npbellydancer

I got a reply on my querie on Med techs...could not find the way to respond to the responder who was adamant in her dislike of med techs and verbalized fear of mistakes...costly mistakes for nurses and facilities. Med techs have been in use in skilled nursing facilities back east for quite some time; they have also been in use in assisted living since their inception I believe. While I do not read much of the newspaper; I have not read nor seen reported any incidents where med techs have caused harm to patients. As far as expecting med techs to pass meds in the same amount of time as my nurses; no. I envision 1 med tech for each 15 patients; come in split shifts from 6a-10a then again from 5p-9p. This would enable my floor nurses to assess residents, do quality charting; CMS is wanting more and more indepth charting on pain, incontinence, behaviors and interventions. My wanting med techs has nothing to do with money; save if I could add one more nurse to each hall...that is a money issue that will not happen. So I shall check the legistlative sites, my Admin is also doing the same. thanks for the feed back...and if my responder works in a nursing home, how often do your nurses really have time to assess...ask them how often they use their stethescopes each day; how many sets of lungs, bowels or hearts do they have time to listen to...how many care plans do they get to analyze...the nursing process is A PIE; not punch and pass, pray the coordinator has the care plans in place for survey.

As a LTC DON, now working the 11-7 shift cause my nurse is ill, saved from working the 3-11 cause another nurse came in for a different nurse that is ill; I do understand and search for answers. I have worked all the shifts on each of my halls in the last few months and I KNOW that we are much like Bilbo Baggins, too little jam spread over too much bread. Yet the high and mighty in CMS keep piling on the required paperwork, assessments, documentation up the wazzoo; those of us in admin freak to think that our staff who work so very hard may very well be plastered over the internet as substandard, causing harm blah, blah blah. I am excited about the possibility that we may soon be able to emloy med techs. Some of my nurses have concerns, but if I can put 2 med techs on each hall, running split shifts, to pass the 6a and 8a meds, then back to do the 17 and hs meds, I envision my nurses to be freed to do the "art" of nursing; assessments and documentation...along with all the other schtuff. Breathe and do the very best you can for your residents...talk to your DON and if you can not get things resolved..try your administrator. If you have a healthy Admin, they will listen..they may not have the answers, but many are willing to listen to any problem solving answers/suggestions you may have.

how about a pot alteration in self care r/t activity intolerance secondary

I too am getting burned out. Not so much with staff problems; albeit there are those. I have lost 2 full time nurses in the last couple months with the miasma of diversion and missing narcs. I am pulling 2 shifts today, several during the next few weeks. I have been the MDS coordinator for the last 7 years, the DON too for the last 2. My Staff Developer, who handled the schedules and CNA's left couple months ago, so I am doing that too. I love this field, hope to stay in it in my NP capacity, but yes...it gets boggy. I, fortunately, have a very supportive Admin. But if CMS keeps adding more and more paperwork...I just don't know how we will survive the new survey guidelines. We give the best possible care we can, they just keep adding more. There are times I feel like Bilbo Baggins, butter spread over too much bread. Hang in there, breath and give it to God...mention that I need nurses will ya. I am hoping that some time soon I can add med techs to my staff; thus allowing my nurses to do assessments and documentation.

ok, ok. I may have sent this before...I am a Utah nurse checking the board. but obviously have not learned how to navigate the danged site and must get ready for work so have no more time to check it out. pls lend me your thoughts on the CNA med tech question. As a DON in a skilled nursing, I am thrilled. I would love for our nurses to get out of the passing meds...nearly impossible to do in the "required" 2 hour window...and move into the art and science of nursing...assessment and charting. We need this to comply with the phenomenal amount of "paperwork" that CMS demands.

I have just "entered" this area cause I was looking for info on CNA med tech's. I registered cause I wanted to get involved in the conversation, but seems I can not find the danged thing...I am great with people but not so great with computers...so yes, here is a nurse in Utah that checks the board.