mar326

At each nurses station where I work we put things that need to be done the next day on the desk calendar. It works real well.

I'm hoping to get some insight here about PM shift staffing. I work in a LTC facility that has a DON who does not seem to realize that the PM shift has half the nurses and CNA's and only one 5 hour ward clerk (verses 3 full time day ones). We have been getting many late hospital readmissions, Doctor coming on rounds and the left over work from Day shift. She (the DON) doesn't have a clue or want to have a clue about what goes on. Can any DON out there explain to me why this is a dumping shift? Do administrators think that half of the residents go home after day shift leaves? We still have falls,ER transports, family members to help, and all other routine that is expected of us. I really want to know why it is this way.

This reminds me of the time a CNA asked if they could go home because it was starting to snow. Duh, who was going to take care ofthe residents if they went home when it started to snow???We live in a rural area and everyone seems willing to do what they can to help in bad weather. If your at work you stay and just wait till replacements come in.I've never heard any grumbling about it.This is at a LTC setting.

It amazes me that people actually think Internet use on resident care time is ok. Employees of LTC facilites are paid to be care takers of Residents not to surf the internet. That is like where I work, the supervisor thinks its ok for a CNA to study for a classs she is taking if her work is done.This is on the PM shift so no administration is aware of it. A CNA's work is never done,there is always something to do. I believe a person is paid for 8 hours of work and they shouldWORK that 8 hours.

I agree. How can you have sooo much to do,but have time to be on the internet???? If you needed encouragment why didn't you call the DON? Did you ask the other nurses to assist you??? What about calling someone from AM shift in early??

I don't know if this is the right place to post this question but I'm going to try. Does anyone know where or if there is a web page for a forum for Ward Clerks?

It seems to me that most LTC facilites have this same problem. Why isn't the budget made to reflect the need for some overtime? With all the paper work it takes for a new admission or a readmission from the hospital it is crazy to think that it can be accomplished is regular work time. What does administration think nurses do when they have no admissions during the day?

Merit Raise,what's that? Where I work everyone gets the same percentage. It was 5% up until this year when it dropped to 4%. They also give the starting wage a 5% increase. There sure is a difference in 4% for a CNA and a RN.Merit raise no. So if you goff off and don't do your job it is not reflected in your annual raise. I have been there for 9 years now and have only heard of once someone getting a 25cent merit raise.(everyone thinks it was given out of sympathy for the CNA,she was going through some rough time) So no matter how efficient or reliable you are we are treated the same.

Hi, I am wondering how other Long Term Care places handle missed signatures on MARS and treatment book. Our nurses go back and mark them sometimes 20 days after they gave the med or treatment. Is this a common practice and is it legal? How can anyone possibly remember if they gave a med that long ago?