wacberry

I had already thought about the equipment issue. We have nothing! None of us have worked peds in years. The staff is very concerned. This is only for a very short time. To qualify for medicaid and the other assistance. They just have to be here for one midnight. This is one where the company is putting a little profit ahead of everything else. I know they have facilities that are for children. But, I did not think they could have both children and adults in the same area.

I thought that LTC facilities could not have anyone under 18 in their facility. We were told that an infant will be admitted to our LTC facility tomorrow. It was something about having to be admitted so they could qualify for community based assistance. Does anyone know anything about this?

Wharton County Junior College has both LVN and RN programs. Have no idea about the waiting list! Wharton is about 50 miles from downtown Houston down Hwy 59 south.

First nursing is not a career it is a job. Look up the meaning of career. It requires progress, advancement, you have pay for your experience. In nursing they will pay the nurse they just hired at the same or more than what they pay the nurse that has been there 10 years. Now I don't know about x-ray techs, it may be the same. I get tired of hearing about a "nursing career" when all you really have is a job.

It depends on what day it is! Today I would go in a heart beat. But, I just got home and I think the whole facility where I work is crazy, disorganized, the nurses are over worked, etc.

I do have malpractice insurance myself. One of the thoughts I have heard on the subject is, if you have the insurance you will be sued. If you don't have the insurance the chances are less likely. They go after who ever has the deepest pockets.

The "credit check" goes way back to when I first started nursing years ago. I think the employer figured if you had bad credit you needed money. That would make you a higher risk for theft of drugs, etc. I don't think as many employers do them now. But there are still a number who do!

Amazing on a "nursing site" that only 58.63% of the people answering the survey would encourage nursing school. That means 41.37% are neutral or would not encourage nursing school. Does that indicate they are not happy with the profession? Nursing was my second career. I have been thinking about going back to the previous one after 20+ years in nursing. They keep expecting more and more work from us. Just reaching a point it can't be done.

LTC is much different than hospital work. The roaches I would have a problem with!! The other things sound like every day life in LTC. Calling the state wont get much done. Unless they find the bandages marked several day ago they wont do a thing. Even then it is not much. Same with the eye gtts. LTC patient loads create these problems. I can have as many as 60 resident in my care on a 2-10 shift. There is no way I can get everything done. I do the most important things first and go on from there. We are a 120 bed facility but are frequently short staffed. Supposed to have 3 nurses on 6-2 and 3 nurses on 2-10 and 2 nurses on 10-6. Now the company can afford 2 corporate jets, but they can't afford to find us more help. They have 21 homes in South Texas. Around here the most action comes when famalies start to complain. My advice for anyone looking for placment is see how often the staff is short. You want good care for your loved one look at the staffing ratio. Not what they tell you it will be, what is actually there. Should have one nurse for every 30-35 residents. Should have a CNA for every 12-15 residents. That's the minimum.

I try to fix the things that can be fixed. Call the other nurse and let her know. But some things can not be fixed. Like controled drugs that are not signed out. There is an accepted error rate on medications. I can't remember, I think it might be 5%, at least in Texas. I doubt the nurse was fired over just that one incident. Just don't ever start a pi$$ing match with another nurse by finding and reporting things. It will come back to bite you on the butt.

Texas Wharton LTC up to 60 residents (56 on my side yesterday) 2-10

I have had problems with Omnicare. Once sending out meds for a resident that had been dead for months. Sending meds that are the wrong strength, D/C'd months ago then just go back to the old dose. I think their computer system randomly changes things around. We get a ton of "order to soon" from them.

I already feel I am underpaid for the amount of work I am expected to do. You add more work to that because of the shortage there will be. You don't compensate me accordingly and I will retire or find something else to do. I am almost at that point now if the taxes keep going up. Why work?

I have been an LVN for 20 years. I started with an Associates Degree in Business Management I received back in the late 70's. I worked in that field for about 12 years before going into nursing. I don't put it on a resume or bring it up in an intervies. Very few of my co workers know. It seems to put them off if they do. Like I am so much more educated than they are!

Long term care facility in a small town 60 miles south east of Houston. (Wharton) We moved here about 18 months ago for my husbands job. There are really not many choices unless you want to drive back into Houston. They pay a lot better in Houston. I only work part time, 2 on 3 off.