MouseMichelle

Strength and weakness. Be prepared for who would you attend to first? etc you've gotten good advice already.

as long as it's prescribed you are fine.

what everyone else says, a write up after you've tried to deal with it on your terms and it didn't work, a write up is good. It's not excusable to go on longer breaks than is written in the policy. You of course need to get your work done, put her in her place, if it doesn't work, write her up and keep writing her up until something is done.

You are a mandated reporter so report her, yes home remedies work but geez with what you're saying she's putting her child in EXTREME jeopardy.

Our advance directovers state what they want. Usually is the pt. is comfort care we do comfort care with PRN ativan or PRN morphine. Usually VS are not done but i usually do O2 sats and resps. 02 is usually used for comfort. The key is to make sure they are comfortable. I had a pt. who need MS more than q6 hours so I called the doc to do every 1hour prn. I'm the nurse who usually gives MS on the dot if they are on their way dying. It's a matter of comfort, if they are comfortalbe via objective analysis then you're good, if they are not then call your MD for comfort measures.

Four days on two days off so at least you get a weekend at least once a month

State takes things to the extreme at some points without thinking about the feelings of the residents

YOu did everything completely right, and if I was a patient I'd want you as my nurse. Stop blaming yourself, it is what it is, I know easier said than done but you did well. It's okay...it was her time...seriously it's okay

evening med pass is hard, you have sundowners etc. Once you get to know the meds and the patients I feel it would be a lot easier for you. I hear you with being late, and well nothing you can do really. It sucks because yes everyone wants their pills at the same time, as well as PRN's, but like you said to your patients, you're telling them the truth. I know its hard, that's why I work part time nocs, it's not easier it's just the meds are less, however, the stress is higher because i'm the only nurse on the floor with 2 CNA's and 60 something patients under my belt.

What shift is this on? Yes that's normal, and yes it's overwhelming, but if you have good management skills you can do it, if now you'll learn :)

Someone who listens and takes your complaints and does something about it. Someone who is approachable. Someone who works the floor if short staffed. Someone who gives you POSITIVE feedback instead of the negative all around. Someone who sticks up for their staff.

No way, never ever would I abuse and elderly patient that is wrong. Completely wrong.

Love this and thankyou for telling us LTC is not for wimps, it isn't. And it's a lot of hard work thankyou for your respect.

I never wear fake nails as a nurse I can scratch or hurt a patient with them needless to say the hygeinic factor. How to enforce? Talk to them, give them a verbal warning, then written etc.

2. Describe how you demonstrate appropriate team building and collaborative strategies when working with interprofessional teams. I work nocs, I treat my CNA's with respect, total and utter respect, yes I answer all lights, body alarms etc. If you treat you CNa's with respect in subacute, they are willing to help you in all way. When I ask them for somethign they do it because you get the respect you show. I don't work PT's, ST's, SSD, OT's etc, but when I was working AM's same thing respect. And I ask those disciplines questions loads and see if what I'm seeing is the same they are seeing. Loads of questions so I thought I'd answer one :)

THanks for the good laugh, it's true.

hate to say this but are you listening in the correct anatomical positions? Is your hearing okay, can you hear heart sounds or bowel sounds okay? Do you have the stethescope turned correctly? Are you wearing them correctly? Sorry all simple questions...and I'm sure all have asked. Also are your prior nurses ACTUALLY hearing clear sounds?

Call the medical director.

Get a BSN there are more oppurtunities

quite a bit, you'll get the hang of it eventually you'll know exactly what meds need to be given out, hang in there and good luck

It's natural for me, on my Monday's I"m like you when I sleep I have dreams of work and what I do it's not uncommon for me to wake up anxious. How long have you been a nurse. It's also a self confidence issue, it sounds like you are a great nurse, so hang in there. Maybe changing shifts would be a good idea too.

Thankyou for your replies and I'm reading them avidly. Also now LTC is not just for "old people" we get quite a lot of younger patients for rehad and piccs and ivs and trachs etc. I love my work in LTC, and I love dealing with the patients, and I love the adrenaline rush I get working with 52 under my belt. It's hard hard work and very very stressful, I am the only nurse on my shift and it's all up to me. I trust my CNA's as I have great CNA's on my shift, they are my eyes and ears. Thankyou again for your replies.

Have you thought about home health. Many people in home health are elderly. I was hired after I worked in LTC to home health and it's a blessing...give that a shot.

By the way in my town I make more than acute care nurses in hospital.........much more...that should say a lot

Thankyou thankyou thankyou for this reply. It is very hard in LTC, and you have to be on your feet to be a good LTC nurse