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Discussion

question regarding meds

I'm a cna but i've read a lot of posts on here about lpn's and how sometimes they don't go home until like hours after their shifts because they're so busy passing out meds and getting everything done on time. My question is, isn't that dangerous to the residents? Don't get me wrong i completely understand how crazy your day must be and it literally seems impossible to me how ANYONE gets anything done on time.. but aren't there residents who HAVE to have meds a certain time otherwise it could mess up other things with them or other meds that they're on? I'm thinking about taking the lpn program in my area but i just have so many questions about certain things that i feel like i'll never have answers to

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    I worked as an LPN/LVN for 4 years in various nursing homes. Here are my observations based on my experiences...

    1. Some LPNs have poor time management. Instead of getting started immediately, they'll talk, schmooze, socialize, or take excessive breaks early in the shift, then complain when they're falling behind.

    2. Other LPNs are truly contending with a large workload. It is difficult to complete all tasks in one shift when one has 45+ residents in the nursing home setting.

    3. In most cases, it is NOT dangerous if a nursing home resident receives his medication slightly early or slightly late. The facility comes up with arbitrary times for medications to be passed, such as 8:00am and 8:00pm. If the resident lived at home with family, they might give the medication anytime in the morning (read: anytime from 6:00am to 10:00am) and anytime in the evening (read: anytime from 6:00pm to 11:00pm).

    Those of us who are on medications in real life do not always take them at the exact prescribed times, yet we're alive. It is not the attending physician at the nursing home who decides what time medications will be administered. It is the nursing home management who comes up with arbitrary times.

    I rarely stayed 'many hours' past the end of my shifts when I was an LPN in nursing homes. However, I am a task-oriented person who knew that I only had a few minutes to spend with each resident before moving on. In nursing homes, do not waste too much of your time on any one person and you'll be fine.

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    To expound, a nurse with good time management skills will prioritize their med pass so that if there ARE any residents who have to have medications at a certain time (insulins with meals comes to mind) they will work their med pass to accomodate those individuals =)

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    I have never stayed hours but an hour after my shift yes. Sometimes it is charting. I have 30 residents to myself. No med tech no other nurse. Only 2 CNAs too. It is crazy. Mainly though it's charting or if something happens. Giving report. Taking inventory on meds the night that pharmacy comes. Anything can throw a person off for example. Having a dementia PT who refuses her meds and keeps you in her room bc she is paranoid.

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    • Author

    Thank you guys for taking the time to comment! All of your answers gave me a better understanding. Could any of you tell me what your day is like working as an lpn?

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    good ehr software can help tremendously here

    before you had to go through the MAR and flag certain meds

    now you can just run a querry in a matter of seconds

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