remched

I am fairly new to home care. Only 6 months. But the staff is incredible. They listen to what you tell them, and if you don't like a case (and so far I left 2) you don't have to stay. My agency will call me month to month and ask me when I can work. So, it's kinda like working perdiem, but you are almost guaranteed hours if you want them. I only want to work 20 hours a week b/c I have two kids. Believe me, I could work more if I wanted to. You really get to know your client, and that can allow you to notice subtle changes that could be a big deal. I wish you luck and you have to do what feels right.

I too started at a LTC facility after graduation. I had a sad orientation. They stuck me with a burned out nurse, and she was glad to give me her work that she didn't feel like doing. With, mind you, little to no supervision. I was taking antacids, and antidiarrheals on a regular basis. I have been there a year and a half as of now. I am as of this weekend giving my two weeks notice. I started with pediatric home care 6 months ago, and stayed at the LTC perdiem, just didn't answer the phone. I LOVE home care. The one on one with the kids is great. I have had a few "quirky" parents, but most of them simply want the best for their kids. Wouldn't you? If your job is affecting your health, and mental well being, it's time to leave. :wink2:

I have enjoyed reading all these posts. It is very frustrating when you work hard as LPN's do, and you are asked what you do, you say "I'm a nurse" and they ask, "are you an RN?" I have also heard this referred to as "real nurse". I couldn't disagree more. I had an experience when I first got my license. I know a woman who is an RN. She is a school nurse. She knew I was studying to become a nurse, and I never specified which title because I felt it was none of her business. She's a bit high and mighty anyway. So when I finished, she said to me, "so you're finally an RN". I said "No, I'm an LPN". To which her response was, "Oh, you're only an LPN?" She has been cold to me ever since. But what kills me is, I work in a nursing home, and I have the same responsibilities she would have. I simply can't do IV push heparin. I am IV and medication certified. I also sub for her in her school position. Which I don't think she liked when I applied. Thanks for letting me vent, it's been a long time coming. Whoo hoo!!! to all the LPN's!

ok, I posted a thread, and nobody answered it, so let me rephrase it. I just started in HH, and when I was hired, I was led to believe that there were more jobs available from my agency than there were. Anyway, I was offered 3. I am doing one, and I love it. The other two I tried and was oriented for one day for the first, and didn't stay due to cleanliness on the families part. The board of health is constantly being called on them. And the second one I didn't stay at because it was night shift. I told the agency I wanted middle shift, and they asked me to try this, and I am NOT a daytime sleeper. Plus, I have two children of my own with special needs, and I have to arrange for daytime coverage if I am not available. My question, Is it normal to bounce around in home health until you find a client that you are able to provide quality care for, and the situation fits your needs. I know nursing is not ideal, I am coming from LTC, and I know at any time a monkey wrench can be thrown into your schedule. PLEASE any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I am a new LPN. I graduated a year ago. I work LTC, and still do per diem. I wanted to try something new, so I am also doing home care. The problem is, I am having trouble finding my niche. I am doing one case, which I love, but it's only one day a week. I want to pick up one more. I have tried two, and neither was a good fit for me. One, because of the family dynamics, and the other was night shift, and I am not a daytime sleeper. Is it normal to "float" around in HH when you just start?? When I told my supervisor I didn't want the second client (and mind you I let them know after the first visit, because I don't want to string the family along thinking I am staying with the case) she said ,"It's ashame we oriented you, and you aren't staying." Shouldn't it be a good match???? Any experienced advise would be helpful. I am getting discouraged to continue HH. Thanks!

I am an LPN who has worked in LTC for 8 months. I recently graduated. I feel that the facility I am at is a dangerous place. First, the attitude of most of the staff is horrible. Mostly complaining that they hate the place. The CNA's are the nicest to be around. Anyway, I have been screamed at by staff, and put into situations where I don't feel comfortable. Simply put, working on floors where they have special needs, and I have had no one to train me. The first night I was there, the LPN that was "supposed" to train me, sat at the desk and rolled the med cart over to me, and said "there you go, start at that end" When I asked her if she was coming with me, she replied: "you have your license, don't you?" I was scared to death. Anyway, the last straw was this weekend. I had a resident that was completely out of control. She was kicking, biting, spitting, and yelling most of the evening. She even spit out her 1900 meds, which I tried to give her. I called the psych. on call and he said to give her Ativan IM, which I did. She did calm down. She was also due for a fleet enema that evening. I waited until around 10pm to give it to her, and it was effective. Well, the next morning I got a call (at home) from the DON and she said, first of all I should have used the least invasive methods possible to administer the Ativan, and that the resident had fallen around 1 am and it was my fault because I gave her the fleet so late. First of all, am I supposed to contradict the Dr. on the Ativan?? and if I didn't give the fleet it would have been my fault if she became impacted. ANYWAY, this same morning I had a phone call from a good friend who works for home care (a well known agency) and they want to train me in pediatrics and let me pick up some of their cases. I probably won't get paid as much, but I will be able to pick and choose my battles. Thank you for letting me vent, and any input would be appreciated.

I have been an LPN at the LTC where I work for 5 months. I am perdiem and am only there 1-2 nights a week. I feel I am catching on to the procedures as best I can, and my DON gave me an excellent review. There is one LPN I work with on occasion, who thinks I am an idiot. I can do the med passes on time, I can do the treatments correctly, and most of the nightly paperwork. I can do the lab procedures and take care of most problems that arise. But she continues to tell me I don't do enough. I feel like I'm barely keeping me head above water some nights, but I get things done. Does she realize I am new??? Or does she just like to complain? Every other nurse I spend a shift with, says I am doing fine, or says nothing at all (which I interpret as no problems). I know I need to have more of a backbone, but I do respect most of the other nurses as they do have a lot to teach me. Thanks for letting me blow off steam, I almost quit the other night I had to work with her.

All I can say is thanks for the support. I have spoken to other employees there, and I have only met one who actually doesn't complain about her. One nurse told me when this nurse has been on, her med cart for the next nurse is a mess. I have heard that people think she is defensive because she really doesn't know what she is doing. So, I guess I took the first step in trying to straighten her out. I want to feel like a professional when I do my job, and now I think I will.

I think I got myself into a sticky situation. I have worked at the ltc I am in for about 5 months as a perdiem. We have a FT LPN who has a real attitude problem. She curses and yells at anyone in her way. One night I was doing a treatment on a patient, and she started talking about this nurse. She said "this nurse" did a treatment on her the previous night and ripped off the old bandage until it hurt, yelled at the resident because she couldn't "help" this nurse more, and put a bandage on too tight (the resident ended up cutting it off herself). This resident, by the way, is alert and oriented x3. The resident then proceeded to tell me, "I think she tries to hurt me". I told the resident to speak to the director about this. Well, in speaking to the director myself (about a different matter), I told her about this incident because it was eating at me. I also told another nurse who was on duty at the same time that night, and she advised me to speak to the DON. The DON asked me if I would put it in writing. I felt compelled to do so, or it would look like I made it up. I want to be on the side of the residents, it's their home. But, now I am afraid this nurse will come after me. Did I do the right thing, or do you just turn the other way?

I just finished my 90 day probation period. I am working as a perdiem LPN in LTC. I am also a new graduate. My question is, I was oriented to ONE of 4 wings in our facility for the entire 90 days, and now they are floating me. I was alone on a wing a couple of days ago, that I had never done, and there were 3 tube feeds. Some of the residents are used to their meds at a certain time (and will watch the clock). A couple of them yelled at me because I was 45 minutes late. But well within the one hour before/one hour after rule. I was not familiar with the med cart, and had trouble finding meds for certain residents. I called the DON the next day, and asked her if I could have more orientation to the wings I had never done. Is this appropriate, or am I expected to "figure it out on my own"?

OK, I have to ask. Does anyone give supplements to each and every resident during a med pass?? I have been in LTC for about 3 months now, and each resident has "XXXXX" (similar to Boost) given with each med pass. If I wait for every one to comsume the supplement I will never get done with the med pass. I do give it to the nutritionally challenged residents, but the majority I simply sign the MAR. I also work 3-11, and most of them are getting the supplement on their dinner trays. It is really eating at me that I do this. But I can't see any other way to get the important meds out on time. Any input would be appreciated.

I would be frustrated too if wound care is not done when it should be, but what really gets me is when lotions are on the treatment list (eucerin, A & D, destin etc). And I am expected to fit that into my already hectic schedule, when the CNA's can just as easily do it upon waking and putting the residents to bed. Neglecting a wound can lead to a much bigger problem for anyone to deal with, I agree.

I am in my second month (new graduate) of working LTC. I have been going through the posts here, and frankly, I'm scared. I love the residents. All they want is someone to listen to them, even if it's 2 minutes. I work with some nurses that are real b's, and I find it appauling. They scream at residents, and claim it's b/c their hearing aids aren't in. The CNA's don't answer call bells in a timely manner (I KNOW they are busy too), but they are standing around talking when this is going on. I am trying to master my med passes safely, but am constantly worried that I'm putting my "license" at risk. I haven't even touched learning all the paperwork, but I figure it will come. Or at worst the Unit clerk that catches a mistake will let me know. PLEASE isn't there anyone out there that likes LTC? It is what I wanted from the beginning of nursing school. Sounds silly I guess.

Thanks for answering so quickly. The problem here is, the facility won't pay overtime. We had over 20 P.O.'s come in the other night. If another nurse had not come from another floor, I would have been there until 4am. I don't mind putting in a extra hour (after clocking out first) to finish my work, but I couldn't possibly have finished it. Maybe this facility is asking too much. I'm already in charge of 24 residents.

I have been working at a LTC facility for two months after graduating in August. I feel somewhat comfortable (although not as fast as I would like to be) with the med passes and treatments. The paperwork is a different story. I can get my basic paperwork done during my shift, but if physician's orders come in, it really throws my night off. Do P.O. have to be done by the shift in which they are faxed, or can you try to complete what you need to do, and pass the remaining ones onto the next shift? The next shift is night, and I know they will have time to complete the orders. Thanks. I really do like the work, but I don't have time to do the unit clerks job, and we don't have one 3-11.