tinkertoys

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1. Vital signs? How often do you take them on your LTC unit?

   tinkertoys replied to night owl's topic in Geriatric, LTC

   Our protocol is V/S Q shift x 72 hours for new admissions. After that, everyone gets a full set of V/S weekly. If a patient is ill or on alert for some reason, V/S q shift for at least 72H. Temp q...

2. Bowel Protocol

   tinkertoys replied to Kimmyjc's topic in Geriatric, LTC

   At our Center, we try to have in place for our pts PRN orders for MOM 30cc qd prn, and fleets enemas qd prn. Our 3-11 nurse makes her BM list at start of shift, listing all who have been 2+days...

3. Resident with hip fracture

   tinkertoys replied to Vicki30CNA's topic in Geriatric, LTC

   No, this is NOT the way this patient should have been treated!! She should have been examined immediately by her nurse to check for injury, especially for the possibility of a fracture, and the MD...

4. Ques. about presetting up of meds

   tinkertoys replied to mondk's topic in Geriatric, LTC

   Our protocol is to give meds, THEN initial the MARs. I, personally, have a problem with that, in that it's easy to get side-tracked and forget to initial after leaving the pt. My personal preference...

5. Ques. about presetting up of meds

   tinkertoys replied to mondk's topic in Geriatric, LTC

   It is against regs to pre-set meds. I MIGHT be able to go along with gathering up the unit dose meds together for a few pts who get lots of meds that you have to search for (leaving them in their med...

6. Nursing Summaries

   tinkertoys replied to netrn's topic in Geriatric, LTC

   We do a computerized summary monthly on each patient, including addressing each issue of their care plan. 11-7 does this, and the MDS coordinator handles the quarterly, change-of-status, etc. We also...

7. Pros & Cons of LTC physician standing orders

   tinkertoys replied to rnstudent's topic in Geriatric, LTC

   Standing orders can be WONDERFUL in LTC, but should be utilized with caution. During a recent viral outbreak in our facility, we had standing prn orders for phenergan and lomotil for the pts of some...

8. Doing Without a P.O. Med Nurse - HELP!!!!

   tinkertoys replied to soundsLikesirens's topic in General Nursing

   11-7 should do more??? Come On !!! Contrary to popular belief, LTC pts don't sleep at night. They are lonely and scared, and needing attention, sore from PT and asking repeatedly for pain pills +/or...

9. Long Term Care or From Hell to Eternity

   tinkertoys replied to nursejanedough's topic in General Nursing

   I work 7P to 7A in a 102 bed center, where the majority of our beds are skilled care. 1st and 2nd shifts have 4 nurses and one Team Coordinator, and an average ratio of 1 CNT to 9 patients. 11-7 has 3...