ElderCare Nurse

Don't compromise your license. Most homes will tell you to work faster, no overtime, along with having to do more work. I work with many nurses that I know don't do all there work just to get out in time. How do I know this. No meds in cart and singing off they where given along no evidence of being ordered. Creams that should be put on residents and are being signed off for days. Hmmm- the tube of cream has not even been opened. Swish and swallow medication ordered and signed off for days but seal on bottle has not even been broken. The nurses work some of the same units I do and are sitting at nurses desk at 8.30 pm and I am still down the hall at 10.00pm doing treatments or fishing meds. No I am not slow. I just address things that keep getting missed, put the creams that are ordered. I Don't expect my CAN's to do all my treatments as it my responsibility to monitor the skin issues. I worked with a nurse who would preset up her meds and say "I have to cut corners to get out of here on time." She would frown upon me when I could not get out on time. Management calls you on not getting out on time. I'm not a backstabber . Do I rat out other nurses 'No". I just do my job to the best of my abilities and if they don't like it then fire me. I will report on my unemployment claim that I was not allowed sufficient time to do what was expected of me. It's a very stressful job working in LTC and It seems that it has gotten worse over the years. Good luck, you will get faster, wish I could say it will get better but those days where gone a long time ago.

A VA is Vulnerable adult.

The other evening when I was working my evening shift as an LPN a resident went out an alarmed door in the dinning room .No staff where present at the time. The alarm sounded at the nurses station and the unit secretary sent staff to check it out. A confused resident from my unit had gone out looking to go home. . Another nurse working on a unit closer to the dinning room informed me of the incident. Two CAN's where able to redirect resident back into facility from what I was told. The CNA then brought the resident back to my unit .I immediately went to the unit manger on duty and informed her of incident and asked her how to get a wandergaurd for resident. She did not know and stated she will call our rehab nurse as the rehab nurse is the person who has our alarms. I also reported the incident to the nursing supervisor on duty a short time later. We discussed alarms and what doors have alarms along with the wandergaurd system . I was later informed by one of them that the dinning room door does not have a wandergaurd alarm. The only door having a wandergaurd system was the front door. I did not think of doing an incident report and both supervisors did not inform me to do so. So two days later on my day off I get a call from the ADON saying she is doing a VA report and asks me some questions. I informed her I had reported it immediately to my unit manager . She called me back a short time later and asked that I fill out incident report. I offer to come in and do it right away and she informs me I can do it the next day when I come to work. Again she asks me if I reported it to anyone. Again I tell her I informed the unit manger right after it happened. She states " Oh she is new " So the next day when I get to work I fill out the incident report and then talked to my unit manager. She shares with me the internal investigation that the ADON has done. She informs me it is a learning experience for all of us. Here is what ADON has document in her report on me. Team Leader- was notified of incident between 4-4:30pm. She did not do an incident report or called in the potential VA. She was educated that there needs to be documentation and VA called in, she was informed to notify the supervisor. She was told she needed to come in and complete the incident report. So it looks like I did nothing. I am angry and feel I should talk to DON on this matter. PS - Internal conclusion : This is not a VA as staff responded to door alarm.

Something I learned when managing an assisted living and had to deal with poor performing employees. Just because you have to let someone go does not mean they are not a good person, they just are not the right person for this job. It does not mean a different job doing something else would fit them beter , I always told them that this job is just not a good fit for you and that does not make you a bad person. I beleieve you will find a job that is a better fit for you. They seemed to at least feel better when you let them know they are not an awefull person.

Call you state labor department first before you quit and file a complaint for unpaid wages for working off the clock. They will go in and check this place with a fine comb and fine them . But you have to file the complaint before you quit your job. The law says you can not file complaint unless still employed for employer. This practice of working off the clock is against the law. You may quit after you file the complaint. Then file for unemployment and list reasons such as having to work off clock, unsafe nursing practices are being done and your license is in jeopardy. Find yourself a good labor law attorney that works on contingency and file a class action labor law suit. You represent all the workers and seek money for back pay and compensation for all of them. I recently filed a class action suit against my former company for unpaid overtimes wages, and a few other things. I decided I had enough of being used. The labor laws are out there to protect us workers and someone had to stand up and fight. The company did finally settle out of court and 110 other nurses joined in the class action suit. Call you state department of Health and report them as well. There are state and federal labor laws companies need to follow http://www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/state_of.htm http://www.dol.gov/index.htm

I so needed to find this post today. Thanks all. I recently started a new job in a nursing home 3 months ago. I have had 25 years in Long term care so I know what to expect. I should have left this place while in orientation like I was told many of the new hires walk out and never return by some of the staff. ( Should have been in huge sign.) But instead I decided I would give it all I had and not make judgment. I have given it my best and can hardly think of going back there ever again. It is a very disorganized place to say the least and care is minimum to say the least.. I have brought things up to the unit manager several times and feel she herself is so overwhelmed and almost a new grad herself and just does not know how to make it better. As the new employee I feel like I might be labled the complainer. We all have basic things that we know should not be happening such as foley catheter bags not laying on the floor. Using foley catheter cover up bags when resident in in w/c. Its not appealing to see a resident in the dinning room with a full foley bag hanging for all to see .Really stimulates the appetite. Dirty linen is thrown on floor instead of using plastic bags to be put in. Hallways always have urine smell. They use cloth linen hampers in hallway that hold smelly dirty linen. Dirty incontinence barrel sits in hallways and when opened smells like the can has never been cleaned.. I work the PM shift and breakfast trays are still sitting around when I come on my shift. The hallways are cluttered with wheel chairs, lifts , walkers, tray tables, linen carts, ect. Most days between 13-14 items in each hallway. I can't even push my med cart down the hallway without blocking the hallway for residents to get through. I have a med cart that when I push the button to lock it will not always lock . I have written fix it notes and talked to unit manger several times. Still not fixed. The med cart is very old and so full of meds, the wheels don't turn right and makes it difficult causing my back to hurt all the time. The med room is always full of garbage bags ( Old med cards that they keep for the month and have someone pick up to burn) why I don't have a clue. They sort and save ensure cans or anything that come in a bottle like a recycling place but just leave in bags on the med room floor There is never an empty spot on the med room cupboard. Its full of junk that is never thrown away. The floor in dayroom always has food and spilled things from lunch on it and housekeeping rarely cleans it. We have no treatment cart and every supply that you need has to be gotten out of this locked cupboard that you have to punch your number into to get even a insulin syringe or a chux pad, meaning your always running back to supply room for anything you need. This is so they can bill every item out. The nurses station is full of wipes, incontinence products, clothing, cups glasses and trays. They have little coolers called lab specimen coolers that have urine samples, hemmocults , and blood draws in . They are then left on the floor in front of nurses station for pick up by our local cab company to transport to the lab. I have Stated several times that residents' could get into theses coolers and be exposed to body fluids. It does not seem to matter to them. It just yucky having coolers with specs sitting out in front of nurses station. This company uses four different pool agency's for staffing and most days are still understaffed. I spend so much time looking for meds on my shift that are not in the med cart but are being signed out by previous workers. I end up having to order from pharmacy. Simple things such as a black pens for CAN's to do charting can not be found. They won't provide them. I have a resident that gives his own insulin per insulin pen with nurses supervision .They allow him to put his own needle on and take off. When I started he would say to me when holding his insulin pen with the dirty needle on " should I play darts with you? How would you like me to hit you in the eye?. I went to my unit manger and told her this resident was not competent to do his own injections when he makes these comments and I did not feel safe and at risk. Her comment was " He would never hurt you " He is just joking". He just playing with you." He is still allowed to do own injections. I think I am going to call and quit tomorrow without notice to save my sanity. How do I answer the question when looking for new work. Why did you leave your last place after only a short time?

I so needed to find this post today. Thanks all. I recently started a new job in a nursing home 3 months ago. I have had 25 years in Long term care so I know what to expect. I should have left this place while in orientation like I was told many of the new hires walk out and never return by some of the staff. ( Should have been in huge sign.) But instead I decided I would give it all I had and not make judgment. I have given it my best and can hardly think of going back there ever again. It is a very disorganized place to say the least and care is minimum to say the least.. I have brought things up to the unit manager several times and feel she herself is so overwhelmed and almost a new grad herself and just does not know how to make it better. As the new employee I feel like I might be labled the complainer. We all have basic things that we know should not be happening such as foley catheter bags not laying on the floor. Using foley catheter cover up bags when resident in in w/c. Its not appealing to see a resident in the dinning room with a full foley bag hanging for all to see .Really stimulates the appetite. Dirty linen is thrown on floor instead of using plastic bags to be put in. Hallways always have urine smell. They use cloth linen hampers in hallway that hold smelly dirty linen. Dirty incontinence barrel sits in hallways and when opened smells like the can has never been cleaned.. I work the PM shift and breakfast trays are still sitting around when I come on my shift. The hallways are cluttered with wheel chairs, lifts , walkers, tray tables, linen carts, ect. Most days between 13-14 items in each hallway. I can't even push my med cart down the hallway without blocking the hallway for residents to get through. I have a med cart that when I push the button to lock it will not always lock . I have written fix it notes and talked to unit manger several times. Still not fixed. The med cart is very old and so full of meds, the wheels don't turn right and makes it difficult causing my back to hurt all the time. The med room is always full of garbage bags ( Old med cards that they keep for the month and have someone pick up to burn) why I don't have a clue. They sort and save ensure cans or anything that come in a bottle like a recycling place but just leave in bags on the med room floor There is never an empty spot on the med room cupboard. Its full of junk that is never thrown away. The floor in dayroom always has food and spilled things from lunch on it and housekeeping rarely cleans it. We have no treatment cart and every supply that you need has to be gotten out of this locked cupboard that you have to punch your number into to get even a insulin syringe or a chux pad, meaning your always running back to supply room for anything you need. This is so they can bill every item out. The nurses station is full of wipes, incontinence products, clothing, cups glasses and trays. They have little coolers called lab specimen coolers that have urine samples, hemmocults , and blood draws in . They are then left on the floor in front of nurses station for pick up by our local cab company to transport to the lab. I have Stated several times that residents' could get into theses coolers and be exposed to body fluids. It does not seem to matter to them. It just yucky having coolers with specs sitting out in front of nurses station. This company uses four different pool agency's for staffing and most days are still understaffed. I spend so much time looking for meds on my shift that are not in the med cart but are being signed out by previous workers. I end up having to order from pharmacy. Simple things such as a black pens for CAN's to do charting can not be found. They won't provide them. I have a resident that gives his own insulin per insulin pen with nurses supervision .They allow him to put his own needle on and take off. When I started he would say to me when holding his insulin pen with the dirty needle on " should I play darts with you? How would you like me to hit you in the eye?. I went to my unit manger and told her this resident was not competent to do his own injections when he makes these comments and I did not feel safe and at risk. Her comment was " He would never hurt you " He is just joking". He just playing with you." He is still allowed to do own injections. I think I am going to call and quit tomorrow without notice to save my sanity. How do I answer the question when looking for new work. Why did you leave your last place after only a short time?

I do sign them. My question is can I be in trouble with MN nursing board for completing them? Is says (LPNs who do perform assessments, and the registered nurses who delegate to, or allow LPNs to perform assessments, may be committing reportable offenses under the Grounds for (Professional) Disciplinary Action, Chapter 148.216 }

Re: LPN doing assesments? permalink -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA NURSES ASSOCIATION statement ! Assessment is identified both professionally and legally within the context of the registered nurse's role, and is an activity that can not be delegated to non-RNs. The Minnesota Board of Nursing Laws do not identify assessment as any part of the LPN role. LPNs who do perform assessments, and the registered nurses who delegate to, or allow LPNs to perform assessments, may be committing reportable offenses under the Grounds for (Professional) Disciplinary Action, Chapter 148.216. All the forms say ASSESSMENT on top that I need to sign and complete. Should I be signing them as an LPN .

MINNESOTA NURSES ASSOCIATION statement ! Assessment is identified both professionally and legally within the context of the registered nurse's role, and is an activity that can not be delegated to non-RNs. The Minnesota Board of Nursing Laws do not identify assessment as any part of the LPN role. LPNs who do perform assessments, and the registered nurses who delegate to, or allow LPNs to perform assessments, may be committing reportable offenses under the Grounds for (Professional) Disciplinary Action, Chapter 148.216. All the forms say ASSESSMENT on top that I need to sign. Should I be signing them as an LPN .

I work in LTC in a Nursing home type facility in MN. We get admissions later into the evening shift. Besides having 22 residents to do heavy med passes for along with treatments , our facility makes us do admissions. There is no desk nurse/person to help and the charge nurse who is an LPN is busy with shift call ins or having to take patients herself and cover a wing. All assesments such as the braden scale, pain assesment, skin assesment, tissue tolerance assesment, nursing assessment, bladder assesment, start of temporary care plan, all orders ect have to be done by myself. A RN does not see these patients when they come into our facility. Is it legal or within my scope of practice to do assesments? Assesments are not cosigned by an RN. I was taught that LPN's cannot do assesments.