Nancy1

Staff meetings can be productive if they are not allowed to become B sessions. I meet with my staff once a month scheduled. If there are other things going on, we may have to schedule another. I do not expect the nonworking staff to come in for a mee...

After reading the posts tonight, I have know I work in a great place, thanks.

I have been away from the boards for a while, but from what I read there is no change in tone. I guess I must live and work in the most wonderful facility in the country because the mamnagement, of which I am a part, does not walk over people. For a ...

I have been away from the boards for a while, so I scrolled through this as the topic intriqued me. First I would like to say about the opening post: Does your facility have a privacy act????? Does your staff get inserviced on it????? And when someon...

You might want to have your facility look at other methods. We went to electronic charting that feeds right into the MDS and RAPs and it does not take me long to do them because I have the nurses notes at a click of my mouse. It seems to me that the ...

I understand where you are coming from, and I agree that not everyone reads care plans. However, residents need summaries. We made it part of our weekly summary that the nurse needs to review 2 problems on the POC when doing the summary. We also have...

After reading all of these negative remarks, I am almost afraid to be positive. I personally feel the reason many crash and burn may because there is no support within the organization. Many times nurses take a DON position without having any trainin...

I am very happy to read positive postings. I think that nurses need to value themselves. I have read a lot about money. I have to ask the question, How many of us went into nursing for the money? If you did, I guess you made the wrong choice. I hear...

Wendy, It sounds like your situation is a perfect example why a person who steps aside should not be active in the same facility. I have been told that after my time a s President of an organization is done, I should not attend board meetings so that...

Rebecca, I agree with Spitfire 100%. You find a way to schedule yourself some time off. My husband and I started having "breakfast dates". We would go out for breakfast one day on the weekend. No kids. I have been out of school for 6 years and we sti...

Hi, I work in a small nonprofit LTC facility. We are fortunate to be able to offer compassionate care for our dying residents. It is part of our philosophy. We are a Lifecare facility and the resident have lived in our apartments until they have beco...

Welcome, I remember how hard it was those first months, trying to fit in and make sure that I did what I was supposed. As others have said, if your not scared, I wouldn't want you either. As an ADON, I am very skeptical of the nurse who knows it all ...

All the suggestions here are good. One thing I would add is how well is the sister? Does she understand that taking someone off al the meds is dangerous? Just another sugggesrion.

One of my co-workers brought in an Anti Stress Kit which I would like to share with you. So prepare for some Guided Imagery. You have just received a small plastic bag, there are 8 objects in it. The first object is a note declaring this to be an Ant...

Pain is a very individualized subject. Many people do not want to use the prns too much, but if you are not using what the MD gave you you are not caring for the pt. I tell my nurses, if Mrs. Smith seems to be in so much pain, try giving her the prn ...

I don't blame you for the way you feel, your load seems high to me, but if you read my previous posting you will see that not all facilities staff like that. Talk to classmates and see where they are working, and what kind of load they have. Check ou...

Roach, so you don't want to work for me, that's ok. I just thought I would clarify that if my CNA has 10 residents there are usually only 5 that would be a high care level. We have a fair number who are able to do many things for themselves. And from...

I wonder when did management become a 4-letter word? So many of the postings seem to think that because one is in management one does not care about anything but the numbers. I recommend that some of you start participating actively in your professio...

I am an ADON in charge of a 47 bed unit. I use the internet to keep me informed. I use the boards like this to find out what nurses are complaining about and to see what I can do to prevent my staff from the same complaints. I have e-mail pals in oth...

Stress levels are higher now, and yes, more nurses are needed now. I wonder how your facility figures it will keep good nurses if they do not increase your pay. Some of my staff were complaining about a 5% raise last year. I laughed and told them to ...

Lee, Thanks for your comments. I admit I tell my staff they cannot use the phrase "We are working short today." This is because we do not believe in staffing at minimums. For 40 ICF residents I have 2 nurses and 4CNAs, I admit there are days when I h...

It is difficult to understand all of the steps that are involved in one medication error. I was fortunate to have a DON who used any error as a teaching opportunity so we could all learn from mistakes, and hopefully prevent that mistake from happenin...

One of the things that I have started doing and my staff seem to really like: When I see something special that an employee has done, I pull the person into my office and let the person chose something from a bag of goodies I get when I go to confere...

Toots, I hope this incident will make your facility realize they need to be proactive. I was at the ANA convention this past week and there were 2 companies there with needles that are improved to prevent? at least reduce the risk of needle sticks. W...

My facility has been part of a study with the local medical college. We found that most behaviors are related to hunger or pain. The resident is offered something to eat, and some tylenol. The staff was pretty surprised at the results. Another interv...