cgalloway

I have left DON jobs for just this very reason! I have been a scrub-wearing DON or a Regional Nurse for the last 18 years. I've been a nurse for 40 years. While I see all wounds, answer call lights, toilet, feed, and assist on the units, I don't feel that covering shifts is part of my duties. I've done my time and paid my dues with weekends, holidays, mandatory overtime, and long stretches with no days off. I make sure to ask before accepting any new DON job specifically if the expectation is for covering shifts, weekend manager duties, or "night owl," all deal breakers for me. I am fortunate enough to have found a nice, small home in which I intend to stay until I retire in 2 1/2 years. This is why we can't recruit and retain good DON's and nurses in long term care. If I were just starting my career, I'd be thinking seriously about a career change!

As all of us know in LTC, the focus is on decreasing/eliminating antipsychotic use in the elderly, unless an appropriate diagnosis is in place. We have always been taught that you should not administer PRN antipsychotics without the resident being on a schedule dose. I am looking for that in writing to be able to submit to the court Physician who thinks it's ok to administer prn antipsychotics but is not in favor of a scheduled dose. I have searched and searched the web, my Long Term Care survey book, and my own state regulation manual but with no luck. If anyone knows where I could find something in writing, could you please steer me in the right direction? Much appreciated and thanks for all you do each and every day!