DianeS

Hi everyone, I am interviewing for a Hospice nurse position on Tuesday. I currently work long term care and have no real Hospice experience. Hospice is really, really what I want to do. Any suggestions on "aceing" the interview so I can finally have my dream job. Any feedback would bel greatly appreciated. Thank you, Diane

Thanks for all your advice. I'm spending my day off today job hunting again.

Interesting question as this just happened to me on Sunday night. My CENA (Bless her heart :redbeathe) came to me and said "____ don't look good". I walk into the room and the resident is pale and diaphoretic. O2 sat is 60% on room air. I yelled for help (bless my CENAs they are great) and immediately put oxygen on her. Sat came up to around 72%. Then I called the doctor for an order to send to the hospital. Interestingly enough, I had just spoken to the doctor an hour earlier on the same resident as she had gone LOA and missed some BP meds and her BP was high and she was nauseated when I assesed her. The doctors at my facility are great, no problem with getting the oxygen or hospital order. I guess you would have to know if the doctor would stand behind you or not. Or, I look at it this way, if I don't intervene, the patient may die. See what the other nurses in your facility think. But, yes, I would put the oxygen on and then get the order.

Hi everyone, I would like some advice on a sticky situation. I have been working at this extended care facility for 4 months now. They are trying to clear 12 citations from the state. So, the big push now is to make sure that all the medication and treatment records are signed out completely. Well, when the state came in 2 months ago, the DON and all the DCD (bascially unit managers) were let go. So, they have brought in a DON and DCDs from other states. The corporation has facilities in many states. What my problem is is that these DCDs are expecting me to sign medication and treatment records on day shift (when I work night shift) and even on days that I haven't even worked. When I refuse, their response is "Well, somebody has to sign them" I have refused to sign them as that would be falsifying medical records. I feel like I need to get out NOW! But my question is this: When I fill out applications at new places, can I request that they not contact my current employer. If they found out I was looking, I wouldn't put it pass them to fire me. Also, what do I tell a perspective employer when I am interviewed. I really want to state in long term care. Had I been smart at the beginning I would have checked this place out a little more as they have only received 1 and 2 star ratings on the federal government nursing home rating. Sorry to ramble, but what do you all think I should do? Thanks so much, Luvltc

See there was a reason you didn't have anything for breakfast in your house. God Bless You!!

Where I work, even looking like you are sleeping on the job is immediate grounds for firing. Do what your heart says, but I would be looking for another job. This is a patient safety issue and I don't think I could work for a place like this.

As someone who used to work in LTC, I can say that you did the right thing. Any DON who would expect 1 CNA for 50 residents obviously does not care about the residents one little bit. Way to go!

I can only echo what everyone else has said - you did the right thing.

Sounds like some drivers we have here! :roll

It will get better. I work on a cardiac telemetry floor and we often get very serious pnts with CHF, a-fib, confusion in restraints, etc. and many times we have 7-8 pnts per nurse on night shift. And usually supervision isn't a whole lot of help. They will call with admissions and when we voice our concerns about pnt safety because we are short staffed, their attitude is "so what, you ARE taking this pnt". All you can do is do the best you can, chart like crazy, and cover your a**. We have also written up incident reports due to poor pnt safety. Hang in there. With organization it does get better.

weetzie, congrats!:w00t: i don't have any advice for you. but i wish you the best of luck. :kiss

welcome! nice to have you here. you will find lots of information and friendship.

You deserve a giant pat on the back. Way to go!

Nursepenny: You do deserve the biggest pat on the back for a job well done. :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yeah: :w00t:

Thanks for the info Vicky. We can always count on you to come through.