gladheart

At our facility we are specifically told (and given in writing) that we are scheduled to work 8 hours, and we are NOT allowed to work extra hours unless we have prior, specific permission from the DON, Administrator, or ADON. If we work over, they will give verbal warnings, and then progressive written warnings up to and including termination. If we cannot get our work done in 8 hours, we are to hand off what we cannot complete to the next shift.

Hi, Forgive me if there is another thread out there, but I only found a few from several years ago and want some input from nurses who are working or have worked in LTC that have gone through culture change, or are doing so now. We are looking to implement changes in my facility that improve our resident's lives, make it more of a home environment, give them more choices, etc. Right now, we are focusing (the team I am on) on dietary - we recently started a dessert cart with several choices instead of "everyone gets a brownie" kind of thing. What kind of changes have you made that worked, what didn't work, any ideas? Please, lets not turn this into a "until they increase staffing or correct staffing issues it will never work" thread. Realistically, I know they will NOT increase staffing or spending to implement any changes, so I am looking for things others have made work, and even things that did not work and why. How did your residents respond to it? Staff will grumble and complain, because we don't like change, but its not about us. Thanks in advance!

It completely depends on the situation and relationship. When I worked correctional nursing, EVERYONE, no matter how often I saw them in medical was MR. Last name. Now that I have been in LTC for 1 1/2 years, each resident is treated differently. Some are Ms. Jane, Mr. Smith. Some are first name basis. New residents are Mr. or Ms. Smith until we develop a relationship and they invite me to call them something else. As for those pecks and kisses, many of those residents have no family, no family that lives close by, or no family that can find the time to visit. My co-workers and I that LOVE those people as our own are the only ones who give them kisses and hugs. One of my dementia patients today told me that I was so nice because I gave him a hug, and then he called me "mom". You bet I called him sweetie and gave him an extra hug. If that is disrespectful or unprofessional, label away. I worry about them when I am at home, I cry when they pass. Trust me, it isn't the pay that keeps me walking back in the door everyday.

How about Correctional Nursing? I started there right out of nursing school. Depending on the position, prison level, medical level of the prison, etc., there is some contact. This is one area of nursing that I can think of that touching and physical contact are kept to an absolute minimum required to do the job. There is some physical contact, and of course during emergencies and codes you would have to "grit your teeth and just do it", but it would give you experience and more time to work through therapy to recover. I'm not saying someplace like a level 5/supermax, (although there may be even less contact there than I had in a level 4) I am talking a lower/moderate level local, county or state correctional facility. I learned a tremendous amount and got some very valuable experience. No matter what you decide, I wish you the best!

Hi, Please check out this other thread that has similar questions/answers. https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/can-someone-pls-436423.html One thing you need to keep in mind, if it is a tech school you are considering for LPN - do you earn credit hours that will transfer to an RN bridge program? We have a tech school here in MO that you can get your LPN in about 12 months, but if you decided to bridge you would have to take all prereqs - A&P I & II are an example - because at the tech school it is taught as part of the program but you don't earn college credits. The community colleges here that have LPN programs your credits transfer to bridge programs and are about 14 months in length. Good luck in your choice! You have found a great place to find answers - you might also check under the student section, and regionally under you area to get advice on programs.

Scope of practice varies depending on the state you are in. In Missouri, an LPN is or can be IV certified. LPNs cannot push medications and they cannot spike blood (they can monitor the patient, but an RN has to initiate the treatment). There are limits on chemo medication administration also. RN's have more leadership/management training. Very few hospitals in our area hire LPNs, but some do. There are bridge programs you can take to become an RN once your receive your LPN license. At the community college I went to, the LPN course was 3 1/2 semesters (spring/summer/fall/ 1/2 spring). The RN program is 4 semesters (Fall/Spring/Fall/Spring). To bridge, the LPN's take a summer bridge course and then enter the second Fall semester with the current RN students. The only spots available are those that were created by 1st year RN students that failed/dropped/transferred. The biggest problem here is that there is usually a long wait list to get into the RN program. There are also other programs that bridge, and so long as you are at a school that is accredited and the credits transfer you can always bridge at another school. There are also online bridge programs, but different states have different rules and always check with your BON to ensure they accept those online programs. Hope this helps and hopefully someone from NY will come along to answer specifics to your state!

What if you are not at work? Example: you are at a social function and someone asks for some tylenol or motrin - is it considered dispensing? Thanks!

When I was in the LPN program a few years ago, there was a lab "class" to teach us what the lab requirements were, but then it was our responsibility to find more time outside of that to go in and practice. There was a schedule showing when there was always at least one lab instructor to assist us. Yes, there were times that she was very busy, but we also learned to work together as a team to help each other and practice together. I cannot answer about the RN program, but again I feel the need to emphasize that we had to take the responsibility to make the time to practice on our own. Also, I do know there are significant differences between the RN and LPN programs, and the time line is 13 months vs 2 years, but IV certification is NOT one of them - LPN's are IV certified at SCCC.

Suchas - please provide a link to the info you say is on their website because I can't find it. I know that the person that runs the LPN program has a MSN. Many of the comments about her are pretty accurate, but she does hold a master's degree. I also disagree with the comment about credits not transfering, and the 40% failure rate. I graduated from there a few years ago and our failure rate was nowhere near that - more like maybe 5%. I look forward to you providing this info! Thanks in advance!

Where I work we can dermabond (RN or LPN) but only with a doctor's order.