soulfullady

This situation seems to happen a lot in our facility. Like just yesterday for example. I went to change a dressing to a residents lower extremity, and its a BID change. Hadnt been changed since friday 2.23.07. This wound is a stage II to stage III ulcer. Small, but irregardless. I get so frustrated that these nurses continue to overlook, but sign off, for treatments. It makes me sad to think that they just dont care. I know we all forget to do something once and a while, getting busy and such, but this is a 19 res. facility. It can all get done in one day. Anyway, I brought it to the attention of my don, so hopefully people will be more aware of resident care. Thanks for those of you who took the time to read this..:monkeydance:

Maybe the facility needs to have other employees help. Like an hour here, an hour there, so that the P.O.s can be followed in a timely manner, since they are not willing to pay overtime. Thats frustrating, I would imagine!!

I agree with you 100% commuter. I have recently experienced this situation exactly and have learned my lesson the hard way. Especially if you're coming on shift right after them, after asking if those things can be done. Not to mention the workload it puts on you during your shift. And the frustration, which doesn't help your day in the least. If I have to stay late to finish, I will. CYA....(cover your a..)

Hello, Here's the scenario: About two and a half weeks ago, I switched from day shift to nights, thiniking it would work out better with my family/ schedules,etc. Turns out, I hate it and I never see my family. So, last week I requested to go back to days, talked to the DON and scheduling last monday, they said that would be fine and to talk to the other day nurse about extra shifts, or whatever is remaining. I was scheduled to work last night, but I didn't show up at 6pm, because the next open day shift was the next day, so I thought I was supposed to be there. The day nurse called me @ 6:30p to see where I was. When I told her what I thought was happening, she said she was working 6-12, so I said ok, well I wasn't aware of that, but I couldn't go in because I was not prepared for this. I ended up going in @10p anyway. Here's the kicker: she calls the DON and tells her that I am trying to bump her off the schedule...say what?! The DON informs me of this and I tell her straight up those were not my intentions. So the next morning I tell the day nurse that those were not my intentions to bump her off the sched. and that I was not aware, as well as half of the other employees, that there was a new,revised schedule out. Not to mention that there are hardly any day shifts left now. This other girl is working 4 and1/2 days a week(all 12's) for the rest of August and will not give ANY of them up. I can't really complain, since this is inconvenient to everyone, and today I was told that I needed to finish the two week period of nights. Why didn't they tell me this last monday? I have been very upset. There's more than just this...like very poor management/communication issues/playing favorites, etc. It's repulsive at times. Do new grads get treated like crap everywhere or is it something else.....Frustrated:uhoh3:

I am a new LPN (on my own now for 4 days) and one thing I make sure I do is thank the CNA's for all their hard work at the end of the shift. However, there is one CNA I have been having issues with. When I ask her to do something, she either says that's not my patient or "it's in there", like when I asked her to get more milk for a resident's cereal, she says, "it's in the kitchen". So I asked another CNA to do it, since I was a tad too busy passing meds. When I talk to her about certain things that need to be done differently, she gets attitude with me and walks away, then won't even talk to me the rest of the day. I am not there to make friends, I am there to be the best nurse I can be. Two things, one is that many other staff have issues with her, and two, her and the DON are very close(from what I hear). All I know, is that the next time I work with her and she has attitude with me or the residents, or says "that's not my patient" I will not hesitate to write her up. I refuse to be stepped on. I have respect for my staff, but I expect respect in return as well. I was told to make an extra copy of the write up, incase the DON does nothing about it. I will go to the next chain of command. All the other CNA's I have worked with have been totally awesome. They rock, and without them, I would be screwed!!!!!

I just came off orientation last week in LTC. I had five days of training on a 19 bed floor. So far, I have had 4 days of being on my own. Sunday and Monday were rough,( by the way, does anyone else have crazy mondays?) I had to do a single cath UA on a resident yesterday, and I just couldn't get it. I tried three times, the last time it was with an RN, and both the second and the third times the cath went into the urethra, but no urine return whatsoever. I have been feeling so incompetent, not only with that, which by the way, I have only done one single cath last summer in clinicals, but the fact that I had to stay for one and a half, close to two hours after my shift was over to document. I just was so incredibly busy. No breaks, no lunch. Kept getting new orders, labs, reporting to the doctor, answering phone calls, which were either orders, family members, etc., etc. It was stressful, but I got the most important things accomplished before shift change(except for that darned cath!!) But, I seroiusly love my job. I analyze my work when I get home at night, and on my days off(not all day) what couldI have done better or more efficiently, but I am also learning from that and asking questions for sure. I think it's a great experience to work on the weekend coming off orientation, because there are less phone calls, faxes, doctors, etc. that are pulling you in all directions. You can really learn to manage your time that way(until Monday comes:uhoh3: ) and concentrate and spend time with your patients/ residents. Plus there are other nurses on other floors that can help me if need be. Best of luck to you and post back when you have time...:doh:

Yes, we had to do that too in nursing school. I start a new job on Monday, and I am wondering if we are allowed to write down just the meds, no names of patients or anything like that, just the meds.

I just got hired on with a company as a new grad LPN and I was wondering if I was able to write down, just the names, of the medications the patients are on, so that I may be able to study them at home, i.e. side effects, toxicity levels, contraindications, etc.. I want to be on top of my nursing skills, of course I know some meds, but there are just so many. I understand about the HIPAA rules and such, but is there any time to improve your knowledge of the patients you take care of? I hope this doesn't sound ignorant...

I was just talking to my husband about how long it took for me to get a job from the time I graduated until today..(I start on Monday!!!!) A little over three months. I graduated on December 10,as an LPN, and got the job today, with being put on the schedule for Monday. In nursing school, they never mentioned to us that it would take some time between graduation, NCLEX, interviews and actual job offers. It seemed like it would happen right away, I guess three months isn't all too long,, in the whole scheme of things, but it was long enough for me..now I get to actually practice those skills!! Good luck to you, and like someone else had said, answer as many NCLEX questions as you can throughout school....

A friend in nursing school last fall told me about it..and I am so grateful..I love this website...Thank you so much!!!!

I have been thinking of moving back to Wisconsin also. I moved in 1995 when I graduated from UW-Whitewater to Colorado. I love the mountains, and currently live in Colorado Springs, but it is, no offense to any one else, very religious and republican. All of my closest friends live either in Milwaukee or Madison area, along with my family and relatives. I miss them so much. My parents are getting older, and I am an only child with one child and a husband. I don't know if I should finish the RN program here in Colorado, or back home (still on a waiting list) I definitely don't want to live in Milwaukee, am looking at Madison or outlying areas. Happy cows come from Wisconsin, too, not California!!!!!!!!!LOL...Is all of Wisconsin facilities union? Just wondering......

Thanks for your advice and your knowledge to pass on to me. I forgot about the seasonal changes, hence the word BI-polar. It makes perfect sense. During my nursing school experience, we didn't learn too much on mental illnesses, since it was a one year program for LPN's. I am going on to get my RN, and when I do clinicals in psych. I will have a better understanding of the disease, as well as more compassion for those that suffer from it. I try to educate myself as much as possible. Thanks again for responding. You are a great nurse as evidenced by your reply.:wink2:

Does this pt have a medical marijuana card? If so, he has the right to have up to two plants in his home, and since doctors cannot give the marijuana to the pt without losing their license, they can only accept the fact that the pt has the legal right to have such a plant in his home. IMHO, it's a plant, not a meth lab......Maybe this plant helps him with the painful physical and mental aspects of dialysis like no other 20 plus meds can provide:zzzzz ...

Thank you all for your support and kind words. He actually was able to go to work today, and I told him if he needed to talk or get away, to just call me. We are going to the doctor on Friday afternoon, when he gets paid. I am waiting on a job myself in LTC as an LPN, but for now, I have been and will be looking into support groups to help me, us, our family. I love him with all my heart and will be there to hold his hand when he needs it. There are just times when I feel like running, but I know my problems will follow me. It's nice to escape for a little while though. Thanks again, I will keep you all posted....

Hi, My husband was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder back in October 2005. His meds finally started working in late November, early December. For the past two days he has been experiencing major anxiety, missed two days of work, and has been irritable as well. I am trying to schedule a dr. appt. for him-they are same day appts. so you have to call in early. Anyway, I am scared that it will become full blown again like it was in October--very manic. I have been educating myself on the disorder, but I feel like running away from it all. I am very strong willed, but have been through a lot with him, including alcoholism, and have had to deal with that all my life, my dad, my ex-fiance,etc.. I just want to give up sometimes. I don't know how to cope...anyone have any advice? Jen:scrying: