New to Assisted living: Help?

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Hi all:

Looking for a little advice from all you great nurses out there. I just started a new job at an assisted living near my home. I previously worked Med-Surg/Oncology but left to find my "niche" because I didn't feel fufilled and came home stressed out all the time. I began to forget why I became a nurse. I love my new job, but am having a really hard time learning the differences between the hospital setting and LTC. For example, I feel like my new co-workers think I'm overly cautious and paranoid. Our residents on my unit(memory care) have pre-filled pill boxes that are filled by a different RN once a month. I am supposed to dispense the pills without checking(there are like 10 per person per time period). I have pulled the pills myself so far. Is that normal practice? Also the CNA's dispense meds in Assisted living, and sometimes will on our unit too if there is no RN on that shift.Suppossedly its because we are assisted living and not skilled so the cna's just give them the pills. I am sorry if I sound naive, this is all so new to me. But the residents do seem very happy, and everyone is so well taken care of here and also it is a private institution. I just feel like there are unorthodox practices. Sorry if I sound naive to all this. Anyone have similar experience? Can anyone tell me about the Assisted Living Center's they work at? Thanks for any help you have!!

That is GREAT! I have heard people say they really feel like they are making a difference and they enjoy the extra time and the permanency to get to know the residents.

Thanks for your reply.

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