pn2rn08

Thank you! I've gotten feedback from one of the nurses as well as CNA's they are looking fwd to having a SDC since they have been without for a while, I'm excited!

update I left the nursing home I was working for and have been given the chance to advance to unit manager or staff development coordinator :) There is still hope in LTC just not there

Thank you all! Staff development is/was what my gut is telling me to go for and I placed my request this evening. I'm soo excited as I'm an advard learner and love to teach.

Aboul

Thank you so much for your inspiring post. I love to teach and learn so I know I can fulfill the duties.

Haha same here! I was a charge nurse for a few years as well and I look 18 although 26!!!!!!! The younger CNA's would be very cooperative and no attitude given when I had to lay down the expectations but the other CNA's did not like taking direction from me and lots of lack of respect. In the hospital I did not find this as they respected the nurses responsibilities as well. In the new placed where this advancement has been offered there is a higher level of respect for the nurse regardless of age.

After 4 years in LTC I've been given the choice to advance to unit manager or staff development coordinator at the new place of employment that has a big need for change as well as a consistent SDC. All new management in the place. I chose the SDC position because I loooove learning and teaching as well as the flexibility it will give me while planning to start a family etc. While a staff nurse I've gone to many seminars and such on my own just for expanding my knowledge base as well as reinforcing what I know already. I still plan on working per diem at another LTC facility to keep my floor nursing skills as well as make a lil extra $. So my problem is...I will be a novice at this, will people listen to me? I'm a younger nurse, with this inhibit my success because there is stigma related to my youthfulness/expertise despite I have "blown them away." with my clinical skills, etc. Since its a corporate company that runs the LTC facility I didn't want to jump into unit manager and I figured this would be a great way to learn the core values/expectations of the company with the possibility of further implementing them down the road if unit manager becomes available again. Words of advice, wisdom, anything welcomed please.

Thanks, but which one? unit manager or staff development nurse?

I've been a LTC nurse for 4 yrs & tele/ms for 1 yr. I love the LTC setting. I've recently been offered career advancement to either unit manager or staff development coordinator. Both seem interesting & I'm eager to learn. But I don't know which one to choose? I'm thinking it would be best to start out as SDC to learn the company/state policies & procedures like the back of my hand so I will be better at implementing them down the road. I loove to learn & attend seminars as well. I'm trying to get pregnant so the flexibility the SDC position has to offer is great & the difference in stress is clearly obvious. HELP I need some advice based on others opinions/experiences.

Hi all. I've been in the LTC setting since I was a new grad LPN (4 yrs ago). I worked as a charge nurse as a new grad for only a couple months. I relocated and took a med nurse position while filling in once in a while as charge nurse at a facility while going for RN. Left LTC to work on a Tele/Med Surge floor for a year then went back to the LTC setting for another year as full time charge nurse. Gained good deal of experience overall in both settings. Recently changed jobs. The new place loves my "strong" personality and skills. A new company has taken over and lots of changes made, making people either want to quit as well as "clean house." Lots of new leadership in place and I've already seen ways that can improve the facility as a charge nurse based on past experience. Pitfall...I'm young (26) and look young, not sure people will accept leadership from me? Anyways only been there about a month now and they want to promote me to unit manager due to expressing my interest in career growth(just didn't think of it happening now). Also the present unit manager wants to do MDS due to new baby etc but cannot until her position is spoken for. She is not being pushy but enthuised to know someone who wants to do good wants the job. The new company is large and encourages growth, just hoping I can meet their expectations. I feel I can be molded and will follow their "ways" as long as they are ethical etc...just nervous about taking on the headaches of unit manager as well as the big responsibilities that go with it, especially since I plan on starting a family within the year as well. Any advice will be helpful and thankful.

PS: I'm thinking of dropping my hrs at the LTC to 16 hr week so I can have less ties but still take care of the residents I enjoy & pick up part time or per diem with a HH agency.

Thank you for the post. It hit all aspects I was wondering about as well as good points that every field has it pros/cons just depends on which ones you want to deal with. I enjoy the closeness of the LTC residents & feel I'm providing much more quality care than what I could in the hospital due to the hecticness. Sorry to hear about the pay cut. What state do you work in?

asdhksjdh

I have just the site for you....Medscape. It's great! You can print out certain CEU's & it also keeps track of how many you complete as well as how it is accredited...best part it's FREE & keeps you informed of recent studies etc.

Ok So I realized I incorrectly worded the title of this thread however can't edit it now. I know it was preventable so I guess my question should of been...what would you have done when receiving the order parameter? Made suggestions to the MD or just considered it normal? I've been a nurse for 3 yrs of LTC as well as med surg & never did I come across parameters like that so I guess that's why I'm questioning it. So I'm interested to see what others come across in practice as well as decision making, thank you all!

Good suggestion April. I may suggest this next, once we get a feel for her baseline. Now that she is in a "controlled" enviroment as far as diet goes she may no longer need the standing doses. I have heard about there being controversy in regards to keeping or discarding sliding scales but haven't seen the evidence yet. Another research item to put on the "to do list" lol.

When I was a GN I started at $19.00 for day charge nurse at a SNF then got a raise to $21.00 upon request of passing the boards. I then transferred to another facility much closer to me & took a med nurse position at $19.50 plus $1 for evening, $1 if I did charge instead. I live in Massachusettes.

Yes I do agree with double checking would of helped prevent it. I'm usually pretty good about double checking everything as well as writting down side notes on my paper, that night it was crisis after crisis at the start of shift...lesson learned SLOW down during med administration despite all that's going on. LOL thanks of the spell check

The first year is the hardest but most rewarding. You learn your strengths and weakness. You sound like you are doing a great job! Hang in there as far as nursing goes but def. look to work in a different ER or return to the floor. I've worked at a place where you are overloaded and under appreciated...it only leads to burning out! Experience comes with time no matter which setting your in and you will not loose your skills. I went from a hectic med-surg unit to a nursing home. It's been over a year now since I worked in the hospital setting & I had a pt go into resp. distress. Long story short I stabalized the guy due to the experience I received during that one year. He did pass away 2 days later from PNA & other previous underlying issues but that had nothing to do with the care I provided. When a nurse from another unit found out he passed she had the nerve to critisize me for not getting the supervisor during the episode instead of kudos for the life saving interventions I performed. I've been a nurse for 3 yrs I know when I need help or not. Anyways sorry to go on about my own situation. Point is as long as you are proactive with your skills & continuing education you will not loose them. The stress is not worth it so be happy.

Hi all. I recently made a med error due to an order that had perimeters added to it. 10 units of insulin @ dinner time, Hold for FS

Thank you so much for your posts about this! This recently just happened to me luckily I responded by performing all treatments possible. Suction, 02, heimlick, hob elevated & I was able to stabalize the guy. I did ask a nurse I work w/regarding the DNR status & situation but she wasn't sure either. The next day I was recapping the situation as much of us do & thought about the DNR again like what is considered appropriate so I came to this site :)

Well my first job as a new grad was at a SNF as well & the orientation was rather short & a mess. I was bounced around from unit 2 to 3 without any clear direction for the first four days & trying to orient with a nurse that had only been there a week herself. Finally by the end of the week a nurse on unit 3 took me in under her wing. She did this because they had given her such a poor orientation herself & she didn't want it to be done to someone else. Although I appreciated this I ended up leaving 5 months later due to many issues that arose from the adminstration & felt my license was at risk. My second job again at a SNF gives all the new employees two weeks of orientation. One week is paperwork, policies, HR inservice, & a few other nursing inservices. The second week is on the floor orientation. After that if you feel ready then you go solo, however if you need more time they are more than willing to schedule it. I primarily work 3-11 however since I'm picking up a few day shifts they are going to let me orient one or two days prior to going solo on days. In my interview the DNS told me that if she puts the time & money into the proper training then hopefully the retention rate wil be greater. Seeing how everyone including the CNA's have been there 7 yrs plus I think the two week orientation is working out just great.

The first pair of nursing shoes I bought were for nursing school & since then I have not changed brands. I wear the NurseMates Dove model. When I first tried the shoes on they felt like slippers but still supportive. I can work a double & have no complaints about my feet.

Hi! I'm a recent LPN graduate from CCRI. Intro to Health & Dosages are fairly easy classes & can be taken together over the summer sessions as long as you put in the study time for the exams. I worked 3 part-time jobs while taking my pre-reqs however it wasn't during the summer sessions. If you take Human Anatomy alone during the summer session you will need to dedicate all your spare time to studying cuz it is intense & they do require a B but it can be done. When it comes time to take the actual nursing courses it is impossible to work f/t & fully absorb the material. Hope this helped.