LPN4Life

I really love doing them, but most people hate it lol

My sister was put on Decadron (Dx Breast CA) It gave her energy, and made her feel like getting up out of bed, she would call us and talk for hours. (missing that angel)

I hate nites too.........I have a 18 month old and a 4 yr old, and I have to stay awake until my husband gets home at 4:30, I'm always tired, never see my kids, and just ready to give it up. Plus we have mandation policies, if someone calls in, you can be stuck working on past to 3pm. It's hard on the body, family, and turns everything up sidedown

Is it possible that it was just a big family, concerned for their family member, and maybe a family member couldn't be there and they were just sending pics through the phone? I have a big family, and when one of us are sick, we all swarm in, and as I nurse I know how aggravating this can be, but as a family member, I'm gonna watch everything that doctor and nurse does to make sure they are providing good quality care. I'm sure your confident in your skills, but that family member at that particular time is more worried about their loved ones. I work in LTC, don't have to deal w/ too many family members all at once But being on the other side and worrying about a family member, I hate being told to step out of the room And just because they want to stay in the room doesn't make them uneducated, it makes them concerned.

Why were raps so intensive? I know that it is another process to go through, but is it really that complex? Please enlighten me as I am new (if you read this). An OMRA is rarely done. It is "Other medicare required assessment" This happens only when an assessment is due in between a medicare required assessment 5, 14, 30, 60, 90 day, For example...........A resident is in therapy, but are being noncompliant with their therapy, so therapy D/C's this resident, but say the resident is diabetic, on breathing TX's, O2, etc, so you skill them for nursing, and not medicare. You just have to wait 8 days after all therapy is completed and then do the assessment as an OMRA. Yes Raps are complex, especially when you are lacking the supportive data. What I always did, was say for a Fall Rap, it might look something like this: "Resident has had a fall on 8/1/04, (see NN) working with PT/OT at present time, continues to require SBA with all ADL's. Continues taking antipsychotic medication with SE of unsteady gait, is monitored monthly by pharmacy and physician. Recently started on walk to dine program." Then from your rap you can make your care plan more detailed and not use the generic ones on the computer, like this. Resident is at risk for falls d/t previous falls and is currently taking antipsychotic medication Resident will not have an injury from a fall within this review period Monitor resident for oversedation from antipsychotic meds (specifically name that med, and then look up any side effects that pertain here and list them) Walk resident to and from each meal PT/OT as ordered Use gait belt at all times when assisting resident with transfers, only requires SBA at this time Report any increase in unsteadiness or shuffling gait Most importantly when a state surveyor walks in the building, they want to be able to read the care plan and feel like they know this person inside and out, just from the MDS/RAPs/CAREPLAN The more personal you can make them, the better. If you set up a strict schedule for your OBRA assessments, then you won't fall behind when you end up getting 10 new medicare residents. Good Luck I absolutely loved doing this job, am looking into doing it again. It can be nerve racking, but you can make it fun too.

Many times a nurse has every intention of helping her aides, especially if the aide is alone. But many factors are in play that the aides just don't seem to understand. The most important thing for a nurse to do is Prioritize. There are patients to assess, meds to give, charting, charting and more charting, tedious tasks, that albeit aren't as physically gruelling, but are very mentally draining. As a nurse, when I have time, I do answer call lights, sit at bedside and comfort residents, help with bed checks, and assist with getting residents up. But there are just some nights that priortizing duties mean, that you might have to answer a call light, and tell that resident that an aide will be in shortly, because there are many duties, or unexpected things that come up. But many aides have the mindset that all nurses do is sit behind the desk, but charting is a very big part of our job. I've also had aides that would lolly gag around, and when they knew they weren't going to be able to get everyone up, they would come tell me I needed to help them, at this point, I don't help, because if I've got to stay busy, and have my own job to do, then its just as important for the aides to stay busy, stay focused and get their jobs done as well.

Agreed, same as when you are asking someone if they can come in and work........its the, "I would but.........and it lasts and lasts and you just wish they would say "No, I can't work." No I don't give an excuse, because as a scheduler, you become hardened (which is very sad for the truly sick individuals) but you just begin to think, "Oh sure your leg is broken," its just very hard to be the one to take all of the calls and be sympathetic, or empathetic, whatever the word may be.

So very true

Not looking down your nose, but you can usually tell that if someone is going to use such language, then that is also, their behavior as well. The language is the behavior that they are displaying. Why not display a positive behavior instead. I have never looked down my nose at anyone, and wanting or asking for respect from someone isn't looking over someone's genuine personality or who they are, its just asking the same thing that I give others. I have to get respect to give it, and talking in such a foul way isn't respectful of others. It is just plain rude. If that is the behavior that you wish to display, then you should round out a little bit more.

I'm sure that is just a joke, but that is exactly how it plays out

Personally, I think we are kinda young to be old fashioned (33 in Oct) lol, but I agree with you, ANYTIME I hear curse words from a woman, I just cringe. My parents didn't do it in front of me, me nor any of my friends do it, it just isn't acceptable. Sure blowing off steam is one thing, but when there is someone out there that may take offense to that way of talking it is just respect to not talk that way, I don't think professionalism is even the word for it, its just plain DISRESPECTFUL

Yeah I know, after reading these posts, I'm sure just for my sake I'll check for placement!

That story sounds so familiar to me........... I worked with a nurse 3 yrs ago, he was awesome, just that kind of nurse that you wish you could be and always strived to be........I hadn't seen him in those 3 yrs and here he was at the LTC facility I was at, just visiting people......I got a chance to sit down and talk to him and he was trying to get a job there, I was thrilled that I would be working with him again......I was back to work on night shift that same night and he was there again, making his rounds visiting people and trying to score some brownie pts to get his job back, he asked me to let him out of the building, I walked him to the door, and for some reason felt like I should hold his hand, he started crying and talking about how he wasn't healthy and had a heart attack 3 wks prior, and other things, I listened, and hugged him on the way out the door, that was at 1:30am................the evening when I got to work I heard people talking about how someone had died, and I found out it was him, he died that night in his sleep........it was so odd to think that I might have been the last person to talk to him, and it was really hard for me to deal with, I kept thinking there was something I should have noticed, by being a nurse, a sign, or something...........That was a couple of wks ago, its still hard to deal with............. I'm very sorry for your loss, and I understand your shock and the pain that you are going through..........

Agree with all, the cash isn't so great the reward It's the smiles and appreciation from your patients that are the real reward:p