mtjoanna replied to Nurse_CrystalRN's topic in Geriatric, LTC
I work nights at a LTC in a small town with a typical census of 45-50. I'm the only nurse in the building from 1800-0600 which means that I cannot clock-out for a break. Ideally, there are 3 CNAs on...
mtjoanna replied to chloeluvsutoo's topic in General Nursing
If you do take the higher-paying non-CNA position, it would be a good idea to ask to orient with the CNAs at whatever facility you end up working in so that you have a better idea of their work-load....
I work in LTC and we sometimes have transitional/rehab patients too. Had one fellow, double BKA, brittle diabetic, post-op broken hip after his stump got stuck and he fell/twisted. Had been with us...
mtjoanna replied to vintagemother's topic in Psychiatric
As Marshmallowstar says, we get to know our patients and have a basic idea of who is ativan-seeking and who is not. Some patients can be extremely manipulative and convincing with their s/sx, so I...
mtjoanna replied to TerpGal02's topic in Psychiatric
The first code blue I was involved with, as an aid, was disastrous. Pt with blue lips, no pulse; we called and started CPR (not allowed to use the crash cart without the hospital CPR team there). 1-2...
When I realized my CPR was about to expire, I asked my work about it and was told that we had to find our own classes--and this is when I found out that none of my CNAs have their CPR, because it's...
I work nights by choice. It takes me out of the office politics and away from the eye of my DON (who is not an ideal boss: see the post "My DON came to my house today" in the geriatric nursing section...
"And the administrator's response to the DON coming to our house? Does the admininistrator have enough clinical background to appreciate why you held the lasix and the communication issues with...
I left my job at a Magnet hospital largely because as an Associate's degree nurse, not a Bachelor's, I was definitely feeling squeezed out and pressured to leave. I'd like to get my BSN, but finances...
The day shift faxed the results to the doctor. I came to work and was slammed from before I even clocked it--hospice wanting me to help figure something out for a resident I'd not even met yet, a...
I did just have a meeting with the administrator of the facility. Talked about my level of discomfort with having work invade my home and the fact that a reasonable nursing action on my part caused...
First is an observation--this is not an easy post to read or get through as it is written almost as a string-of-consciousness rather than as a paragraph with punctuation and easily seen points and...
That and at this hospital, good care is not guaranteed. They almost cost me my leg (crush injury that started to necrose in the muscle. Wouldn't take my concerns of tunneling seriously--and I was a...
mtjoanna replied to Just_Kidney's topic in Geriatric, LTC
Document, document, document! Note every time he strikes out, especially at peers. Document your reporting his behavior to the supervisors and doctors. Chart the times these occur and the specific...
There are limited employment options in my little community. I could apply to the hospital, but then I'd be working directly under doctors that I don't respect or trust. My parents live in this...
Part of the issue is that in our small community, our doctors are the hospital doctors who are on-call for the ER. It has gotten somewhat better since a couple of new PAs have shown up. We (the nurses...
You are only missing my DON. I chart just about everything, including when the docs are contacted and when they say yay or nay to the pt being seen. I've also been known to contact family/guardians...
Our doctors have made it clear that they are not to be called unless it is an after-hours emergency--and critical labs don't count to them. It drives me nuts sometimes... We have to call them ahead of...
I have sometimes made my DON and administrator unhappy d/t thorough charting of behaviors. My first job out of nursing school was as a psych nurse, and there you really, really learn to CYA. As the...