marjoriemac

Whenever we have a 'full moon' it usually results in wandering naked, escape attempts, shouting at each other and raiding the biscuit barrell (and that is just the residents!).

We've had patients with real bad wounds on sacrum etc, we would normally alternate between sitting up (with appropriate pressure cushion) and being in bed with regular positional changes.

I'd say whilst both trained staff are present at handover, both shold count drugs and check the amount is correct.

I bring scissors, pens, fob watch, nail clippers, lip balm, notepad for me and a goody bag containing alcohol gel, tourniquet, spare scissors and spare nail clippers, oh and a measuring tape. My goody bag is because someone always asks for the items!

TEDS are usually applied but my gripe is with bandaging, particularly when C/A's just pull on a pair of shoes over knee to toe bandages without care to ensure the bandage stays on the toe!

Geez, 2 hourly toileting, unless anyone has been identified as always soaking every 2 hours, we generally do 4 hourly toileting, plus the continence nurse only gives each resident a quota of 5 pads a day! At night, they do hourly room checks, not waking folk up but checking on breathing. During the day, we are a small unit so everyone is readily observed anyway.

The women in our home are man daft (not just the residents!!!), it is great to have male staff!

We have families that visit regularly and those that don't and those that you never see! I think it is hard to judge why people do or do not visit. I also think spending 10 minutes visiting and talking with a resident is far more worthwhile than visiting for a half hour and just sitting there. Or sleeping, yes, I have seen visitors come in and ago to sleep beside their relative!

I have never worked in an LTC that smelled. To me it is a sign of poor housekeeping. Yeah, there are always times when Mr X has stunk the toilet out, but a good odour neutraliser and ventilation should solve that.

We get every other weekend off but always have days off together. It just means you have a long week and a short week. I like having days off together as then I don't get too tored doing overtime.

May be different names in the states, but common night meds in my facility are simvastatin, trazadone, paracetemol and other analgesia, zopiclone, nitrazepam. Mainly night sedation really.

I dont think we are supposed to wear any nail polish nor have long nails as there is the infection control risk and the risk of scratching patients who already have very fragile skin.

Make your complaints formal and if nothing is done, go to your inspection authority. Poor care cannot be ignored or you risk your own license.

I think it is a term that can be interpreted in many ways. If we are talking about risk involved, then sure, someone who is mbile but may be a 'high' risk of falls has the right to continue to mobilise if they are aware that risk is present. If they are not aware of their own risks, we have a duty to protect but not to restrain from normal meaningful activity. We do not have to restrain to prevent falls, we can use our investigative skills to see why residents are more mobile at certain times and to move obstacles out the way etc. On the other hand, I have heard regulators say we cannot put a lap belt on a tilting chair of a resident who is severely demented and unable to walk as it is their right to fall. I find this ridiculous as the person cannot walk anyway so it is a foregone conclusion that they will not voluntarily get off their chair, so we are not taking away a right? I think a lot of it goes down to the paperwork regulators push on us that categorises people into a high risk group or low risk group depending on various conditions. Sometimes we cannot prevent falls, sometimes we can, we just have to make sure our desire to 'help' someone does not inhibit their desire to 'act'. I walk out my home, I trip and fall, I was not looking, is that my right to fall, I know there is a risk in anything I do that I migt have an accident???

We have key codes known by competent residents and relatives. Night shift bolt the door too!