NyteshiftLVN

NyteshiftLVN has 7 years experience and specializes in Lvn to RN, new grad med/surg.

NyteshiftLVN's Latest Activity

1. 

   Assigned to a filthy home?

   NyteshiftLVN replied to nursestace28's topic in Private Duty

   Personal protection is required by the agency, I keep a stash on me unless I know the patient is stocked up. Outside of that, it depends on you, if you're that uncomfortable and don't need the shift just inform the agency. Some patients homes are cluttered, but I once had to refuse to return to a case because of roaches.
2. 

   Frequently changing a scheduled med's schedule

   NyteshiftLVN replied to tcooks7's topic in Private Duty

   Yes on the consistent schedule. The only person that can change the schedule would be a Doctor's order. Check with your nurse practice act and/or state board. Ours states that we have one hour before and up to one hour after. IE) Order states to give at 2100, we can give it beginning at 2000, or up to 2200, after that it is considered a med error for missing one of the 5 rights. Patient, med, time, dose, route... etc. Also, the unique challenge of PDN, is you can check the BP all you want and if you miss the time, then the parent can decide they want to give the med. At that point all you can do is document in the nurse's notes "mom gave propanolol at this time" and inform the next nurse in report (if there is one). Hope this helps.
3. 

   Vent: Difficult Case

   NyteshiftLVN replied to Adele_Michal7's topic in Private Duty

   When in a situation of mandatory reporting as nurses are it's not an option to report, hence "mandatory reporter". You can tell them (if you so choose) that you need to report because you are a mandatory reporter, if they choose not to have you back that is up to them, emphasize on the fact that they need additional help to care for all the children involved and especially the patient. What happens after you send in the report is up to them(CPS), not you. They can do something, or do nothing, but you've done the part you needed to. You can be charged with a crime for knowing something is going on and not reporting. When reporting, make sure everything is objective.. I saw ______ on ___date. Report only the facts and nothing subjective. If you really feel awkward and do not want to go back that is understandable and should be communicated with the agency. Really crumby that they don't care about the patient/ only the $$$.
4. 

   How do you do nights?

   NyteshiftLVN replied to PerfectlyPlump's topic in Private Duty

   I used to be able to flip back and forth. After 4-5 years, it's much easier to stay up during my nights off and continue my regular schedule even on my days off. Sometimes I end up watching tv by myself while the family sleeps, but I tell myself it won't be forever as I am going back to school, I use the time off and down time at work to work on homework. :)
5. 

   Taking away chairs from nursing station

   NyteshiftLVN replied to pinkessence_58467's topic in LPN/LVN

   Yes, the lack of professionalism is appalling. They expect us to act like professionals, I expect to be treated as such ie) regulating how much time is needed to sit at a desk and chart and how much is needed at the bedside. And to one of the previous posts whose answer to the pregnant nurse who didn't get any breaks was to "just quit then". What world do you live in without bills to pay? I want to go there. Over here, I have kids to feed and bills to pay, so "just quitting isn't always an option, especially if I were 8 months pregnant and about to have a baby.
6. 

   No Experience Necessary

   NyteshiftLVN replied to VivaLasViejas's topic in Retired

   Thank you!! I've been wondering what else would be out there for someone who "shouldn't be a nurse." But then it's not so easy to just quit. Especially when you are the sole supporter of a family. I certainly couldn't go back to retail and support my family at half of what I make as a nurse. I don't consider any job beneath me either, because I've cleaned public bathrooms and have asked, "if you want fries with that." But after spending thousands on education and I know I'm not where I wanted to be, I wonder if it's all going to be the same when I get there.
7. 

   Tattoos are taboo at work. Yes? No?

   NyteshiftLVN replied to Joe V's topic in Rock

   Yes I agree. Tasteful, tattoos shouldn't be a problem. Now the letters that are vulgar on the fingers, distasteful things I would probably have a problem with. My patients have asked me about my tattoo, but I haven't had anyone who's had a problem with it.
8. 

   Nurses aren't maids!

   NyteshiftLVN replied to AnaCatRN's topic in Private Duty

   Thank you to the OP for posting this and getting completely flamed and standing your ground. I know I'm not alone, but I usually can not come up with the right words and certainly not as articulate as you have posted. Currently, I have the learned the hard lesson (among others) that if you give a mouse a cookie.... which is why (for the time being) going above and beyond is not in my current or future plans.
9. 

   Home health pediatric...demanding parent tips??

   NyteshiftLVN replied to CrazyCatNurse's topic in Private Duty

   I know the feeling, but in my own mind... I didn't go to clown college. Although I'm sure it would have been a lot less expensive. I would have told them well if you promised to do it... be my guest (okay probably not, but I would have thought it!). Realistically 12 hours is a lot on the voice and sounds really absurd to me. Like as suggested if the parents have so much time to be watching you every second, why don't they read to the kid? I agree with the looking elsewhere because this sounds drastically miserable.
10. 

    Fired for the second time... by THE SAME DON.

    NyteshiftLVN replied to NurseCard's topic in Geriatric

    The way I see it, was you chose not to deal with it. While you admit that was your mistake, maybe in the future realize the fatigue is not worth the extra hours and burnout. While working in LTC, there was 2 LVN's and 1 RN for the entire building for night shift. Whenever I could not physically take care of it myself I would ask the RN for help, who would be so gracious and help out. Been there done that, if something is on you, you have to take care of it, even if you have to stay after shift to finish up after you've given report. When they complain about overtime (and they will) tell them you didn't have time do to xyz and keep a log.
11. 

    "Doing too much"

    NyteshiftLVN replied to futurenurseOB's topic in First Year

    You are already know you're not like your neighbor I think somewhere deep down inside. Just like you, I got pregnant at as a teen 18 (but still a teen) I've been working and going to school off and on ever since. I lived with my parents while I got my LVN and moved out soon after. I then stopped going to school to help take care of my dying mother, now I am back in school finishing my pre-reqs to apply to the RN program next month all while working full time to support my family and my husband who is also in school. Keep your pace, you already know where you are going and your path is nothing like hers.
12. 

    Night shift/inservices

    NyteshiftLVN replied to lauriepat's topic in Stress 101

    I understand when they have a "special speaker" or something and it's mandatory and they can't schedule another time, however, they should at least try to give you the day off. If not, I would call off. I used to work for a facility that did this frequently, night shift was expected to be at "mandatory" meetings, however if someone from night shift just simply wasn't there, they didn't write us up for it. Now I work for a facility that has 2 meetings per month, one in the early AM and late PM so that everyone can attend one or the other.
13. 

    Legal to have 2 patients to one nurse in home care?

    NyteshiftLVN replied to luvtwilight's topic in Private Duty

    I have only heard of two patients = two nurses. A friend of mine told me about a situation where she was in need of feminine products and went to the corner market and came back and was fired from it as it was abandoning the patient even though one nurse was present for both patients because she worked with another nurse. I would definitely ask to be oriented to these patients by shadowing another nurse. It really helps with anything you might run into as well as locating supplies, routines, preferences, medications etc. I'm not sure I would sit in a living room, maybe go in there to do some charting but ask for a chair in one room or the other, and make several room checks. I know how scary the thought of aspiration is, maybe use that to create more due diligence? Like if they were hospital rooms you couldn't keep an eye on them every second. Remember to elevate the HOB and chart to CYB.
14. 

    Do you work full time?

    NyteshiftLVN replied to PerfectlyPlump's topic in Private Duty

    I work full time, per diem. usually 4-5/ 8 hr. Noc shifts. Usually all on one pt. If my patient is admitted they scramble to catch me a couple of days. I think it usually just depends on what they have available at any given time, when you are hired, new patients coming on services or off.
15. 

    Working Weekends

    NyteshiftLVN replied to luvtwilight's topic in Private Duty

    I work per diem and had to sign that I would work 4 weekend shifts per month, in the beginning that was fine since we used to get weekend differential, but since they took it away there's no incentive. If I specifically ask for a weekend off I only get 3 shifts for the week because I get 2 weekdays off also in addition to the weekend. I really wish they'd make a rotating schedule because some nurses are expected to work every weekend and other nurses get every weekend off.
16. 

    Rate your nurse? Check out this can of worms...

    NyteshiftLVN replied to CloudySue's topic in Private Duty

    I get that there are some nurses who try to please people and do more of the "customer service" role. But this is ridiculous I went to school for Nursing not customer service. If I wanted to kiss behind all day I would have picked a different career. I'm there to do my job and nothing more and nothing less. Not only that, who knows if what they put online is true, sounds like a good way to open up libel to me.