gerRN23

We've had several call ins as of recent and unfortunately every time someone calls in myself and the DON have to cover. Recently I had to work 7 days in a row. Most included my own duties in office but the other 2 days were spent on the floor because a nurse called in. Luckily the DON splits shifts with me so I usually only end up working 4 hours. Today is my day off and I'd love to go to the lake but I continue to worry that if I do I may get a call to come in. This feeling is horrible never knowing when you will be expected to be at work and because I'm the ADON I feel it is my responsibility to come in when we are short. Currently we do not have any type of on call procedure for when someone calls in so usually the scheduler will try to get the shift covered but if unable to then myself and the DON usually cover. I do not mind to do this at times but my concern is that we should not have to work 7 days in a row like we had to recently. It's not good mentally or physically and you can't plan outings or anything with family and friends. We are considering starting an on call procedure with our nurses to where if someone calls in then the nurse working stays over for 4 hours and then someone comes in 4 hours early. For example, if the nurse on 1st shift calls in then the 3rd shift nurse is expected to stay over for 4 hours and the 2nd shift nurse would need to come in 4 hours early. We do 8 hour shifts here so we feel like it would work out well. We also plan to pay staff an extra amount if they have to stay over. What does everyone think of this? Is it fair? and how much do you think a person should make extra if they had to stay over? The residents care is our main priority and doing this helps us to know that we won't be short. The don and myself will also take call as well as our mds nurses. If anyone has suggestions or if you currently do this in your facility let me know how you do it. Any input would be helpful. We haven't started this yet only discussed it, it's all new to us too so we're trying to work out the kinks.

In our facility we have one restorative aide who does strictly restorative. She comes in at 6:30am and leaves at 3:00pm and she is booked all day with programs. She has a schedule that she goes by. I can tell you from experience that we've tried having our nurse aides do the restorative and it usually doesn't work out as well. Our papers that we use for documentation usually end up lost, the nurse aides forget to document, or they just do not have the time. I would suggest that you have a particular person as your restorative aide and have them do that job only. If they want to help feed at meal times that is fine but helping out on the floor is taking away from time spent doing restorative exercises with resident's that need them. If it is in your budget I would suggest hiring 2 restorative aides. Have 1 on day shift and 1 for second shift. As far as the current restorative aide goes try changing his schedule to where he is only doing his restorative duties. Then follow up in a month or so and see how he is doing with only 1 task. Maybe he is feeling overwhelmed with having to help on the floor and do restorative at the same time. Hope that helps. If you have any other questions let me know. :)

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback. I truly appreciate it and some comments really lifted my spirits. I know I have a great opportunity and I plan to stick with it after hearing from all of you. Days will be hard but that is part of it I suppose. I'll keep you all update on my journeys ahead in this new job! Thanks again to all.

Hi everyone! I currently work in a long term care facility as the ADON and have been in this position for a few months now. I've been at the facility for about 4 years total but previously worked on the floor as an LPN. I recently got my RN and this is when I took the ADON position. Needless to say it has been a difficult transition. The whole reason I went back to school for my RN was to work in home health. I liked the idea of working on my own, being out on the road and enjoying the weather in the summer instead of being cramped up in a building, and day shift. But when the ADON position came open at my facility I took it and kind of left my "dream" of working home health behind. To be honest I really don't know if I would like home health. I've never worked it before and I don't know very many people who do work in home health. My ideas regarding it may be completely wrong. I've been considering either getting a PRN job somewhere in home health or leaving my job all together to pursue it. My current job pays well for the location and it's day shift. I do work some weekends occasionally though, sometimes 2 a month. I'm just afraid of walking away from a good thing I guess. Can you all give me some insight? What is home health really like? The hours, number of patients, typical pay, do you work weekends? I've considered Amedysis and I've also considered Hosparus. Please give me all the details to help me make a wise decision! Also if anyone knows the average pay for a home health nurse in ky? Thanks guys! Your comments are appreciated!

Hello all! I am a new RN (within the past 6 months) and I work at a long term care facility in a small town. I worked there as an LPN while I was in school and when I graduated the ADON position became open and I took it. My biggest struggle taking on this job has been the transition. I was always a supervisor to the nurse aides when I worked the floor but now I'm also the supervisor to the nurses. My boss tells me I'm a very strong supervisor and my supervisory skills are good but I can't help to feel like I'm inadequate. I question myself A LOT. Does it ever get better? It's difficult for me too because a lot of the nurses I supervise I used to work with on the floor. Some are disrespectful to me and I'm always afraid of saying the wrong thing and it not being professional. What is the best way to handle those situations? Some days are good for me and others are horrible. There are many days I think about looking for another job. Any DON's or ADON's out there that can give me some advice or a little encouragement. It's very difficult for me when I walk into the break room and everyone gets silent. You automatically know they're talking about you. It's very hurtful. I never realized how mean and malicious staff were to their bosses until I became one. Before this job I would have never spoke to any of my bosses the way some of my staff do me. I feel like I'm stern in some situations and I handle it well but there are some where I'm just speechless by their behavior in general. I literally have to bite my tongue on a daily basis. Any help out there?