judyparham

Hello, I have much to say. Many patients are coming into Assisted Living Facilities, Long Term Care Facilities and Rehabilitation Facilities. Much sicker than previously. When a nurse receives a patient there is a 3-4 page admission packet, then medication verification, skin assessment and 4-5 more forms and assessments. Admission charting, problem charting and eventful charting. Now we have the patient who are many who feel you are their maid and whatever they say you must do. If it is not medical and something ie. Clean my butt, and the person(s) are capable of cleaning themselves and you do not. You are told, why don't you clean them. Where are the professional ethics and boundaries. How about passing medication for 4 hours and not allowed to drink water and no time to go to the bathroom. You are expected to pass medications, discharge patients, put them on toilets, give them whatever they want and not make any medication errors. In the middle of pulling medication. Family and staff come and have a conversation not about the person you are about to medicate and you are expected to medicate them appropriately while having a conversation about something else. Don't make an error you will loose your license. Don't say no you are abusing the patient. We need clear cut rules and laws which protect the patient and nurses in the real world. The time it takes to give care and the time it takes to give medication. How many things can one person focus on at a time and do it well. If I am taking care of John and you want answers about Sue. Can it wait is it life or death or just because you can. How many nursing errors are made because too much is expected at one time. Here is one I started work at 7am and at 10am still giving medications and scheduling and doing treatments and no break. How many times did you hold your bathroom duties, because someone wanted something. No water on the cart so when is the last time you had a drink. Your break and lunch time is in the vicinity of patients and family no place to wind down for at least 15 minutes. Break room your supervisors and bosses want to come in and talk work. Mental Health, Physical health. Take a walk where, and if the weather is bad then what? There is much to be done. Needs to start soon. Not many people want to go into bedside nursing. With no changes in sight. It would be nice to get responses from nurses on some of these issues. How many nurses will comment on some of these issues for improvement.

These things to loosing weight sounds good. Now as a nurse. Stop eating sugar. If I am at work what are the healthy snacks. Oh 30 minutes for lunch when the closest place to get lunch is 15 minutes away. Well lets talk about the discounts for food provided at work. The ones coming out of a can, loaded with salt and sugar. No honey available. Should I continue. Oh move more you are assigned 30 to 60 patients and you are one person. I forgot we are reducing stress and moving more. Well how about talking about the reality of nurses situations and the Corporations they work for and healthy living. Part of the problem are people being honest and truthful about living and working conditions for the nurses in this country. How about saying no to too large work loads, which are impossible to perform safely. And the nurse tries so she or he can pay bills. How about not having good food options while working and not being able to drink appropriate amount of water and how about being able to go to the bathroom to release water and not holding it in. Sleep long hours and constantly being called back in and you do it. Swing shifts how much sleep are you getting if you work day and evening shift go home 12midnight and turn around and go back to work oh be there at 7am. lets see work 16hours travel 1 hour sleep oh how many 4 or 5 only to return the next day. Wonder why most nurses are out of shape.

There are several ways to look at mental health issues. Social, Personal, and Professionally. We are all affected by mental health issues. Many homes, work, schools and places of worship. Professionally Stress adds whole new mental issues, Sleep deprivation etc. The list goes on as a community we need to begin to look at mental issues with a complete package.

I find it amazing how all nurses LPN's RN's and CNA's around the country are complaining of the same thing and no one in Corporate, Legal or socially cant see. And all these nurses are related to someone and hear the complaints. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING !!! SEE AND DON'T SEE HOW FAR DOES IT GO. MY NEXT QUESTION IS THE STATE SURVEYORS CAN'T SEE EITHER.

An increase in pay is always a plus. However today the much larger picture are the labor and expectation practices of the corporations employing the staff. Legal verses ethical and who is responsible for requiring impossible task, job duties of which are impossible to complete correctly and many times safely. No one wants to address legally or ethically.

This is a normal for facilities around the country the states are in compliance with the corporations. The work loads are way way, way, too too, too, heavy. The corporations are not held to legal and ethical practices and standards. On the other hand the nurses and staff workers are held to legal and ethical standards by the hour. So things will not change. The corporations are not required to change. You can leave but all facilities are the same with a different twist. Huge responsibilities and more than which you can complete in your required shift. Even though you will be expected to.

Nurses are required to do work which is physically impossible in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. Does anyone know what legal action if any is being taken, And has anyone considered nurse abuse from employer and or corporate. Requiring impossible tasks and holding nurses responsible. State surveyors are not concerned. Wondering are nurses. And the legal community.

All LTC are the same they are all top heavy and creates division. Management style is keep each other against and demeaning each other. Result they can work short and have an excuse to do so. Each have to choose for them self what type of atmosphere they choose to work in. The injury to nurses are increasing. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. Lawyers need to start looking at nurse abuse. Until someone starts the change of nurse treatment it will only get worse. This is not one location. Needs to be addressed nationally. Until then the graduates will continue to leave the industry. People do not enjoy being abused that includes nurses.