My hall is eating me alive...

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I have worked now at my facility for almost a year.

In general, I enjoy where I work and I love my residents.

However, in the past 3-4 weeks, it has been absolute Hell, because many of my patients are crashing and require a lot of time and care. To add to this, my hall has 6 accu checks that I have to do, and multiple behaviors.

Normally when I come home from work I'm okay. I may feel stressed or frustrated at times, but nothing major. Two nights ago, I went home and I just sobbed. I think I am mentally exhausted because of the residents who are dying and because whenever this happens, behaviors go through the roof.

Luckily, I have a very understanding and supportive supervisor. She said that if I ever needed a break, she could float me for 2 weeks or so, just to have a change of environment. She said my hall is not only the worst right now, but the hardest.

I am considering, but I'd like other opinions. I like routine, but I do tend to get bored after a while, so I was thinking, maybe it would be good to do some floating for a while, keep things new and fresh. I know it can be tricky when you don't know residents routines or preferences, but I've been on other floors before, and the stress was MUCH less than my hall. I'm thinking of giving my supervisor an answer on monday....

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I'd say go for it. The break might do you a world of good

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

I like floatingI-'m good for 3 or 4 years of it and then I get burned out and ask for a unit(I'm done floating for awhile now).Luckily for me it has always worked out and I have been able to go back and forth almost at will.It takes alot of skill and flexibility to be a good float.

As for the 6 diabetics Why not have the docs review their finger sticks more frequently, maybe you can do away with some of those fingersticks.The trend in the elderly is towards more liberal HGA1C,maybe it's time to look at the goals for your peeps.We have a unit ("from Hell") that over half of the residents are IDDM and getting FS 2 to 4 times a day,sliding scale coverage with short acting insulinand basal insulins.Some of these folks (for instance) get a noon FS and have not gotten coverage in 10 months.A few of the fellows are routinely sky high and the basal insulin orders have not been adjusted in a year or more.If you have a hard time lassoing the docs during rounds why not ask for consults with an endocrinologist? Some of our folks are in their late 80's and 90's-WHAT are we thinking? Get the families on board too.Please pass the Palliative Care....

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

floating was a great cure for me

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Please realize that going to a new unit will bring on its own set of challenges.

Good luck!

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