IowaKaren

IowaKaren

Assisted Living nursing, LTC/SNF nursing

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All Content by IowaKaren

  1. orienting: have different "opinions" on holding insulin. who do I listen to?

    IowaKaren replied to gigi918's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Unless the Resident has specific orders to hold insulin if BG levels are below a certain level, then that is okay. Otherwise, you'd better be calling the Dr. and get his opinion/order on what to do....

  2. Question from a third shift nurse....

    IowaKaren replied to BrandonLPN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    OMGosh, I don't even know how to respond to HAVING to get people up before 6 AM. No one is gotten up before 6 AM unless they request to be. This is their home. I can't believe any NH still requires...

  3. What's the funniest most unusual baby name?

    IowaKaren replied to nirvana1's topic in Nursing Humor

    Back when I was around 16 or 17 (many many moons ago), I met a couple that named their baby girl Cocaine. All I could think (even with my adolescent mentality at the time), why in he** someone would...

  4. Any Ideas for scratchers??

    IowaKaren replied to mvm2's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    There can be many things wrong. Liver failure, allergic reaction, medication, soaps, etc. A trip to the doctor is in order, then maybe a dermatologist. Have you informed his HH nurse about

  5. Does your facility send someone home every shift?

    IowaKaren replied to Blackcat99's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Have to send someone home, that would be heaven where I work. We generally don't have enough CNA staff and there isn't a day that goes by that someone is told to stay over for a mandatory hold over...

  6. NOC nurse

    IowaKaren replied to CYoungLPN's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I hear you and you will also need to straighten everything up (paperwork and whatever) for the next

  7. Staffing

    IowaKaren replied to Jessmed0324's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    That mandating to stay over d/t call off's or not having staff figured out so 'you will stay over' is what is getting my facility in all kinds of trouble. Make 'em stay and they quit so what is the...

  8. Staffing

    IowaKaren replied to Jessmed0324's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Oh CapeCodMermaid, if all places could be staffed like yours,... life would be

  9. What song describes your workplace environment?

    IowaKaren replied to Blackcat99's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Not sure when it was recorded or it's name but "they're coming to take us away, oh my, there coming to take us away! To the funny farm,... Well, my place isn't totally like this but it is at times,...

  10. Dangerous patients

    IowaKaren replied to dallet6's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    9:10 am by Blackcat99 My experience is that if a LTC patient is well to do and is "private pay" they can hit the staff all they want. Those patients are not asked to leave the LTC no...

  11. Have you ever ordered a new license?

    IowaKaren replied to SnowboardRN's topic in General Nursing

    Yes, just downloaded the form to send in for my license since I just renewed it and the paper it was printed on was defective. At least I don't have to pay them more $$ for a new one since this one...

  12. LTC trach patient and no suitable suction catheters

    IowaKaren replied to Blackcat99's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Be careful Blackcatt, being "being lucky today' may just get you fired tomorrow for taking some of the NH's property home with you. It just seems you can't win

  13. What lies were you told when you were first hired in LTC?

    IowaKaren replied to Blackcat99's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Along with that, your doing medcart change over for 60 also, no CMA to help, you can only hope the Mar/Tar's have been looked over in time, updated, ect. but priority is changing the carts out. I...

  14. LTC Staffing ratios?

    IowaKaren replied to sjbrk's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Your so fortunate CapeCodMermaid, your staffing levels for manager, nurses, and CNA's are incredible. I could just imagine the amazing things we could do with our ICF and SNF residents if we could...

  15. Cliques & Bulling in LTC

    IowaKaren replied to Emilyinsc's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    My last job was like that. Left it due to the constant micromanaging and fighting between the nurses and shifts d/t management which just couldn't figure out why . I was so surprised on how this...

  16. Combative dementia patients

    IowaKaren replied to Old and New's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    It's always the, "what did YOU DO to cause the combativeness, who abused this resident?" Couldn't be that there is some sundowning or a UTI brewing or anything like that, could it (here the irony in...

  17. LTC Staffing ratios?

    IowaKaren replied to sjbrk's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I sure wish all states would adopt the staffing ratios the Oregan does. Otherwise, it's just a suggested ratio. We've been told that LTC's are now the 'mini hospitals' and Assisted Living is what...

  18. These two idiots need to have their nursing licenses revoked

    IowaKaren replied to guest416560's topic in General Nursing

    Good lord, what is this world coming to. I just can't imagine and hope they both are charged

  19. PT Pulls out their NG tube...boss says I need to fill out an event report?

    IowaKaren replied to mindlor's topic in General Nursing

    Oh

  20. Aggressive staffing person at LTC

    IowaKaren replied to Blackcat99's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I just received my first year review and one of the criteria for a raise is how often you 'helped' out when called to come in on your time off. I don't think that should be a criteria of getting your...

  21. Patient fx hip after family refused alarm

    IowaKaren replied to Emilyinsc's topic in Patient Safety Issues

    A shared negotiated risk form should have been signed by the family if this Resident was deemed a fall risk and the family refused to have alarms applied after the fall assessment was completed (per...

  22. Has anyone heard of getting fired in LTC because of overtime?

    IowaKaren replied to Blackcat99's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Where I work now, they are pretty forgiving but it also helps when you work a straight 8 hours (paid for 7.5 hours) and then have some spare time in case to you have to stay over some, basically...

  23. Shift Swap Vent

    IowaKaren replied to missladyrn's topic in General Nursing

    Where I work, the swap paper you sign also says that you (the swapper) is still responsible for the shift if your swappee doesn't show up. Makes one wonder why you would swap with anyone, especially...

  24. The Elderly Are Devalued

    IowaKaren replied to TheCommuter's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Another barrier to the "they are just old" mentality is when the ER doc's, on-call doc, and even their own Doctor has that mantra and it takes biting bullets to get them to listen to you over the...

  25. Do nurses have a responsibility to keep their Facebook professional?

    IowaKaren replied to Bortaz's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    If future employers are now checking into your credit report and using that against you, you can bet they will use facebook also. Once it's out there, there's no taking it