CapeCodMermaid RN

Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health

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All Content by CapeCodMermaid

  1. CapeCodMermaid

    How long is the window for state survey?

    CapeCodMermaid replied to guest833402's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    In Massachusetts, I've been told by surveyors that they can come any time they want for annual survey even if they go past the 15 months. They are staff challenged like the rest of us. Basically the...
  2. CapeCodMermaid

    Calling patients by "pet" names.

    CapeCodMermaid replied to dbabz's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    In Massachusetts, the DPH will cite us for using pet names unless it's in the resident's care plan. I had a young long term resident who wanted me to call her Cupcake...okay Cupcake it is. The DPH was...
  3. CapeCodMermaid

    Wardrobe

    CapeCodMermaid posted a topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    Just a question to my fellow Directors: what do all y'all wear to work? I've been in places where the DNS wears scrubs or street clothes and a lab coat or just street clothes. I was in a place today...
  4. CapeCodMermaid

    When to give insulin?

    CapeCodMermaid replied to kriegerkriegr's topic in Diabetes, Endocrine Nursing

    I've worked in 14 different nursing homes. I have never seen insulin given between 5:15 am and 6am. Most places start giving it after report and count so the breakfasts are given between 7:30 and...
  5. CapeCodMermaid

    Pregnancy & Home Health Nursing

    CapeCodMermaid replied to GVNurse09's topic in Home Health

    Years ago...years as in 30+, I worked in home health. I was pregnant with my first baby. I went to the client's house...lovely old guy who had had a CVA. I filled his med boxes for him and then tried...
  6. CapeCodMermaid

    Home Health burn out, advice welcome.

    CapeCodMermaid replied to swein's topic in Home Health

    While looking for a new job, I've been reading posts from various nursing specialties. I haven't found one that doesn't have an "I'm burned out" post. Nursing is hard work no matter where you do it....
  7. CapeCodMermaid

    Hate My Job - LTC

    CapeCodMermaid replied to MJ48's topic in General Specialties

    Maybe you really DO need to improve your documentation. You know the saying: If you didn't document it, you didn't do it. It doesn't matter how much you might have done if it's not in the clinical...
  8. CapeCodMermaid

    8 Dead at Florida Nursing Home without power after Hurricane Irma

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Blackcat99's topic in Nursing News

    It is hardly a choice if you're the nurse who is there and no one shows up to relieve you. You have two choices: abandon the patients and almost surely lose your license or stay and do the best you...
  9. CapeCodMermaid

    Excessive absenteeism

    CapeCodMermaid replied to RRRNNN's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    I think DawnadonRN meant that there aren't many people who make it 6 months without calling out. I worked for a few places on Cape Cod that gave a bonus for people who didn't cal out. At one place we...
  10. CapeCodMermaid

    MDS

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Lovetobenurse's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I never use 'Will have no falls' since that is not reasonable. Will sustain no injury from fall is better. AND if they are self directed and don't want to use the interventions, I care plan that,
  11. CapeCodMermaid

    Rejected from dream job

    CapeCodMermaid replied to yoganurse22's topic in General Nursing

    Happens all the time. At least they told you you didn't get the job. I've had interviews lasting 2-3 hours after an hour phone interview and had my references called only to not get the job AND never...
  12. CapeCodMermaid

    MDS

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Lovetobenurse's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I would update the care plan with new
  13. CapeCodMermaid

    8 Dead at Florida Nursing Home without power after Hurricane Irma

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Blackcat99's topic in Nursing News

    Whatever the reason, this is horribly sad. I've worked in plenty of facilities with generators...they can't run everything. Usually it's the crucial stuff--the red plugs...IVs, Gtube pumps, oxygen...
  14. CapeCodMermaid

    Wrote up for CNA

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Sh4y's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Are you a coroner? You can tell the person had been dead for 2 hours? Wow. If your DNS just wants warm bodies, you are shoveling you know what against the tide. Unfortunately, that's the way it is in...
  15. CapeCodMermaid

    Rocephin HELP!!

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Belo2007's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Call the
  16. CapeCodMermaid

    Come to work or get fired-Hurricane Irma!!!

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Blackcat99's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I've been management for more than 15 years through hurricanes and blizzards. Did I stay home because I wasn't on the schedule? NO. I had a DON get hauled in to the police station because she tried to...
  17. CapeCodMermaid

    Hurricane Irma

    CapeCodMermaid replied to bluemoon28's topic in Disaster Preparation

    I'd bring extra bottled water. Food you actually like to eat. Clean clothes. I was at work for more than 4 days during a surprise blizzard on Cape Cod. They couldn't force me to go in but I
  18. CapeCodMermaid

    Crushing Oral Medications...New Regulation

    CapeCodMermaid replied to ltcnurse4u's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I've worked in many buildings in which the MD wrote "may crush and administer all meds together via G-tube". It's never been a problem with any of the surveyors. In other buildings, they were fiends...
  19. CapeCodMermaid

    Showers in nursing home

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Vonique's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Don't call the state without giving the DON a chance to respond. She might not know every detail about every resident's care, and not to say this is your father's case, but quite often residents flat...
  20. CapeCodMermaid

    Excessive absenteeism

    CapeCodMermaid replied to RRRNNN's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    It's the same everywhere. People have no sense of responsibility to their jobs. I worked in a place where the CNAs were in a union. We couldn't even write them up until they had at least 15 tardies!...
  21. CapeCodMermaid

    Crushing Oral Medications...New Regulation

    CapeCodMermaid replied to ltcnurse4u's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I'll give you an example of stupidity: woman with PEG tube. Had at least 2000ml daily between the free water and the flushes. Was on a PO fluid restriction because the NP didn't want her to go into...
  22. CapeCodMermaid

    Crushing Oral Medications...New Regulation

    CapeCodMermaid replied to ltcnurse4u's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Speak to your medical director. He or she should speak to the other MDs if they are not willing to be reasonable. It's far better for the
  23. CapeCodMermaid

    Crushing Oral Medications...New Regulation

    CapeCodMermaid replied to ltcnurse4u's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Get an MD order stating all meds may be crushed together. Do people not realize that all these new regulations are only chasing more and more nurses out of the LTC world? Show me some evidence...
  24. CapeCodMermaid

    These parents are killing me

    CapeCodMermaid replied to MHDNURSE's topic in School

    Makes me wonder what the school nurse said about me when I was a little kid. I had to stay in during recess because I had a congenital heart condition. We didn't have any field trips that I remember...
  25. CapeCodMermaid

    Full Code patients in Long term care

    CapeCodMermaid replied to beatrice1's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Right before I left my last place of employment, I got into an argument with the interim administrator. He was telling the nurses they MUST do CPR even if the patient signed a DNR or a MOLST...