ricksy

I am a 52 yr old RN...in my second career. I could have written most of this post. I have been in LTC for 5 months....To answer your question, yes...you WILL get this. Sometimes I have 30 residents to attend to and we have NO desk nurse. I was scared that I would never get it down......I have done it so many times now that I can almost tell you the meds they are on by heart. As in any job, it takes time! Good Luck!

I say to each his own , but it is okay for a facility to have policy regarding the coverings of tattoos. If you pay the paycheck, you have the right. I just find it ironic that people spend billions of dollars on acne and scars every year, yet want tattoos......go figure. I for one dislike them, but my own son has one and I just look past it....I like the look of the skin God gave us. But, if you like 'em , have at it!

New nurse here. I get the rotation of holidays and all that.....I want to know if my facility is rare by NOT paying you for the holiday you had off. I have Labor Day off, but was just asked today if I want paid "from my personal time off" for the year. Normal, or not?

Five months as new nurse at LTC. At my facility, it seems that all that matters is 'what state will say'.......I am getting tired of it. Example: have a resident who has some dementia along with other issues who is completely dependent on staff. He most often sits in his wheel chair out side the nurse's station and watches the action. Once or twice a day he will go a 15-20 minute tirade ..'help me.' Being his nurse, I offer him water, crackers/snack...a push up the hall for change of scenery...sometimes he is just tired and needs to lie down. I have only seen the other employees such as the activities director, social worker, office staff, and even DON try to sooth or call him about twice in five month. Once when state was in and then it was 'bring him to the back lobby now!" and two when state was in for a recheck and it was 'bring him to the back lobby now!" I am dissolutioned to the point of tears. I feel your pain! Someone give me hope!

Thanks guys. The MD did order some tests, and on my day off, she was found to have HBG of 6! She ended up getting 6units. I am not sure how she was "walking and talking" but she was, with no other complaints or symptoms. !!!!!

I sat for 4 hours in an ER with my returning vet son, age 25, who drank a "tall boy" MONSTER drink. Heart rate at 135. I would never tell any one to drink anything of the sort.

I went back to school at age 50. The first year, my son was in Afghanistan, was in a suicide bombing, and lost 10 friends. Somehow I passed my classes...although, I don't really know how....anyhow, I am a registered nurse now.....one of the best things I have ever done. I only wish I knew how to cure his PTSD...

I am a new nurse. I work LTC. Have a resident who had been complaining of "upset stomach" for 2-3 weeks now. No emesis and afebrile. Eats about 25% of meal.. Zofran often with little effect. Another nurse that rotates with me on the same shift questioned why I asked the doctor for either lab work or medication check to find the source. The other nurse also said "for God sake's she drinks coffee and eats those snacks that are in her room, I think she is crazy." This upsets me. Thoughts from all of you??????? Meanwhile, drawing some labs today.

Too many laws and Cover YOUR A$$.

Simple...facilities need to quit being cheap...MORE FEET AND EYES ON THE FLOOR.

Yes to details. Yes to meeting other staff. No, don't mind getting hired on spot!!!!I am 5 months into first job at LTC and hired one week after NCLEX. I took a tour that day, met a few staff, and peed...right there in that cup. I was asked questions regarding "what would you do if..." (lots of them)...I expected that. What I hated the most was the DON telling me her life story...and about her grandkids...for 30 minutes. I love people, and outgoing...but that was very ridiculous....

I work in a very small LTC facility, am a new nurse, and would like to know what are the "special welcoming" things you do to make a resident and/or his family feel safe and like they actually made the right choice by choosing your facility. Lately, I have had a few late afternoon/early evening admits that happened when pretty much social services and others are gone. I was sooooo busy with passing meds and getting assessment done that I felt like I was ignoring their emotional needs. There are generally only 2 nurses and 3 aides on our PM sift, and it is difficult when new admit comes. Last time, I felt so horrible for the family and the resident who was afraid ...and angry to say the least. I don't mean things like teddy bears and things, I mean emotionally --what do you do/say to put at ease? I feel like my facility gets a big fat F for this.......what say all of you?

I just encountered the 1.5 Coumadin order yesterday..wondered the same thing!

The feelings you have inside are because you are a human being, with feeling. Even though a nurse is a patient advocate, it is difficult in (our) heads to rationalize what needs to be done. As a nursing student, you probably began your journey wanting to be a great caregiver and advocate. I guess we all figure out at one point or another that someone's wishes don't always coincide with ours, and there are always contradictions in our heads. I attribute your feelings to my solider son who signed a paper that said he was "to protect and honor," yet when deployment time came, he had serious doubts about weather he was doing just that. Meanwhile, I would definitely want you taking care of my loved ones...you have guts and feelings. God Bless.

THANK YOU!

One of (my) LTC facility families, specifically the POA, had recently confided in me that he was questioning himself as to the need to continue to have his loved one in a facility and not at home with him. I directed him to have a consult with the physician and social worker. He later came to me to tell me that he had a direct consult with the doctor and the doctor told him "in this case, if it were my parent, I would access home health." I had felt this way too, but did not verbalize. He then asked if I knew where to begin his search. I am brand new nurse and told him again to follow up with social worker. I knew of a great place in town that offers home health care and a variety of options. What is my scope of practice here? Brand new nurse asking??? Thanks in advance for insights.

We started one week in. You will be fine. It is all about "therapeutic communication" and vital signs. You won't sink. I promise.

I recently had some difficulty as a new nurse with an admission. I hope the question regarding "can the duties be split up" be answered. Thanks for the post.

Thanks for your insights, everyone. I, too, wonder what happened in the three days I was off, after leaving a resident I had only cared for for 3 hours. As a new nurse, I appreciate your thoughts! Trying to understand the process.

You a say "I said you were disrespectful and rude to that CNA in particular. I stand by that opinion." My response: No where in my post is what I actually said to that CNA. You were not there so you don't know if I was disrespectful or not. Finally, to stop arguing with you, I will simply say, that if the people that physically touch and look my patients in the eye every day, see them cry, and hear them groan, lack empathy and compassion, then how would we all expect a large corporation to care. Whistle blowers? Yes, needed. But remember in the United States, a whistleblower like Ed Snowden is called a traitor by most of the population.

Nice post.

For the record, the adjectives I used for the CNA are correct. She is 19. That makes her young. She is little. She is 5 foot 3 and about 100 pounds. Uh, disrespectful to her? No. She is beginning nursing clinicals in three weeks and I have GIVEN her all of my books and befriended her. I bet if you were to ask her, she would tell you that I am the one nurse that stands up for her and helps her. It is NOT attitudes " like mine" that contribute to the problem described by the OP. I believe she knows right from wrong, but was busy and didn't want to have to return to put the resident to bed again. She can do things with me that others would have her written up for. But, my point, again....it DOES begin from the BOTTOM UP. There has to be health care workers that realize that every life has a story..and if my 95 year old granny, who has worked all her life want to lie down, than she will have that right. I am a patient advocate. I advocated for my patient. The story was not to belittle my small statured friend and CNA, but to push the need for advocacy at any level. I am sorry that I did not possibly articulate my post to get full impact, but I will not allow someone to say I am a nurse who eats CNAs.

Well, I see your point. But, I will say the same thing about health care as I do the education system. I am a conservative and not really fond or proud of our national educational system, yet am aware that while blaming teachers is convenient, I KNOW that it starts with PARENTS. Therefore, I would argue that the healthcare system in American begins at the bottom, with jobs like CNAs and nurses. There are many who don't care and take short cuts, so yea, IT BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THOSE TOUCHING THE PATINET. Last night I instructed a YOUNG CNA to assist a 95 year old resident to "lie down" around 6pm after supper. She is a spunky little thing and propels around with her little legs in a wheel chair. She was groaning and saying she was tired. I was TOLD by the CNA to keep her up because "she would be wanting out of bed in 5 minutes." Yea, so what is your point, little CNA?????????????? I brought her to her bed, assisted her to lay on top of her covers to rest...it took one minute. THE LAZINESS CONTINUES AND WORKS FROM THE BOTTOM UP!

New nurse here. Help me think this through. Patient on 7mg Coumadin. INR comes back at 1.58. Therapeutic level is 2-3. So, order will be for INCREASE dose? Or, does the 0.8-1.12 scale take effect here? Confused as to what physican ordered, although I won't go into that here. Just want to hear what normal orders would be. Thank for your help.

With all due respect...you ask our ideas about overweight nurses. Why? There are overweight doctors, lawyers, singers, football players, teachers, moms, dad, cops.....yea, so, and.....????????????????????? Are you implying they don't carry their weight? A nurse is a nurse.