CosmicCare

Hi Nurses, My background as a nurse is primarily in home care and primary care with seven years of experience. During the pandemic, I stepped away from nursing due to health reasons and I'm currently working as a prior authorization specialist (not a nursing role) for a hospital organization. I want to go back to nursing in a role that fits. I applied to a CDI Specialist position and was essentially told that I don't have enough experience in acute care nursing. Unfortunately, it's not an option for me to gain more experience in this area. I think the clinical detective work and remote possibilities in CDI work would be a perfect fit for me though I know I would have a lot to learn. I am looking at the different certifications and job requirements. Before I go for a certification or apply to more jobs, I would really love to hear from some nurses about how they got into this position and any advice you might have for me on the best next steps. Please, and thank you so much!

I apologize for being vague. I understand that a resident may be leaving to go to an appointment so in that case you would give medications early. Or, you may get an admission and be forced to give medications late. It's not so much the action that concerns me as much as the documentation being inaccurate and dishonest. Let me give a specific example. Say you have a medication due at 4, 5, and 6 o'clock. This nurse would give the 6 o'clock med at 4:20 with the 4, and 5 o'clock meds and just not document it. That is, until the 6 o'clock med was due. Then she would document that she just gave it and the time it was given would be completely inaccurate. She wasn't going back in later to adjust the time or adding a note about it and she wasn't having any regard to why certain medications may have been scheduled apart. She was also popping medications hours in advance for several residents and then leaving them in med cups in the med cart and going back to get them later. Yes, she was labeling some of them so as to not mix them up, but she even said to me, "You're not supposed to do this, so don't do it. But, you kind of have to so you don't fall behind." She threw away empty blister packs with labels on them with no regard to HIPAA. And, she consistently documented things she had not asked residents like pain scales and fluid intake. She would just guess and I understand that when you're familiar with your residents you can do this to some degree, but it was still concerning. Lastly, towards the end of the shift she wanted me to fabricate skilled notes on a couple of residents whose rooms I hadn't been in. She gave the meds and took the vitals, but she wanted the documentation to be under me and to have me make assumptions about their breathing and ambulation. I don't know if she checked those things. I know that I'm responsible for what I document and protecting my own license, but I feel like it says something about the facility if I'm being put in these positions on day 1 and this is who they chose to train me.

I'm hoping for some advice from other nurses who may have similar experiences. I started a new job in Mass. at a LTC/rehab facility last week. Yesterday was my first day training on the floor and the preceptor they put me with has only been a nurse for 7 months (I worked in KS for 5). The preceptor is already looking for another job and told me some pretty negative things about the facility. But, my main concern was the way she was documenting. She was giving meds early (outside the 1 hour before, 1 hour after window) and then documenting it as it came due, so the time stamp wouldn't match when she actually gave it. She acted like that's what everyone does in order to get meds given on time there and wasn't trying to hide it. The administration gave the impression like they were putting me with one of their best nurses to train and seem to have no concerns about her. The residents seem to like her as well. Meanwhile, she had me sign in and was having us both give medications and document on my name. I had to put my foot down about it, but I still wouldn't be able to say what all she documented under me. I was hired on the spot at my interview and I'm training with 2 other brand new nurses, 1 of which I will be working with when we get out of orientation. I'm pretty concerned that they're putting us alone together after two weeks of training. Should I run for the hills now? Or, wait until I'm out of orientation so I can do things my way and maybe it's not as bad as I think? Thanks in advance!

I stated that it was not a goal that she should be vaccinated, but rather to provide information. Thanks for your response and input.

I'm a student who is working on a teaching project for clinical. We have to pick a topic related to our specific patient and make a detailed outline about how we would provide patient education for that topic. My nursing diagnosis is: Deficient knowledge r/t health and safety practices s/t immunization status AEB refusal of hepatitis B vaccine for infant and Tdap and influenza vaccinations for self I need to come up with three measurable goals and state how I would evaluate the outcome of the goals. The first goal I'm listing is "Patient will provide explanation for refusal of vaccines." Because, I need to know what sort of information to provide. The purpose isn't to convince the patient to get immunized, but rather to make sure she has the information to make an educated decision. I'm having trouble coming up with 2 more measurable goals and would appreciate any help. Thank you.