resident with End-Stage COPD

   PennStudent replied to SuesquatchRN's topic in Geriatric

   Ah, we have a cocktail likes that but ours is BARD gel - Benadryl, Ativan, Reglan, decadron. It comes in a syringe and you put like 0.25 mL on the inner aspects of their wrists and they rub it in. It's fabulous!

9. Question about patients receiving dialysis

   PennStudent replied to malenurse122879's topic in Geriatric

   I just note the condition of the dressing and of the surrounding skin, and any sx infection or c/o discomfort on my one HD cath. For an AV fistula, I note presence of thrill/bruit.

10. Do family members know how annoying they can be?

    PennStudent replied to Ling07's topic in Geriatric

    You absolutely hit the nail on the head!

11. DEA States that LTC Nurses Are No Longer Agents Of The Prescribers

    PennStudent replied to chase4myheart's topic in Geriatric

    This is the first I've heard of this, and when I brought this up to my nurse manager (RN) she had no idea about it. We always take telephone orders from doctors, fax them to the pharmacy, and then get whatever we need. Does someone have a link or som...

12. What is normal / typical?

    PennStudent replied to Meraki's topic in Geriatric

    Report this immediately and then find another facility. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should be "rationed" incontinence products. Not only is this a dignity issue but she is at such risk for skin breakdown and infection.

13. What time does your LTC facililty start getting residents up?

    PennStudent replied to KarynicaRN's topic in Geriatric

    One of the groups from my nursing class did their clinicals at an Eden facility. Their med passes are set up differently... meds are BID (or TID or whatever) and you just start whenever they wake up and go from there. It all sounds like a nice idea. ...

14. I love my residents/facility/job

    PennStudent posted a topic in Geriatric

    With so many posts about less-than-ideal long term care facilities, I just wanted to say that I love mine. I just started a few weeks ago (so maybe my enthusiasm is related to that) as a GPN on days and once I started learning the schedules of my re...

15. medication strip packs

    PennStudent replied to ajaxgirl's topic in Geriatric

    The meds in baggies is what they do in acute care around here. My facility (and I'm pretty sure all the others in this area) use the blister packs with 30 day (or 7 for Medicare) supplies. Each card has a sticker that is removed and placed on a form ...