mixed residential/nursing floor

[thehrithrik]

Hi all,

I'm working as a nurse on a mixed residential and nursing dementia care centre in UK.

since starting my job for this care centre,just under 6 months ago,was ben asked by my employer to perform all necessary task for my patients both residential and nursing,eg:medication administration,care planing ,assessments,GP visits,medication ordering,etc.

Just under a month ago we had this audit from company head office,and one of the things they picked up on was,why are the nurses are giving medication and performing clinical procedures on residential clients as they say,nurses are not insured to do so,and we should only be in charge of our nursing patients.

I was a bit shocked to hear this.Now it has beed agreed that only senior HCA or HCA trained into medication administration to perform the task,and all clinical procedures to be carried out by district nurses.

However we are still being asked now, to continue to update care plans of residential patients and to do their assessments though we are not insured for clinical procedures.

this doesn't seem right to me as I think once I am taking the responsibility to change or evaluate any of their care plans, I will be responsible and accountable for it?! if that make any sense!

What are your previous experience in this matter? and any advice would be welcomed.

I did call RCN ,they say that employer has to put in writing what is expected of nurses and HCA's to do,as per their policy.We are still waiting for it.It just that is a grey zone for me and don't know where I stand at the minute.

Cheers,

ewen