One Flew Over

Hello all! I have been working in LTC for 7 years now, 6 as a CNA and 1 as an LPN. I have seen a lot of management changes, and staff turnover. During the staffing and budget cuts we have lost a lot of really amazing CNAs and nurses. Over the pas...

I'm in Massachusetts

Hello all! I'm a long-time lurker and haven't posted in a while but I have an issue that's really been bothering me. So let me give you a background.. Pt has Parkinson's disease, AAO to person place and time, occasionally forgetful (but who isn't?). ...

I haven't really had a patient of this nature; it's always been easy to define whether they are competent or not. I guess that's why I was asking. I definitely see why he was seen in the first place, but I feel that other interventions such as counse...

I believe it also comes in a liquid suspension form- obviously not time released so he would just have to get it more often. I agree though, don't hold.

Absolutely heartbreaking.. and working in LTC, it hits so close to home..

I was a CNA before I became a nurse, and let me tell you, most days I wish I was a CNA again. While the physical demand is much less, the stressful MD/family calls, changes in patient condition and constant worrying when I go home at night are extrem...

I don't consider myself a great nurse and I don't expect anyone to describe me as such. That's not to say that I am completely inadequate or foolish.. I've been a nurse for about 8 months and I think I consider myself adequate, an average new nurse, ...

You document what you saw, it's not your job to document what you assume happened. Like a previous poster said, I've had residents in LTC that sit themselves on the floor, crawl, slide.. etc.. so not every patient you find on the floor has necessaril...

And if your patient begins to complain of nausea/stomach ache.. etc.. make sure that basin is front and center! And I mean a real basin (label it for 'oral use only'), not one of those tiny emesis basins, the elderly simply cannot aim into those litt...

Leave ASAP! And then after you've left and have a new job, blow the whistle on that other facility- it sounds like they need to be shut down.

I'm not at all bothered when a patient mistakenly calls a CNA a nurse.. it's when that CNA answers to 'nurse' and does not politely correct the patient/resident, that's when I get bothered because its deceiving. In addition, and just as an aside, wh...

The only time I was told that it is inappropriate to use a name is when you are referring to another resident/patient (as in a patient-to-patient altercation) and I believe in that instance it's acceptable to use 'roommate' or room number if I'm not ...

Not all LTCs. It definitely depends on the facility and region because I am on week 5 of my orientation and I will be finished next week which adds up to a total of 6 weeks of orientation. About 1 week of following a nurse and 5 weeks passing meds wi...

I agree with the poster above, dry the floor as best you can and then put them on. Slipper socks should definitely be on in the hallways/rooms at all times, not only as a safety issue, but I shudder to think of the things that have been on those hall...

The drainage bag should be cleaned in the same manner when disconnected in the morning. I would just mention to your manager that she should add that to the memo. I find it strange that your facility is so against the use of leg bags.. we use them du...

If you're willing to apply for reciprocity that could open up a lot of options for you! I believe Fairview nursing home in Hudson, NH is taking applications (my brother works there as a kitchen aide and he mentioned it to me a month ago when I was st...

I agree! I also agree with keeping him safe from injury but some investigation has to be done to determine what exactly is going on with him. Definitely need to look into the cause of his pain and if possible attempt to find him some relief. I mean, ...

Just as an aside. A coworker of mine was working one night and a water main broke, causing a flood of about an inch of water in several resident rooms, bad enough to evacuate several residents to a common area within the facility as well as to the tw...

You could potentially be a screener, I'm not sure whether those jobs prefer you to have nursing experience though. You basically only have to work with charts and social workers from what I understand.

Thank you! I was in days, and our ages varied greatly, some as young as 18, and up to a handful who were middle aged. We were very supportive of each other and assisted each other throughout the program, and as a result we only lost a few throughout ...

Congratulations ladies on the great accomplishment! I was also in last years class, I'm waiting to take the boards as well, they're scheduled for tomorrow! Just remember, keep at it, do your reading every night, and it will all be worth it in the end...

I think for the pain one you could probably just write 'Chronic pain related to diagnosis of Scoliosis' because I think 'long-standing' might be a bit redundant since it's assumed that chronic pain alludes that he's had the condition a while :) Also,...

For the fall one, perhaps that the patient will remain safe/free from falls for the next 3 months? I would say that only because the whole focus of the careplan is falls, and I would want to address that in both the short term and long term goals. :)...

I love that style Solneeshka! That's truly going from head to toe! I need to start organizing my assessments like that.. I'm always poking back in the room because I forgot to do/hear/palpate something! I mean, I do eventually get all of the assessme...