mkahnlpn

this is so familiar, and one of the main topics on this website (IMO) But, honey, I feeeeeeeeel your pain! Like NursehopefulInOH said, the medpass does get alot easier. I agree with her entire reply. I too struggle with my delegation skills. I find it hard sometimes to not help someone in need, thats just in our blood as women, and as nurses. But as time goes on, it WILL get easier. Just hang in there, or...do what Im doing (continuing my education) :) BEST OF LUCK...

I would say this this whole deal is a matter of perspective. I was a CNA for three years prior to getting my nursing license. Nursing is a whole new world. It is a responsibility that is hard to understand to those who have not experienced it. In the end, we all need to work as a team. We are never going to "get them to understand" because I have tried.... When you work with people who understand when their job responsibilities are, and are willing to assist you with what little they can help with...it does make your night run so much smoother.

At the facility I work at we have two "sides" they are actually seperate units, and have two nurses there during the day, and I cover both at night. I do one side HS med pass, and the Q does the other side HS med pass, and I go over to that side and do the breathing TX and the insulins.

I am! I am! Nursing at a LTC care facility is SOOO much different! I want to help people, and to tuck them in at night, and tell them "its going to be okay." I want to give them their medicine and let them drink their drink of choice to wash it down, and not rush them. BUT I CANT! I am too understaffed and rushed to do that! I am new, and hopefully my career does get better, but at this point in time, I would NOT suggest nursing to anyone! Just my two cents....

SO...I am a new nurse (approx 6 months) at a LTC facility. I care for 40+ patients from 6p-6a. I am very overwhelmed. I can handle the residents, I just have a hard time handling the staff. I work with very poor CNAs. Usually we are short staffed. (most of the time) I know this is really a normal occurence at these types of places. I have gathered that from these threads. I know I need to get out of here. I am working on that. I plan on going back to school to get my RN. I feel that I am getting bullied. Other nurses count the breathing TX vials, sign off non-narcotic pills, ect. I give all my pills. I try to make sure they are given no earlier than 1 hour before scheduled and no later than 1 hour after. Sometimes, this doesn't happen. And I do all my TX. I had a lady vomiting coffee ground emesis x5 one evening right in the middle of my med pass, and it through off all of my pills, including my HS BS checks. That really upset me. I tried to get my QMA to do the discharge paperwork to send the lady to the ER, but was later told by my supervisor that I had to stop what I was doing and get the paperwork filled out. I was in tears. It is much much much more stressful being a nurse that I thought it would be. I was a CNA for 3 years prior to becoming a nurse. It looked so easy. I know that all the CNAs think I have such an easy job. I hate to see them sitting around at 11pm when they have only been there an hour and I am still frantically giving my lantus injections. I dont feel LTC nursing is for me. I do not like to supervise people. The CNAs walk all over me. I am just too nice. I hate to tell them bad news. I am a single, no children, woman who is 22, and when I am at home, I read threads on this website, look up nursing tips, and watch youtube videos about nursing. Basically, I try all that I can (within my power) to learn more about nursing, and to be a better nurse/manager. I ran out and bought a littmann electonic stetheschope. I love nursing, I really do, I just do not want to manage staff. What should I do??? please help me! :) thanks, Miranda, LPN

I work two units at night. At the HH Unit: quit leaving orders for me! there is no reason why you cannot fax the pharmacy, and write the order into the MAR! Also, quit leaving the workroom and mess...and dumping all of your extra work on me! Also, I really really really do NOT care about your kids! I am not a kid person, and I dont care about what you kids ate, did, wondered, ect.! To the CR nurse: I seriously LOVE you I would do anything for you...you are my idol and role model. You are what nursing is all about...you are caring, loving, and SUCH a hard worker! I really hope to someday be just like you! At my QMA: just do the ******* treatments! They are not that hard! Treatments do not include simply signing off the TAR book! you have to actually go room to room and put the ******* cream on the resident. WOW! I know, this is not fun. As third shift healthcare providers, you sometimes have to wake the resident up, and apply the treatment, and sometimes this is not a very fun process. But sorry hun, thats how it is. AND ALSO....use the MAR book to refer to orders when giving medications! This is a state mandated way of giving medications! WOOOOW!! To the CNAs: if I am running my butt off...come and see if I could use some help. I would fall over from disbelief. I know that you always leave at 5:55am on the dot....but I always leave at 7am or later! THANK YOU PEOPLE :) :)

This particular issue is actually one of the main reasons I strongly dislike being a nurse. I can handle the family, and the residents who are rude and demanding, but I do not like being a manager! like another person posted, we are not taught in nursing school to manage CNA's. I, myself, am a very peaceful person, and I honestly avoid conflict at any cost. I just do not like delivering bad news, or telling people to "do this now" and I know that is really important when being a nurse. I use please and thank you every thing I delegate tasks, but I still catch "hell" for it. I work with 45 residents at night (6p-630a), and have 4 cnas and 1 qma. These guys walk all over me, and I have been talking quite a bit about the issue with my coworkers (other nurses) and I have been reading up on the topic on the internet. I was told by another experienced nurse that I needed to grow "a backbone" and that this is something that mostly every nurse goes through. I can also relate to another person's post because I am only 22, and I have CNAS who are 50+ years old. If anyone has any advice, I will gladly take it. thank you fellow nurses! :heartbeat

you guys are so entertaining! LOVE this website! :heartbeat

I work this same shift, and it is very hard to find things to do on your nights off. I found myself going to the 24 hour walmart WAY too much...and spending WAY too much. I do search the web alot...(allnurses.com) and I go to several other nursing websites as well. I do alot of my shopping online now. I have recently gotten into cage design for my snake cages..that keeps me occupied when there is really nothing else to do. Just my two cents..

I completely completely agree! I love that "I am a CnA and I luv my residents!" lol then turn them like your should! LOL

wow. This is a really bad situation. You are completely right, as the nurse on that unit, it it your choice whether you delegate or not. And who you delegate tasks to. You are risking your license here, and I think that you could be right about the PCA doing it. (messing with machines) It sounds like she has a problem dealing with authoritive roles. I have a CNA on my unit with the same problem. We cant help it that we are the nurse, and they are the pcs/cna/whatever. They are very valued, and deserve respect, but in turn, we deserve it to! I mean, if she is messing with vents and feeding tubes, she is endangering those patients' lives! That is huge! My cna hasnt went that far yet, but she is one that doesnt do what I ask (she usually pretends like she "misunderstood" me). Something has to change here. This is going to come to a head, and probably on you. I would suggest having your supervisor transfer her to another unit? if there is one. Or work another shift. Sometimes people just dont get along, and this is not the place to just brush it under the rug. I really hope that you get this worked out. I am currently trying to work through my own situation as well. So I know JUST how you feel. Follow your intuition, if it means getting a different job to protect you license, do it. Good luck! :)

I have the exact same problem...and I tell ya, it is really getting to me, personally. I work as a nurse in a LTC facility, and I have 4 aids under me on nights 6p-6a. There is one aid in particular that really knows how to manipulate me. I have also been looking for advice, and books to read to help me with this problem. It is really stressful, and makes your job so much harder! I really hope you the best in this pursuit, because trust me trust me...I really feel your pain. Good luck! :)

yes. one of the requirements for emloyment at my job (LTC) was to be CPR certified.

The lady that hired me knew that I was a nurse when she hired me. But because they needed CNAs so much, and I have been a CNA for years, she told me that I would work as a CNA until a nurse position opened up. Unfortunately, there were some management changes while I was working as a CNA and the lady that hired me got transfered to another area. Therefore, the new manager was unaware of this information (me being a nurse) This caused me to have to work longer as an aide, but when things started to get back to normal and the dust settled from the management change, thats when I got noticed and started training (as a nurse.) I had kind of a unique situation, I guess, but it worked out for me in the end

As a new grad...I had a terrible time trying to find a job! several interviews, with no luck, mostly because of my lack of experience. So...because I desperatly needed money, I accepted a job as a CNA. I basically showed them that I meant business, and did a very good job (being early, going the extra mile, ect.) and I got noticed, and suprized the managers with "by the way...Im a nurse." They were very happy about this, and started training me very soon after that. So, I did have to work as a CNA for about 3 months, but in the end, it sure paid off! I would suggest that route to any new grad having trouble finding work..it worked for me