nurseblob

It drives me crazy when people misuse the word whenever, as in "whenever my mother died, I was in a very bad place!"

I once cared for a ltc resident who stayed on hospice for five years. There was little change in her health during that time. When I asked the hospice nurse how the resident could still qualify for hospice, she said "well, she could go at any minute." I assumed as much since the lady was in her late eighties. They did finally discharge her from hospice. The resident died about three years after that.

I completely agree! Can we please stop flaming a nurse for believing the CDC and her state health department that she was at low risk for transmitting the virus?? My gosh, she went to visit her family and was given the okay to do so!

Thought of another one: when you have extra staff show up, and someone gets to take a "voluntary off".

I wish you could go after the judge who decided that you could not force a dangerous psych patient to be medicated! Too bad the judge is not available to take care of the patient...

What a wonderful post, thank you.

1. The deaf resident who rarely speaks, mouths the words "I love you". 2. The resident who is TOTALLY confused, looks right at you, and laughs at your dumb joke. 3. The extremely difficult family says "thank you so much!" Any Others???

Hopefully, she will learn something!

Oh geez, so sorry this happened. Wish you could come to our facility (colorado), seems like we only hire new grads.

Enjoyed your article, and I feel that I share many of your personality traits. It can be very frustrating when the "good nurse" is the one who sits down, visits with family, serves everyone coffee, visits, is entertaining etc. when actually, there are orders sitting at the desk, labs not addressed, doctors not called, meds not ordered etc. I think it boils down to the public REALLY not understanding what nurses do. If they did understand, they would have no problem with the nurse at the desk, not smiling, concentrating on what he/she is doing, completing the very necessary parts of the job.

The CNA's who I work with are ALL a blessing at certain times, but the ones I appreciate the most are the ones who: 1. Will get vital signs before they come to tell me so and so doesn't look "good" 2. Will float heels, turn people, feed them (if needed) BEFORE I come to them and ask them to do so. 3. Will try to solve a problem before coming to get me, for example, if a machine is beeping, check to see it it's plugged in etc. 4. Try not to second guess the nurses. They may have reasons for responding to certain situations in ways that you don't agree with. Really, best of luck to you on your interview. Mention to them that you posted this question (about how to be an asset to your team) during your interview if it seems appropriate. I think it shows you are determined to be a great team member.

Cor status refers to whether or not the person wants CPR. I guess to me it's kindof goofy because, depending on when my admission arrives, I may have time to devote to the "discussion" or I may not. What can happen, is that a person might code, before we know what their status is. And guess what, it already HAS happened where a person had CPR initiated on them, only to have family coming in saying NO NO NO, she doesn't want CPR. See where I'm coming from? I think all that should be determined/signed before they are admitted.

At my LTC, the admissions people used to have the COR status papers of all new residents signed BEFORE they arrived at the facility. Now, the powers that be decided it is the floor nurse's responsibility to do this AFTER the resident has been admitted. Sometimes I can find what the resident and or family want from hospital records, but not all residents arrive from the hospital and I still have to know if they want to be full/no cor. I am forced to rush in the room, ask them that question right away, and then return to finish the admission when I have the time. Isn't that goofy, do you see problems that are going to arise down the road due to this policy?

I know several Nurses who wish they had STAYED CNA's!!

At my LTC facility, the CNA's are REQUIRED to supervise residents who smoke, as part of their job. The admin. say to send someone else if a person doesn't want to go, but there never is anyone else to send. I feel so bad that many of them have never smoked, and are forced to inhale cig. smoke for their freakin job! Does anyone know if employees have any say in this matter?