Racklebrown

Are you being serious????? I'm so sorry but you are in the wrong job. I made $19/hr as a brand new LPN 8 years ago. They had better be giving me at least 23 these days, seems to be average around here.

that is so funny and very true.

I have really wondered if I was just over being a nurse for a while now. Yet when I get on this site I stay for hours at a time. Seems that I am still a nurse at heart after all. I love reading what all of you have to share.

I don't know if anyone else is aware but, in nursing the customer always being correct, leads to patients that at best do not get better. If they knew all the answers they wouldn't need us. My favorite example; my trach patient that has dysphagia and is therefore NPO. The family that agreed and even wanted these things now continues to bring said patient liters of Mountain Dew and all the snacks he can hide. Makes me wonder why we bother at times.

My biggest pet peeve...my family! I am the only one in the medical field of any kind so they all ask me EVERYTHING!!! Things that I never wanted to know, we are not robots, what we are told does affect us. The best part is they never even believe me when I give an answer. Why ask if you have no intention of listening? And then there is the look of sheer shock when they return from their MD office and I was right. It's just lovely!

I agree that staffing will never be what we all know it needs to be however, you need to be aware of the point when sucky staffing becomes patient in danger staffing. If and or when it gets to that point you have choices to make. If you have no other option then your management should come in to help. In my experience that causes more problems than it solves. Outside of that, try working with the "powers that be" to weed out the unreliable co-workers and always praise the ones you can count on. It won't solve things overnight but I have personally seen units turn around pretty quickly that way. You also always have the option of refusing the assignment if you honestly believe that staffing is that horrible. If you have tried what you can and it doesn't work then the state is always willing to listen. I wouldn't count on keeping that job but if it's that bad you are lucky to get out with your license intact anyway.

The best thing you can do in LTC (in almost every situation) is find out who your best CNA's are!! When you find yourself in a code, they will be the ones running to grab the chart with the code status. They will always know where the crash cart is hiding (no matter how many times it has been moved). They are the ones that you will be leaning on. As far as, RN to LPN responsibility, the RN is always technically in charge, unless the Policy and Procedure manual CLEARLY states otherwise. In most facilities that means you are one person for all 300 or more patients. You will find LPNs that will run their own still, every nurse available should go to each one. But If you see something going wrong, you have to let them know it's your show. You and that floor nurse will take the heat together if there are problems. I would also talk to your DON and Admin, make sure everyone is on the same page. If it is somehow not your responsibility, make sure you copy that P&P page and keep it for yourself. I have seen those things disappear and completely change overnight when something goes haywire! Always CYA!!

Somehow, I have ended up being the floor nurse that all my administration counts on yet, haven't moved up the food chain. I understand that most management positions require an RN but, why do the higher up come to me every time something needs fixed? I am always told what an important "go-to" nurse I am. I have taken all the responsibility of running the shift. When anything comes up, I am asked to leave my patients,floor and even building to clean up messes elsewhere. Also of course, while finishing my own work. I always get it done or at least the fire put out so that it can be followed up on. Is that my mistake? I was offered an interim unit manager position by my last DON. He let me know that he would like me to take the position permanently but cooperate policy stated it was an RN only slot. I am starting back to school but would like to know what I can do now. Is it just a matter of being better at the politics involved?

If it is truly weighing that heavily on you then the solution is simple. Call the MD and see if you may have an order that states "May give meds in food or drink",then make sure to notify the POA. That way everyone is covered. But honestly, it's not a big issue. Just something to do when you get to it.

I realized that after the fact. I was new to the site and trying to figure out the mobile app for it at the same time. Lol,I think I've got it now.

Not necessarilly. I had a serious case of polynephritis a few years ago. Terrible, unbelievable pain. However, I still could NOT keep any narcotic pain killers down! Massive IV phenergan to tolerate it at all !

Awesome!

How would anyone ever make it through without their very own slave? I would like to add that simply because you ate everything in site long enough to need my help....does NOT mean I will continue to feed that habit! So stop asking!

Also I am highly skilled, much more so than my creditals alone would lead you to believe. I have much room for new learning experiences still. And would very much welcome a chance to engage my brain at work! Help!!

I am also looking for a new direction! I am a LPN with eight years under my belt. My problem is the only places willing to pay me enough to survive are nursing homes. I have worked in NH's since I was a CNA as a teen and I am past burnt out. Any suggestions???