CapeCodMermaid RN

Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health

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All Content by CapeCodMermaid

  1. CapeCodMermaid

    What I Wish I Could Say to My Residents and Their Families

    CapeCodMermaid replied to bluegeegoo2's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I try to still be polite but firm with these family members...especially the ones who visit once in a blue moon. I have had to tell some of them to stop their behavior or leave the building. I had one...
  2. CapeCodMermaid

    Med error for new 2013 nurse

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Terrified83's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Honestly we all make mistakes. I'd be more concerned that the one patient has taken so many different antibiotics is a short amount of time. I hope y'all have a probiotic protocol to try to prevent...
  3. CapeCodMermaid

    Culture shock: staffing ratios, medication passes and teamwork

    CapeCodMermaid replied to pinkiepieRN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    On my short term unit....46 beds--about 3/4 are really short term....I have 2 med/treatment nurses, a desk nurse, a nurse manager and 5 or 6 CNAs on day shift. If there is a call out, the desk nurse...
  4. CapeCodMermaid

    DON: Do you hire nurses with misdemeanors?

    CapeCodMermaid replied to SuzieVN's topic in Licensure: Criminal History

    People make mistakes. I've hired people with misdemeanors before as long as there was no harm. We do CORI checks on every employee. If something comes back, we give the prospective employee a chance...
  5. CapeCodMermaid

    chart audit tool

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

    Ive got one on my computer at work. I'll post it
  6. CapeCodMermaid

    Did You Even Bother To Read It? (vent)

    CapeCodMermaid posted a topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I put an ad in Craigslist for an RN supervisor. I specified that the person HAD to be an RN, HAD to have long term care experience, and it was essential they have IV experience. I got a resume today...
  7. CapeCodMermaid

    Who reads your mantoux (PPD) test?

    CapeCodMermaid replied to psu_213's topic in General Nursing

    Any of my nurses can plant a PPD and any of the RNs can read
  8. CapeCodMermaid

    Love or hate your IV pumps?

    CapeCodMermaid replied to steffimarty's topic in General Nursing

    Apparently I REALLY need a vacation. I saw the title of this post and at first thought IV pumps were a kind of high
  9. CapeCodMermaid

    How do Hospitals save money changing 12 hr shifts into 8 hrs?

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Adenosine6's topic in General Nursing

    I got rid of 12 hour shifts because if someone calls out, it's harder to fill the shift AND if I have to mandate, someone can stay an extra 8 but never an extra 12, barring, of course, a state of...
  10. CapeCodMermaid

    Has anyone ever been careless and gotten stuck?

    CapeCodMermaid replied to NCmcMan's topic in General Nursing

    Wiping a "highknee"??? Is that auto correct? Needle sticks happen even to the most careful nurses. Be as careful as you can
  11. CapeCodMermaid

    Rewarding Caregivers

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Katie13LPN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I speak to them in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. I bring it up at morning meeting so all the department heads know, and if it's really something great, they get the pom poms....silly...
  12. CapeCodMermaid

    Narcs sent home with wrong resident

    CapeCodMermaid replied to laderalis's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    You can't fix stupid. It's basic nursing to read the med labels before you give a medication so, of course, the meds being sent home should have been checked before they were given
  13. CapeCodMermaid

    Long story...need to vent ...

    CapeCodMermaid replied to blessedmomma247's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    In Massachusetts, we HAVE to speak to the surveyors if they ask us a question. Self medicating is not the same as handing someone an inhaler. The whole thing sounds more than a bit
  14. CapeCodMermaid

    Oh please, just let me vent!!!

    CapeCodMermaid replied to mc3's topic in School

    Don't you all get a week off every few months and the entire summer off? Seems fair compensation for dealing with a few pesky
  15. CapeCodMermaid

    Electronic wrist bp cuffs

    CapeCodMermaid replied to jnurse21's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    No need to take a blood pressure on all those residents. Unless they are new to a BP med or have had a dose change why are you taking their BP? People at home don't check theirs before they take their...
  16. CapeCodMermaid

    how PRN schedule works in LTC

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Orion81RN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Our schedules are made a month in advance. If there are holes in the schedule due to a vacation or vacant position the per diem nurses are called and put on the schedule. If someone calls out for a...
  17. CapeCodMermaid

    Job Interview on Monday

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Katie13LPN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    What would be the point of relating that long story? Most facilities, at least in Massachusetts, don't use NG tubes and certainly an LPN wouldn't be allowed to insert one. Taking care of babies is...
  18. CapeCodMermaid

    PVD/long

    CapeCodMermaid replied to adamsmom2's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    PVD q8?? What does that mean? PVD is usually Peripheral Vascular
  19. CapeCodMermaid

    New ADON feeling inadequate

    CapeCodMermaid replied to RainRN1's topic in LTC: Directors, Assistant

    I've been a DNS in several buildings so I've 'inherited' several ADONs. The ones who were the most helpful to me asked me on a daily basis what I needed help with or what I needed them to do. They all...
  20. CapeCodMermaid

    Time Management

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Katie13LPN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Katie...please do not scold people on here. Maybe all those people who looked but didn't answer were taking time to formulate a realistic, useable answer to your question. You have to be flexible when...
  21. CapeCodMermaid

    Can you work on light duty if your traveling?

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Codeman906's topic in Travel

    I am in agreement with the others. As a traveller you probably make more than the regular staff. Why would they allow you to work light duty? Our light duty only applies to those who have been injured...
  22. CapeCodMermaid

    I am the only nurse getting high blood glucose numbers

    CapeCodMermaid replied to ricksy's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Wow...either other nurses aren't really doing the glucometer checks or the resident is 'sneaking' food?!? Both of these statements are offensive. The glucometer is a machine and not infallible. Why...
  23. CapeCodMermaid

    Charge nurse asking me to lie

    CapeCodMermaid replied to julz68's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I worked in LTC. We are expected to take care of people with trachs. We had to send one of our residents to the hospital where she HAD to go to the ICU because the floor nurses there don't 'do...
  24. CapeCodMermaid

    Skilled Notes

    CapeCodMermaid replied to Isitpossible's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I've been involved in more than a few audits. Sometimes what the nurses documented was the difference between a claim being denied and a claim being paid. Obviously we all have different opinions....
  25. CapeCodMermaid

    Raises/ending pay

    CapeCodMermaid replied to annajanern's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I should have answered the question as well. We start new RNs at $23...$1 more for evenings, $2 for nights. Weekends is another