CathiP

The hospital and home health agency I worked for both required flu vaccines. This is the first year the LTC facility I work for has. Some people just don’t want to have them, not that they can’t.

We currently test our residents on admit, 3 and 5 days after. Those with symptoms thereafter. For Covid and flu.

What is the current atmosphere on flu vaccines in LTC? Mandatory or not for staff? Pushback? Hospitals have been mandating them for years. This is the first year out facility has required them. How’s everyone else handling it with the rise in cases?

I, too, recently started as a new DNS at a small (67 bed) facility. I have 40 years of nursing experience in multiple areas (critical care, corrections, substance abuse, youth shelter, LTC). I was an ADON for 4 years at an 116 bed facility interim DON when the regular one went FMLA for 4 months, 2 years in a row. I feel I did a great job, my staff all respected me because I am fair and helped where I could. This facility is going to be 200% different. Younger population, a lot of behaviors. I am excited and looking forward to any advice.

In my faciltiy, the ADON's do the careplans. We do them quarterly and annually, along with new assessments at that time. Of course, if there is any change of condition, we do them again. The MDS coordinator gives us a list of who needs to be done. Sometimes we just did the careplan a couple weeks before but PT picked up the resident so the careplans have to be done again! The floor nurses do the admission assessments. The medicare residents have to be charted on every shift. Others, just when there is a change.

As a fairly new (4 months) ADON in a Rehab/LTC facitlity (and years since I worked LTC), I can say that our management is tops. So do the LPN's and RN's who work with us. Our DON has been at this facility only 2 years but brought it from 16 tags (some critical) to only 6 tags (only 3 nursing) and all were cleared in the revisit. We are "working" nurses. We answer call lights, put residents on bedpans and toilets, clean them up, etc. My staff wasn't used to that when I started and are quick to tell me the last ADON wouldn't touch a resident. All department heads take turns on call for weekends, even the Administrator. From reading the other posts, I guess I lucked out in finding the right facility who actually cares about the staff and residents!

I worked at a local hospital for around 20 years. Was making pretty good money at the end. Took a position as ADON at a LTC facility. The pay isn't as good (even in management) but the satisfaction is higher. Don't have all the "trauma drama" as in Critical care but am able to get to know the people I care for (even as ADON I get my "hands dirty"). I tell my staff "I'm a working nurse" and they respect that. It's not always about the money. Career satisfaction counts big!

Personally, I don't CARE about how the butt looks (although that would be a plus!). I DO care that since I started wearing the Sketchers (or now the "Champion" brand knock-offs--cheaper) I can sleep at night without the leg cramps keeping me awake. The shoes are awesome!!

And wrong you were. I start in two weeks, would take me sooner if my current employer would let me go early. Actually there are TWO ADON's and the DON in this rehab/LTC facility. I'm looking forward to it. Leaving ER with it's major click and 12 hour/no lunch shifts will be a dream come true!!

Don't know where you are in Indiana. I'm in Southern part. Daughter in law is graduating with ASN in May, can only find a job in LTC. One hospital not hiring, one only hiring BSN's. Starting pay somewhere around $19 to $21 an hour I believe. The hospitals here don't differentiate pay between ASN/BSN (yet) or areas (critical care vs med/surg). Good luck and hang in there!

I just interviewed for an ADON position at a 120 bed LTC/Rehab facility. I have very little LTC experience and it was 20 years ago. I've been charge nurse in a couple different units. Figure this can't be much different but it's GOT to be easier on my body than 12 hours at a flat out run!

Not in triage but in the room the patient told me "it's my stomach, I'm using it too much." Turns out N/V/D but who would know?!

I sympathize with you 100%. I've had that family!! Most of the time, after the patient finally transfers to the "Unit of Eternal care", the family can relax and they realize it was them, not you. That doesn't make it any easier while you're getting trashed but everyone deals their own way with death. These are probably the same family members who haven't seen the patient in years and are feeling guilty but taking it out on you. Don't take it personal. Just smile at them when you see them and ask how the patient is. Don't know if it's your first crazy family but I'm betting it won't be the last!

When I worked ICU years ago (back when the thump was still taught) we had a man who kept going into VT. The nurse would walk into his room and say "I'm gonna have to hit you again, Mr Jones."