New job blues,..

[Scarletlace]

I recently started working at a facility that is marketed as Assisted Living,...yet we have 3 total care, 10+ wheelchair bond, several dementia patients and only handful of residents that actually care for themselves for a current census of 46.

Everyone has been kind, helpful, encouraging and genuine. But the overall tone is that they are over worked and underpaid. (A bit overwhelming to hear before I even get started but I appreciate the honesty) My starting pay is what I started out as a new nurse 14+ years ago. I took the job because it is close to my house and has the reputation of being top of the line, award winning, and it is a gorgeous facility. I thought it was going to be assisted living and a enjoyable, easier place to work. The DON, who is also the Administer of the building markets it as so.

The main core of nurses have all been there for years but they are having trouble getting new nurses to stay. The DON thinks they're scaring them away. But the fact is the nurse to patient ratio is overwhelming. I assumed that it would be 2 nurse per day/evening shift and one nights. It's only one nurse each shift and they have the clients and their meds memorized, yet they set up their meds prior to their shift or the shift before pre sets them! I asked how they get away with it was was told if state shows up they hide them and just do it correctly. That is out of my comfort zone. I feel doomed.

Last night was my first one on my own after 3 shifts of training (one on each shift) and I was in tears by the end of the night. While there are no IV's, gtube, wound care, or trachs,.. the med pass, eye drops, glucose checks and Neb tx are overwhelming. I skipped dinner and never sat down from 2:30p to 11p. I understand the pre-set meds now.

How can they have only one nurse to 46 people!! And two aides do all the laundry, serve the food, set the tables, empty the trash and do all the patient care! Plus the facility is adding another wing to the building do to be up and running this fall that will bring in another 18 residents. Staff has been told they are adding another nurse and aide then but staff has doubts. What qualifies as Assisted living? Is there a federal or state law for nurse to patient ratios?? What have I got myself into?

[clvn23]

What there doing is prepulling there meds please never do that's it's illegal and there not gonna back you up when state dings your license, some of the nurses do that in my assisted living facility and I refuse to ,I go by the book never do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable!