Fleabooger

Violation of hospital policy does not equate to a violation of the nurse practice act.

Hard work but very manageable and ENJOYABLE with appropriate staff (administrator, MDS, staff developer, etc). However, EVERYONE in management MUST be on the same page and like-minded and have same goals for their residents & building. Otherwise, you will be up a creek without any paddles. Ask LOTS of questions during interview, walk through the building, talk to staff, meet with other members in management, & meet some residents. Get a “vibe” of the environment and trust your gut. It’s a wonderful and fulfilling position to be in, IF you have a like-minded team. Now, that doesn’t mean you all have to personally like each other, but everyone has to have the same vision.

This will practice will put your building into IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY at survey or a lot sooner, if they happen to show up for a complaint investigation. What does your facility policy state regarding med pass? There should be a policy about pre-pouring. However, this is BASIC nursing 101–you do NOT administer anything you, yourself, didn’t pour. What if the previous person poured warfarin instead levothyroxine? Or if they dropped the meds on the floor and poured them back into the med cup? Or they labeled the med cup with the wrong info and you administer something they’re allergic to? If your facility policy is not clear—clear it up, in-service, proceed with disciplinary actions up to & including termination. Just because “this is the way we do it”, does not mean it’s the appropriate method or SAFE thing to do. You WILL get a lot of resistance & undermining but you HAVE to follow-through on your policy enforcement, otherwise you will fail. The safety of your residents/patients are your priority.

32hrs. Young, Naive, & (obviously) stupid/delirious. PMs-8hrs-Rehab; NOCs-8hrs-NICU; DAYs-8hrs-NICU; PMs-8hrs-Rehab.

This is your job. Step up or resign.