gericare2009

i am a new grad (last year)....i went right into working at the ltc facility. (ive worked in long term care as a cna for over 10 years). anyway, i found my biggest anxiety is the decision to call the doctor. [color=#483d8b]in the mar the dr. orders will say to call dr if o2 sat below such and such or bs above such and such.........i know it's totally judgement, but when a resident is in your hands you need to care for them and put them on high priority obviously. [color=#483d8b] [color=#483d8b]i had to call the dr because a resident was diaphoretic, had a high temp, was wheezing, and mental status was declining. when i called the dr. on call (this was about 10pm) he was mad i woke him up and yelled at me and said "if the patient dies its your fault" and then he hung up on me. this doctor does this to nurses all the time! the problem is....it's not just him....most of them are like that!! [color=#483d8b] [color=#483d8b]if it wasn't for nurses, they wouldn't be able to sleep! they would be doing this job!!! it is our duty and right to call them. i get so worked up when i have to call that i could just pass out. i hate that i have to feel that way! [color=#483d8b] anyone else in this boat? what do you do to cope with it????? any skills to know when and when not to call.

LOL! it should be an olypmic category

i personally think that cna's do not know enough about the medications to pass them. in nursing school we take pharmacology and other courses to prepare us for the knowledge needed to pass a med. the ramifications are huge for errors. you can't just say "here is your digoxin" and not know what you are looking for prior or after. i worked as a cna for many years and i often had nurses asking me to give medications. i refused because i knew i did not know what i should as a cna to give medications.