alika

Oh and yes I do total care every shift on at least a few of my residents because we are short staffed. I have 3 MS patients that are contracted. So I do understand that.

Obviously you do not read my post close enough. I currently have 37 residents. That is roughly 10 meds a piece. I also do have wound dressings on my shift. My Aides on the other hand have around 10 residents each. And Your "edit" Is what I'm talking about. I am constantly looking for these girls. They are either in break room with their "buddies", or on their cell phones. They hide in residents rooms. And when I say Incompetent...I Mean it!. Please don't assume I'm angry! I'm not I'm ******! This is my passion and my job! I can't afford to lose my licence because my Aides would rather talk on their cell phones than take care of these wonderful people. And before You say it, yes us Nurses have complained till we are blue in the face. But we get no back up for the"higher" up people. We are told to Quit picking on them. Or to write them up (which we do). But that gets us nowhere. In fact that usually makes things worse. Then they gang up together and make the environment worse. I love my job. I love my residents. But sometimes it is very hard to do my job safely without the right staff. And just to add..I do have a few wonderful Aides that I work with. Just not enough.

I'm an LPN and damn proud of it. Bring me an RN into my LTC facility and I guarantee us LPN's will run circles around them! We are the ones who make the place run. Our RN's sit behind a desk and do not have any idea what it takes to be a floor nurse with 30+ residents. I do more hands on then they have ever done. Plus I have to deal with the families, Doctors, and Hospice Companies. The only complaint I have is I make way less money for doing twice the Job that Our RN's do!

Sounds Like you work at a facility just like mine. Twice now in the past few months I have came across a resident who had passed and rigor mortis had set in. It is the total lack of competent CNA's. We are working so short staffed it is not funny. I have right now 37 residents as does my other nurse. I have total dementia patients along with Pain pill seekers, and very Demanding families. I totally depend on my CNA's to be my eyes and ears when I'm busy. But my facility is more worried about the money issue rather than the safety of their residents and staff.

Oh Yea and Also..I don't even know how many times I've had a family member tell me "They have the right to Fall!" My response is OK. Well I really hope that isn't the outcome>>>

This happens often. "Mom doesn't need an alarm". As long as each nurse is documenting that mom is non-compliant with wearing Person alarm, staff is not responsible when mom falls and breaks her hip. Yes of course family will blame you, but as long as each shift is documenting they can't do anything. No personal alarm, sensor pad, or self- release lap belt is gonna keep a resident from falling if they are determined to get up and walk.