"Light Duty" staffing

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

The desk in our LTC facility is manned M-F from 7-3.....yet we are a facility that has people in and out of the building until at least 8-9 PM some days. The door is secured and people have to be buzzed in.

Is there ever any consideration for light duty folks (post injury or surgery) to answer the phone and the door, vs having them out on worker comp?

Is it true that the more WC pays, the higher the facility insurance rates are in the long term? I'm not sure so I am asking

We, nurses and LNA's, spend an inordinate amount of time answering the phone and letting people in (especially around the holidays when there is a lot of family visiting). Time that is taken away from patient care and makes us way less efficient.

LTC Admins, I look forward to your thoughts on this.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

We do EVERYTHING we can to prevent lost time, so we have a variety of jobs for light duty people depending on the limitations set by their doctors. We also try to make it unpleasant if we can so they don't hang around on light duty for longer than necessary.

[LTCRN4LIFE]

My thoughts are:

1.) Ask Administration to put on a part time receptionist or senior volunteer to handle this.Insgta

2.) If that is not effective ask them to change the hours of the person at the desk to 9-5 and split the difference with the day staff.

(Maybe even 10 - 6 when most of your foot traffic starts coming through.

3.) Install a "code" pad so visitors can key themselves in.

I think using "light duty" staff would be your worse move. You would soon see you have more "light duty" than capable hands. (Same pay, less work) and I would guess that is why your administration isn't "going there".

Hope this helps.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

[quote I think using "light duty" staff would be your worse move. You would soon see you have more "light duty" than capable hands. (Same pay, less work) and I would guess that is why your administration isn't "going there".

Hope this helps.

Hmm I did not think of that angle...makes perfect sense.

[pfongk]

I've been on light duties when I injured my back at work (belted by resident) and I was doing things like filing, answering phones, cleaning out shower caddies etc. I was also only on 70% of my wage until I came back to full duties.

[Emergent, RN]

I'm currently on FMLA. Hopefully I'll be able to do light duty down the road before I go bonkers.