Hopeslayer

I wish I could link the audio clip from one of Arnold Swartzenegger's movie: GET OUT!!! GET OUT OF DERE!!!!!

I couldn't agree more. You could be eaten alive there. Even working as a staff nurse for a solid year would make it much safer for that kind of role.

In the facility where I work, the scheduler is a CNA. And that is the extent of her duties. She does not have any supivisory role over any nurse. And she shouldn't, regardless of what her leadership skills may be. Before i became a nurse I was a CNA for 5 years. Before that I was a Marine. When I was discharged I was a Staff Sergeant. During my time in the Corps, I had attended numerous Leadership Schools up to an including Staff NCO Academy. So anyway, I am qualified to lead an entire nursing dept, no sweat. BUT, this in no means translates to where I work now, nor should it. As a CNA, I could run circles around anyone where I worked when it came to leadership, but I certainly did not. As an LPN now, does it mean because I have superior leadership training and skills that I should become the DoN? No, it dosen't Why? Well, having a military background should be enough for you to know about a rank structure, or a hierarchy in this case. A cna has no business whatsoever supervising any nurse in any facility period. The nurse, by definition and licensure has the power to delegate, and by that lead. I wouldn't put up with a CNA supervisor for one second, and neither should any nurse.

Continue to work only as fast as you SAFELY can. You will become more efficient with time.

if the entire med pass needs to be addressed, the um or sup will need to look into it. since you as the nurse on the cart, will most likely not have the time to do so during your shift. not to mention, all the toes that would be stepped on in the process.

http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/regs/244cmr003.pdf Please read.

Jeeeeesh! What state do you live in? Why even bother being an LPN wherever you are? I constantly assess my patients every time I see them. Administer PO meds, Injections (IM and SC) IV meds (Can't push) All kinds of dsg changes, from bandaids to Wound Vacs. Do admission assessments. Discharges, including pt teaching. I see these posts all the time. I have to wonder if some of the responses are true or not. If they are then get the hell out of those states, lol.

Holy cow! I mayy have said this before, but, Some of these posts frighten the heck out of me, lol. An entire shift of meds all at once? The nurse that was orienting you is uncaring and foolish. I couldn't imagine a nurse doing that ever. I have no doubt that you have learned from that experience. Always stay in compliance with your med pass. If if it impossible to do so, let your supervisor or unit manager know that the times or meds have to change.

Sounds VERY familiar. Don't forget to add in a discharge and admission and you will have your standard 7-3 shift on a sub-acute unit in a SNF. :wink2: Only having 2 weeks orientation is bothersome though. New nurses get 6 weeks at the facility I work at. Hang in there.

That always makes me laugh. Anyway, gravity is a constant where I work. Residents will fall. What we must do is document what happened, what we immediately did to address the situation, and also, care plan what we will continue to do about it in the future. I would think that the only way you would be to "blame" is if ypou didnt follow the current careplan for that resident. 7 falls in one month is bothersome though. Good luck to you, and remember to document.

Wow. To be a true nurse, you have to give a small part of yourself to every patient you come in contact with. Otherwise, how can you care? I have tempered the loses with the knowledge of having given them my best. Sometimes that can be accomplished with a simple conversation as you do some vitals, or administer their meds. Other times it's the extra effort you give to contact a Doc with a phone call instead of a fax (LTC here). Other times it's holding the hand of a dying patient as they pass away. The bottom line is you will fail as a nurse if you lack compassion. To the OP, I hope you have read all these posts and have had some deeper thoughts on the emotional aspect of being a nurse.

I always tell myself, "Self, you get thanked every Friday."

In the facility I work at we have Teds on the treatment sheets. So I definately check if they are on or off.

hmmm, lets see: 2 pens 1 sharpie 1 scope 1 pair of scissors if I remembered to buy a new pair after I have lost the latest pair.

Fortunately, I had a very understanding clinical instructor. I only had to do the bare minimum and then spent the rest of the rotation in the ER.