My license/multi use facility

Published

Specializes in home health.

I work at a facility that is owned by a corporation that has places in several states. It's a retirement center with independent apartments for those who can take care of themselves (and I mean independent..just like your house or apt). "Connected" is the health care side of things..assisted living, Medicare/rehab and long term care. Those who live in independent side are sold on the system with "24 hour nursing care available", and each resident is given an emergency "Help I've fallen and can't get up" necklace to use.

When one of those is pressed, an alarm goes off at my floor's nurses' station, a verrrry ollld dot matrix printer slowly spits out some information that is (hopefully, but seldon) up to date. There are 2 nurses on my floor, and one of us is expected to leave and go check out the "emergency".

My DON states that my license is covered when I go over there because "It is all under one roof" From nurses that have been there longer than myself state the previous DON said a nurse's license was NOT covered over there, since it is "Independent".

The nurses on the floor are frustrated.. most of the time we have more than enough to do without taking 20 minutes and walking over to the apartments and checking someone out that we really know NOTHING about. And (this is our main argument) what about the patients we are assigned to on the medicare unit??? Things were horrid last week on both halls..I was swamped and so was the other nurse. I was not around when the alarm went off, she was and she told that she was too busy to go over there. At this point I am surprised they didn't fire her, but she did get "written up" . When we make the point that we couldnt leave our patients, or what is an emergency happens on the floor, we are told "That's why there are two nurses"

There's a *reason* I don't work ER ....not my thing. I like knowing my residents, and *knowing* when sonething is "off" or normal behavior for them.

Anyone here have any idea if my butt is covered if I go over there?

I've perused the BON web site, but really haven't found anything that pertains.

THANKS!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in home health.

I work at a facility that is owned by a corporation that has places in several states. It's a retirement center with independent apartments for those who can take care of themselves (and I mean independent..just like your house or apt). "Connected" is the health care side of things..assisted living, Medicare/rehab and long term care. Those who live in independent side are sold on the system with "24 hour nursing care available", and each resident is given an emergency "Help I've fallen and can't get up" necklace to use.

When one of those is pressed, an alarm goes off at my floor's nurses' station, a verrrry ollld dot matrix printer slowly spits out some information that is (hopefully, but seldon) up to date. There are 2 nurses on my floor, and one of us is expected to leave and go check out the "emergency".

My DON states that my license is covered when I go over there because "It is all under one roof" From nurses that have been there longer than myself state the previous DON said a nurse's license was NOT covered over there, since it is "Independent".

The nurses on the floor are frustrated.. most of the time we have more than enough to do without taking 20 minutes and walking over to the apartments and checking someone out that we really know NOTHING about. And (this is our main argument) what about the patients we are assigned to on the medicare unit??? Things were horrid last week on both halls..I was swamped and so was the other nurse. I was not around when the alarm went off, she was and she told that she was too busy to go over there. At this point I am surprised they didn't fire her, but she did get "written up" . When we make the point that we couldnt leave our patients, or what is an emergency happens on the floor, we are told "That's why there are two nurses"

There's a *reason* I don't work ER ....not my thing. I like knowing my residents, and *knowing* when sonething is "off" or normal behavior for them.

Anyone here have any idea if my butt is covered if I go over there?

I've perused the BON web site, but really haven't found anything that pertains.

THANKS!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow I don't have any experience with facilities like this but from what you describe, I wouldn't like it either. Are you asking if your employer shares liability for decisions you may make while checking out a resident? If it's part of your job description they should. I would sure want to see some specific policies in place to protect me. Are you to call family for a problem (ie a fall and fractured hip) or are you to call 911? Or is this all left up in the air? (that would concern me)

Maybe there are others here who have worked in similar situations and can help...hope so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow I don't have any experience with facilities like this but from what you describe, I wouldn't like it either. Are you asking if your employer shares liability for decisions you may make while checking out a resident? If it's part of your job description they should. I would sure want to see some specific policies in place to protect me. Are you to call family for a problem (ie a fall and fractured hip) or are you to call 911? Or is this all left up in the air? (that would concern me)

Maybe there are others here who have worked in similar situations and can help...hope so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in home health.
Wow I don't have any experience with facilities like this but from what you describe, I wouldn't like it either. Are you asking if your employer shares liability for decisions you may make while checking out a resident? If it's part of your job description they should. I would sure want to see some specific policies in place to protect me. Are you to call family for a problem (ie a fall and fractured hip) or are you to call 911? Or is this all left up in the air? (that would concern me)

Maybe there are others here who have worked in similar situations and can help...hope so.

We are supposed to go and "assess" the situation and make a decision as to the seriousness of said situation..I've called 911 in a couple of cases (one gentleman took his wife's meds by mistake and then took his own, They had identical med boxes), picked people uo off the floor after a fall, one lady was "so sick"..approx 20 cc emesis. I always call family if I have the number, but the situation really sucks D/T the fact I don't know these people at all. It's a "selling point" of marketing the apartments to these spoiled really rich people who want personal slaves to cater to them . C'mon, if you're paying 5000 a month for living space...

My big concern is my license...I'm not a paramedic, but I go into people's homes *blind* and I don't like it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion