New grad community nursing questions

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Hi

I have started working in community nursing and for each patient I see I have certain jobs to complete that are viewable on the company app on my mobile.  I visit mainly elderly patients who are either in the early stages of dementia or are frail and struggle to live independently.  The care I provide is basic, blood pressure, medication, compression stockings, skin care etc.

I feel like I should be doing more for the patients each visit? I visit, complete the list and leave within about 15/20mins, sometimes 10mins, I can't really stay longer than this as the company I work for expect me to see a certain number of patients per day.

I feel like I should be doing more for them as a nurse, are there things that I should be doing each visit or once a week/fortnight? Is there a physical assessment? Any ideas?

Also what do you think the pros/cons are in community nursing?

Thanks

 

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Specializes in ambulant care.

Hi joshle

that´s life. I also feel like Charly Chaplin in "modern times".

The only way is, to talk with your company: They take a risk if they don't give you enough time to check the risks of the pt. :

- decubitus, - level of awareness, - dehydration .......................

all this has to be documentated.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Sadly, most of ALL of today's nsg encounters (hosp, LTC, HH, out-pt, etc) have all boiled down to 'FOCUSED' visits. No time for the old-timey more relaxed interactive visit. Time is money and nobody pays for the 'fluff stuff'. If it isn't on your time-measured METRIC agenda, it's time to move on to the next pt.

So while your visits are short and routine, you still have the opp'ty to QUICK assess for a few details and make appropriate referrals or interventions.

As you've been visiting, does the house just look like it's starting to get unkempt & sloppy?  Is the refrig & pantry stocked - just chat about the pt's recent breakfast or last dinner meal. Who's doing shopping? Maybe there a need for Social Services referral for some hskpg services or Meal-on-Wheels.

You are NOT the person to stop and be doing these services/tasks.  But during your brief assessment, you've identified needs and you make a referral intervention. You are doing those 'extras' of your job altho it doesn't seem like much.

Community nsg is unique in that you see pts in THEIR natural habitat.  And you are the outsider. It is a experience that has extreme limits but with tremendous opportunities to be inventive /& resourceful. And you make an impact on lives.

 

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thanks for your responses ?

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