20 year nurse
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Hi, I forgot to tell you about the "cheat sheet" This should have all res. names on it with their little quirks, cold h20, room temp h20, crush, etc. Also make sure cart is stocked with everything you might need. I've wasted a lot of time running back & forth for supplies. Hang in there, things will fall into place & you will feel more comfortable & be able to do a good job.
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Start that med pass as soon as possible, don't let anyone or anything, short of an emergency, take you away from it. Interruptions are so time consuming during a med pass. Also, as you get used to the place, the residents & their meds, it truly does get easier. I'm not especially fast, but I could pass all the meds without looking at the mar (I don't, of course.) It helps if you can work the same wing consistently. Hope this helps a little.:)
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Good grief! ! ! I didn't know they show your age ! You can bet it won't be on my next post.
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Hi, I have worked 20 yrs. total in LTC, 14 yrs in one & 6 1/2 yrs in the one I'm at now. I can relate to everything you said in your posts. My usual wing, with 44 beds, is between the self care wing & those who need the most care, O2, g-tubes, neb txs. This last wing has 44 beds, also, but that's where Medicare & skilled care is, so there are 2 nurses. My wing has just one nurse - my residents wander the most, fall the most, request prn's the most. I work 3-11, when, historically, there are more falls on that shift, d/t sundowners, & less staff around, res. are tired & want to go to bed right now ! ! ! This is the wing where they put the agency nurses when needed. Now I know agency nurses are great & do fill a need, but you can't tell me someone coming into a strange place, knowing no-one , is able to get everything done when even the regulars, like me, can't do it all. We've tried for a long time to have another nurse, even one to work 4=5 hrs, to do one of the med passes. Oh, this wing has TWO med carts, also. There are also a lot of treatments, often d/t those darn falls. I'm close to retirement, would like to work PT, maybe I could be that nurse?????? Thanks for letting me vent.