SierraN

Can anyone tell me or give me a reliable source to find out what happens to a residents social security benefits once a person becomes long term care resident of a nursing home? We have a patient who was admitted to our hospital from long term care nursing home who has been on the vent for 3 months and we cannot find suitable placement. The patient will never be able to wean off of the vent and has a terminal illness. She spends day after day in her room, on the vent, without visitors. Her family wants "everything done" but won't even come to visit. One of the doctors mentioned that the family is most likely getting the social security check and that is the reason they have made the decision to leave her in our facility. I would greatly appreciate any information on where to find information on how this system works and if in fact this is the case. State of Alabama if that makes a difference. Thanks to anyone that can give me some info! Also if ANYONE knows of resources to place long term vent patients (with or without terminal illness) I would be extremely grateful.

Just wondering why some of my friends are traveling all over the country to fill positions in states like California. Is it cheaper for the hospitals to pay the travel nurses? We do not use travel nurses at my hospital so I have no idea how this type of employment works.

I want to thank all those you replied to my question. I am sure that your input will spark some interesting discussions in class!

Your replies are very interesting and I thank you for your input. I was surprised to read that some nurses believe there is no nursing shortage. Here is a reputable website that tells a different story: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/NursingShortage.htm I wonder if the shortage of nurses is only in the harder to fill positions - For example, I work as a labor and delivery nurse in Alabama - getting a day shift job immediately would be impossible - eventually a night shift position or evening position opens. (I work all shifts as prn, 3-4 days a week while I am in school). If I wanted to work at my hospital on a medical surgical floor, at night, I wouldn't have a lot of trouble finding a job.

Hi! I've been a nurse for almost 10 years and I am currently pursuing a BSN. For a project I have to teach a class on the nursing shortage. I have looked through this site, but want your opinion on the nursing shortage and how it effects you. Please share what state you are from also. I would like to read your opinions to my class. Thank-you in advance for your time!

Well, it goes to show that most of us feel pretty much the same way - we do a good job and most days we love what we do. I mean it's not a popularity contest! Another nurse I worked with made the comment that she suspects _________ of saying something to the patients that prompts them to thank her with cards/gifts because it's not a "once in a while" kind of thing...I mean it happens ALL of the time. If a couple of weeks go by that there isn't some kind of card/flower/gift basket/gift card at the nurse's station for this particular nurse it only means she was out a lot the week before! I'm not doing this job for the "pat on the back." But, it does tend to make me question what's going on? My idea of patient care is doing all the things that make for a healthy mom and healthy baby - that usually doesn't give me time to make coffee for the patient's family. If I have spare time, I help other nurses, restock our unit, make sure our OR is ready, and restock our rooms. I don't hang around chatting it up with the patients, their families, or the doctors. Oh...and completly off the subject, my absolute pet peeve is when nurses simply ignore the phone ringing, call bell buzzing, fetal heart tones dropping because they're laughing and chatting with a doctor about what they did the weekend before!

wow - ok that's exactly what happened yesterday...it was running through my mind when I posted my origingal post! I agree 100% that we arent doing this for praise and I know that there is a lot of self-satisfaction from knowing you did the best job you could do, but we are only human and it sure feels good to be acknowledged for all the hard work we do.

LOL - How funny!

You're the bomb. I love your posts. I'd give you a high-five right this minute because you hit the nail on the head, told me what i needed to hear. (see how i'd give you a high five, well "nurse I'm complaining about" would give you a hug) How did you get so smart?

Well, I think you may be right. She's worked there longer than anyone and she is always saying things like.."I helped her with her 1st baby and blah-de-blah." Also, I'm not from the South...I'm former military (started out as a dependent (army brat), then went active duty, than got out and married active duty, then divorced and finally a civilian for the first time). It's hard when you don't go to their church...know so-and-so who went to high school with such and such and like to fry everything but the toothpaste your brush your teeth with. (Not that there's ANYTHING wrong with fried pickles, Twinkies, Snickers..hehheh)

I don't know what you mean.

yeah, she's been there a long time...I think she helped pour the cement when they were building the hospital. She is always calling everyone "baby" and she's always telling all her patient how she's had 5 children and how she knows what they're going through..and that her children are in their 20's and 30's..then everyone exclaims how young she looks..(which she does). She talks with this sing-songy type voice and she's usually upbeat. On the Flip-side - she's one of the most disliked nurses on our unit because she's 1. always calling out sick so we end up working her shifts 2. Finds ways to "disapear" in a patient's room when it's slamming on the unit 3. Constantly talking/bragging about herself 4. usually charges and when making assignments, gives the crap assignments to others

I also think you need to speak to your manager. The day you described sounds like some sort of a nightmare. We all have days where we don't get to eat (as a matter, I might get a meal break once a week if i'm lucky...but unless I'm in a room pushing with a patient or in the OR, I just yell out to someone..HEY __________ watch my patients and then I run to the bathroom when I have to go because i'm crazy like that)... but your day sounds a little over-the-top. What were all the other nurses doing while you were running around like a chicken with your head cut off? It could have seemed overwhelming because you're new...or your preceptor has her head up her___. I don't know. Only advice I can give is take good care of yourself and your health, try to have a good attitude, take one day at a time..or sometimes one hour at a time and if it keeps up...find another job...it's not like there's not 1000's of other places you can work as an RN.

I feel a little silly writing this, but I want to hear from other nurses and maybe you can shed some light on this. Ok..I feel a little stupid but here goes...I work in a small hospital as a labor and delivery nurse. Although, as everyone knows the 3-11 shift can be crazy busy, I do my best to give great care and anticipate needs before the patient even asks. I'm not going to go on a brag fest but I think I'm a good nurse with a good attitude...well...I'm starting to question if there is something that I'm doing wrong. Another nurse that I work with (we work the same shift and have similar schedules) is CONSTANTLY getting gifts of gratitude from her patients...At least once a week a former patient of hers comes back to the unit with a "goodie basket" or flowers or a card thanking her for her for the care she gave. Of course she shows me the card and I tell her, hey..."her name" that's great! I'm not jealous, but I'm starting to wonder if there is something that I'm doing wrong that I'm not having this kind of connection with my patients. At first I just blew it off. But now it's starting to mess with my head a little. Hey...sometimes after I've given all I can give, I don't even get a thank-you..much less a card. I used to think that just knowing I gave the best care I could give and knowing for myself that I did a good job was enough....and most of the time it is.

SueBee - it sounds like they run your unit the right way. It sounds like it's safe. I think my patients deserve the safest environment possible and a good experience. After all, your labor and delivery is a memory that will last forever.