please call report!

[ktwlpn]

Ya'll-there are 2 threads on the board as I speak regarding LTC nurses neglecting to call report when transferring a resident to the ED.........makes us all look like imcompetent boobs.....Please remember to call report...Make sure the transfer info is complete-all meds with date and time of last administered dose,recent weight and vital signs and allergies ......The resident's baseline is also important.Many acute care nurses do not understand dementia residents at all so the more info we can give them the better it is for the resident(don't forget diet-swallowing problems,amb status etc).Encourage the 1st contact to meet their loved one at the ED...make them think that someone MUST be there....especially if that resident can not speak for themselves...Don't forget their history and the history of their present illness...It is not a bad idea to check them for a rectal impaction before you ship them out-and do a body check and document any rashes or pressure areas....don't forget a copy of the advance directive( a resident of mine ended up on a vent because the nurse neglected to send it and the family did not get there in time-it was ugly) I know I am not telling most of you anything you don't know-encourage your co-workers to do so...If this is a problem at your facility please try to do something about it.....Thanks all

[mskitty]

Oh yeah can identify with all you are saying about following other nurses (guess that is what they are!) that havent' done their work.

Have been asked by more than one residents family why when I pass meds their family member gets more meds, why I stand there to 'watch' the pills go down since I know the resident will take the medicine & other nurses just leave the pills........ this rant can go on & on. Then TPTB will come down on me & the 6-2 nurse for what our reliefs do or don't do!

I have tried to call report to the ER when am sending a resident out for various reasons & depending on day & time (here in TX 7pm seems to be the rush hour in our er) the nurse will act like she doesn't care or will wait & see what rolls in the door. After being a pt myself @ the er it might be that the nurse I call report to probably won't be the one taking care of my resident. There are different pods staffed by different nurses etc so that also might be the reason for attitudes.

[jkaee]

To all the ER nurses--

I have been in LTC for almost 9 years now, most recently as a night shift super. I was staffed with 2 lpn's and I usually had a wing to work on as well as having the house (which included assisted living who only had aides working on it). Now, maybe the facility that I worked at could have had a better system down, but when someone had to be sent out, I was usually the only one doing everything that needed to be done to get the person out the door. I filled out the transfer sheet, made all the copies of the MAR, called 911 and the family, made sure the resident was ready for transfer, and wait at the front door to let the ambulance in. I admit, many times I forgot to call the ER, and I know that my transfer sheet didn't have all the "extra" information about the resident that would have been helpful to the ER nurses, but I simply don't have the time to do all that. While I understand your point, please understand that staffing is usually not the best, esp. at night, and a lot of times I was called to AL to evaluate someone and determine if they needed to be sent out. The aides who are familiar with the resident refused to call 911 or the hospital (probably because they were too nervous to), so when I call I sound like an idiot because I have NO IDEA what this resident is like. But as the RN, I'm responsible for every resident in that facility, and I just can't do everything and know everything about everybody. It just isn't possible, because most of the time I'm the ONLY nurse getting everything ready for the resident to be transfered.

I have left that facility and have gone to another one that has better staffing, but I wanted to just put my 2 cents in. I understand the ER nurses frustration, but we have our own frustrations at our end, too! But, from a personal standpoint, it doesnt help when LTC nurses are considered less competent because we don't work acute care. I wouldn't want to call a hospital if I was treated like I was a moron, and unfortunately, there are some nurses that think that way of LTC nurses.

OK, I'm finished going on and on. Here's to nurses in ALL specialties that work their butts off every day!

Jennifer

:balloons:

[TinyNurse, RN]

Great post !!!!

xo Jen