GRAB1

I apologize, I can provide more info. They are most likely if not definitely paying us overtime after the 40 hours aka time and a half. I'm sure of it. 36 + 12 = 48 ... we are forced really to work 8 hours overtime. It's also counted as a separate week and not a combined bi-weekly deal. The problem is they are mandating that we work a 4 day work week for a call out when we don't want to work an extra day. I'm fine with working whatever day they want as a make up... but they are basically adding on another day which is saving them $5/hr. in extra bonus cash they pay others who volunteer or sing up to work an extra day.

I have a 67 yo resident who has brain damage. Years ago they got an infection, or PNE and then became septic, their organs shut down and they've sustained brain damage. Now it's been over 6 years caring for the resident... In the past two years I've noticed this resident making almost turrets type movements and sounds. In the beginning the sounds sounded like sadness or discomfort or annoyance. I remember an aid assisting the resident with incontinence care, (this is when it really escalates). After the aid was done the resident continued to make uncomfortable noises (but they would shake their head "NO" to pain). The aid stated something along the line of, "I'm all finished, you can relax, the aid then stated something about the sounds the resident was making" at which time the resident said in a difficult slightly unclean manner, "I can't help it". We were so shocked, we felt our eyes had just been opened to what's been going on for this person... ONLY periodically can speak but it's tough for them, fades in and out and not always clear. They are on liquid Oxy and Ativan around the clock... I feel they need something better. The resident is NOT in pain but will yell out loudly if not sedated -- doctors went with this "thinking" it was from pain. Any better ideas?

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Me too... I absolutely agree with you. I work for a larger institution but I'm a little off-set building near/next to them. We are a LTC/nursing home. When I ask nurses at the hospital, which is only a good stone's throw away, (and that we are fully connected with in every way), they said exactly what YOUR saying -- You work the next Saturday but they drop a work week day. This is why I'm feeling some wool pulled over our heads. One day recently I began coping they NJ Mandatory Overtime Form that is required to be hanging in our facility -- it's by the time clock with a bunch of other NJ laws. I copied it and passed it out as I wanted others to read it over and see if they also felt we were being a little shistered. Would you believe I got a call at home from the DON saying she wanted to me with me about the "problems I had with the PPL/call out policy"... she sounded pretty angry too... said also I was defacing the walls the locker room... (I guess with a thumb tack when I hung one up). I played dumb/clueless about the form but she insisted that we were going to meet... said insubordination if I didn't. She had me so worried I call the large HR at the hospital... The HR lady there was some AVP... she said she'd give the DON a call and see what it was about. In the end the HR lady called me back from the hospital, she was all calm and nice, "Go to the meeting, it will be fine. Said afterwards give her a call to say how it went". So I go, after working my shift, and the DON was just as sweet as sugar pie. She smiled, didn't want to talk anything about the form -- wouldn't even speak it's name. She was like smiling as much as she could through her grinning teeth. Here the HR lady from the hospital must have said leave this girl be as she is perfectly in her legal right to copy the form, hang it up in the locker room, nurses lounge or other and that she (the DON) better not let me know I'm there or being harassed about it as it's probably some big law violation. Meeting was quick, she didn't want talk much after not being able to ream me for stirring the pot with this form. In any event, I still don't know if holds true to my setting... so now I'm back on the wagon here to find out what the law is on this.

Thanks for your response. Yes, I am considered an hourly employee. Yes, as well on the the PTO time -- we have plenty. As for myself, I never really call out ... but the other nurses do here and there which is absolutely fine and acceptable. I feel making us work an "extra day" on a whole other pay period is a violation per the New Jersey Mandatory Overtime Law. We are understanding that we need to make up the "Friday or Saturday" but not by adding on another day on a whole other pay period. Also for the make up day, "they call us as needed"... they then add that day onto our regular 3 day a week schedule. One young nurse said I have my mother-in-law watch my little girl and having her do it four days in one week is a lot. Again, it pushes us into overtime that we do not agree upon -- it is not voluntary. Mandatory Overtime | CWA 1

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If we call out sick on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday we are required to "make up the day". This is common and I'm ok with this. Although... the "make up day" is then an extra added on day to another week... So instead of working my normal 3 day /12 hour shift, I am asked to work a "4 day" / 12 hour shift week. I feel this may be Mandatory Overtime as it pushes me over 40 hours? Is this incorrect or was the "day off" I had (although paid) not really counted since I was not really there working? Basically I feel they should have me make up the Friday, Saturday or Sunday but then drop one of my regular week days as this pushes me into overtime. Thanks for any help.

[h=3]Omeprazole, Musinex, Synthroid, Tylenol and ... Senna[/h]

It's like every elderly patient I care for is on Omeprazole... anyone else?

Vital 1.5 started at 8P -- infusing via pump at 65 mL/hr. X 13 hrs. (845 mL total feed to be received). H2O flushes provided at 72 mL/hr. X 13 hrs. (936 mL to be instilled via pump). All meds received via peg tube without difficulty. Peg tube patent and flushing without resistance. No residual prior to start of feeding. Peg placement verified by auscultation. + BS all 4 quadrants. HOB kept elevated. New gauze dressing placed to peg tube site.

Thank you for your post and advice.

Great, thanks for this info. I will keep on looking and being hopefully on finding a shift that works for me... gonna be hard to turn down this 3-11/5 days a week that was looking very prospective on my interview the other day... but I know after a few weeks I'll be saying what was I thinking taking this...

I see some people saying this, but its so nice having 4 days off free to do whatever you want vs. 2. Once I'm up, dressed and ready, I'd rather just keep going and get it over with. Driving to work 3 times a week vs. 5 with traffic. Most nurses on 12 hour shifts rave about it in the hospitals.

The market is awful at this time, so as a new nurse I am applying at many nursing homes in my area. I've noticed now that they have 3 shifts of (7-3, 3-11, 11-7)/5days and I'm sooo bummed. I was looking forward to the same 12 hours shifts that go on in hospitals (7-7, 3-3, etc)/3 days. I am possibly going to be offered the 3-11 shift, but I will never see my family with that... And I hate the thought of working 5 days a week, but I'm desperate. All the nursing homes seem to follow these hours. Any advice, will they mix that up in time? Why aren't they doing the same deal as the hospital shifts???

We hear you over here in New Jersey... we are all in the same boat. All going to LTC as getting a job in a hospital is just about impossible... I go out daily pounding the pavement and will keep on doing it until I find something. Good luck to you! Nice you can relocate, hope you get some good replies on that. I'm dying to see the states that say 'we need people here'. Seems to be a country wide issue.