Nursing home to hospital

[grace567]

Hello everyone! I wanted to ask for your opinion. I've been a RN for a little over a year. Currently work in healthcare/assisted living at a nursing home. I love working third shift. I don't work at a bad place and I love the residents. The facility keeps admitting people to assisted living that don't even know how to get back to there own room and 2 weeks ago I caught someone escaping. There are always med errors happening. I'm one nurse over 45 people in assisted living (we call it healthcare overflow.) Now, they keep admitting hospice to assisted living and I don't have enough staff to keep an eye on people trying to escape and those coming to the end of their life. S ome of the staff members don't want to work as a team. But I know that happens. I honestly hate coming into work to the point my stomach is in knots. I feel like I want to experience the hospital nursing. But scared to make the move since I'm comfortable here. When I had clinical, I was not a fan of med-surg, peds, or OB. Just looking for a little guidance. Thank you! Sorry, this is a little mixed around. My thoughts are all over the place right now.

[nursephillyphil, BSN, RN]

you're comfortable at the SNF when you say your stomach is in knots? if you limit yourself to your comfort zone you're only cheating yourself out of learning. Nursing has many branches, you don't have to be limited to the hospital setting.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

you're comfortable at the SNF when you say your stomach is in knots?

Yes, I too was a bit confused about being comfortable yet hating coming to work. I also agree with not limiting yourself. There are other ALFs. You can go to SNF/LTC if you don't like how assisted is being handled. There are doctors' offices, urgent cares, etc...lots of options other than the hospital. First though, you need to answer the question "Do I want to stay this facility or do I need to move on?" The grass is always appears greener somewhere else, so you need to make sure that changing jobs is the right move for you.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

Well, the reason folks are in Assisted Living is because they need help and cannot live on their own so I am not surprised that you have some folks there that need assistance back to their rooms.

Regarding the med errors: The staff involved and the D.O.N. need to sit down and come up with some re-training before throwing out the bath water with the baby. Medication errors often happen because the nurse gets distracted. Posting a sign on your med cart during med pass instructing visitors and staff not to disturb during the Med pass can help. Some facilities do that. You don't specify the kinds of errors so am assuming it might be the documentation...? If so, there are ways to deal with that.

Do you have Hospice Nurses? Or, are you Hospice trained? That is a specialty by itself.

As far as those staff who do not wish to function as a team: Has anyone ever tried to find out why? Has this been brought up to the D.O.N.? What are her/his thoughts?

[nursephillyphil, BSN, RN]

The med errors that happen in snfs are due to understaffing. You have 1 med nurse for 30 some odd people, things will be late