dtchavey

I will take a look again after work.

Did you have to re apply for the same job? Or were you on extended leaves of absence? If you were considered LOA I would just remove the word "intermittent"

I am sorry to hear this. It's ridiculous but I have experienced something similar this January. It's ridiculous to be terminated when all of the metrics that a DON is hired to improve are actually dramatically improved.

As long as he keeps the budget in line, the corporation is going to love him. Admins often have so little oversight (other than how the budget looks) that they really don't have to develop as leaders. I have a great admin right now, but unfortunately I'm a traveler. Soon I will get to meet my next admin.

I wear business casual, but have my shirt sleeves rolled up . I have had some admins that also think that we should be able to identify the nurses by the way they dress, but it never lasts. Hopefully it's just a phase.

Here is what I look for when hiring, Talk about your accomplishments. I'm glad you have experience with complex procedures, you should keep that information in there, but the descriptions of generic nursing tasks should come out and be replaced by accomplishments. Like: are you a super user for your hospital's EMR? Have you acted as a mentor to new staff? and were they also successful? Did you participate in hospital committee's? If so, what did you get done in committee? By doing this you will show me that you are more than just a staff nurse, but you are an engaged member of a team. Good luck!

I'll start with my background; I have about 8 years of experience in both Acute, and Long Term Care. I am currently a Director of Nursing in Long Term Care, I have been in this position for 3.5 years. Nursing is a tough job, and I think that you pointed out the hottest topics in your question. I'm not going to lie to you, this is physically and emotionally taxing. While I have been lucky to have great health, I even developed situational anxiety because of my work. So that is the bad. I have found the role for me though. As a DON I have a lot of personal contact with my people. I also have a huge role in planning their care, and improving quality of life. I don't think you will get that level of involvement from most areas of nursing, but I have put in the time in Long Term Care to get to a place that I can make positively impact the lives of my residents. Keep your health in mind, and determine if the rewards are good enough to sacrifice that much of yourself.

I am a Director of Nursing in Long Term Care and know exactly what you are talking about. So to answer your questions: 1. Yes, unfortunately this does happen a lot. I am saddened and embarrassed that this is the case. I suspect there are many factors at play; nurse burnout, heavy workloads, and maybe a lack of urgency from complacency. 2. You did the right thing. You told the nurse, repeatedly. Additionally, when the nurse failed to respond you went and got someone who would respond. The first thing a state surveyor would look at is just that, how did you make sure that the resident did get suctioned. Follow through is important. 3. I would write a concern letter to your DON. The nurse may simply need some re-education. Finally, with that said, remember that it ultimately falls back on the nurse to triage the situation. Some nurses don't always communicate very well, and that resident may or may not have orders for everything they asked for. Keep up the good work.

There is a lot of other cool stuff to do as a nurse in Des Moines that might pay slightly higher. Telligen is our stat QIO, and is located in West Des Moines. Could look in to being a case manager for an insurance company. Outpatient and school nurse will always pay lower than acute care around here too.

1. I think you did miss the import of my message. Yes, pawning off your work is the behavior I was intending. 2. My frustration comes from me, I feel that I have failed in breaking down the gender barrier in our nurse-patient relationship. This is not manifest towards the patient, I just feel that there is room for self improvement if I do not make my patients comfortable with me providing care. 3. Finally I believe that I am still correct in saying that I never "pawn off" my work. Here I am intending to use the word "pawn" with some negativity. Pawning off your work is intended to mean offloading some work when I may very well be able to do it. I always show up to work ready to place a catheter, or give a bath, whether it be in a male or female, or perform a lady partsl exam. However you are absolutely right!!! whenever a patient makes a request, or is very uncomfortable, I will very likely trade tasks with another nurse so as to put the patient at ease and provide for the most dignified care. When it really comes down to it though, it is VERY rare that I have to ask a female nurse to take over.

There are a lot of reasons for this behavior. Male nurses who are new grads, but have never worked as a PCT or CNA are the worst offenders. The unfortunate reduction of clinical hours as mandated by the NLN takes away from the experience and poise that a nurse needs to be the expert care provider. I am a young male nurse, and I find myself actually somewhat frustrated when I have not developed the rapport needed for a female to accept my full care as a nurse. I will never pawn off my work, and encourage all males to step up to the plate and accept your full responsibilities.

I moved here from Illinois last October and took a huge cut in pay. Even with experience many hospitals can get away with starting you at the bottom of the pay scale, this is a result of the GLUT of nurses in this state.

and this is why we discuss things very thoroughly with our POA.

Hey Same here, one of the few eh? I lived in Spirit lake for two years, but now rent is a little too spendy for and ILCC student so I moved a few miles.

That sucks... I escaped California, you got sucked in! :chair: