Ready to give up....

[jschut]

Here I am, a brand new nurse (licensed October 3rd) and I'm ready to give up....

I work in LTC, on nights 7p-7a.

I wasn't oriented, just thrown in (to the dogs, as my DON said once).

As all places, we are extremely short staffed with CNA's. Just found out, there's been alot of complaints about me. I guess I don't answer call lights in a timely fashion. Sorry~ but when I am busy doing something, and there are 2 CNA's on the floor or in the breakroom, I feel it is their job. If I am not busy, I do answer those lights. I help whenever asked....even if I am busy.

and...

Complaints about treatments not being done on time. When I am the only nurse for 64 residents (which I am ALOT!), how many people am I supposed to be? (Been working by myself since I have been licensed only 2 weeks...)

and...

Just recently found out also that a nurse on days that I THOUGHT was my friend has been stabbing me in the back with all these little tidbits she can find. Writes little notes to the DON, complaining about things I don't get done. (She works day shift and has recently become a RN. Personally~ I think she's changed since getting her RN. Some others have come to me and they think so, so I know it isn't just me.) It's not just me she does this to, it's a few of us, I guess, but why not come to me and ask me? (Such as once, I was asked why I hadn't changed a catheter, and it wasn't time in the TX book, so I didn't!) Got my butt in a sling over that one, too! Lectured about how it's due every 30 days or so.... yea, I knew that....so why hadn't I done it? Because it wasn't marked in the TX book that it was due! Still... somehow, my fault.

Got my first write up the other night cause I left insulin in the cart instead of putting it in the fridge. I took it, cause I knew it was my fault, and maybe that's why I'm writing this...that's just the icing on the cake for me. (The new RN above reported this one too....AND the catheter change.....)

I am just so sick of this. I would go elsewhere, but the pay is decent, and there's really no where else in this little town to go. I feel like I am being scrutinized every time I step in the door anymore. Aren't you supposed to feel comfortable where you work in order to be at your peak performance? I feel like I can't do anything right. That everything I do is going to be questioned or double checked.

Sorry guys~ I just needed to vent to someone who knows what it's like.. Hubby tries, but he just don't understand.

Any suggestions or advice? I hate going to work anymore.....

[rncountry]

Also the CDC does not recommend changing foley's unless there is a specific reason, it is not to be done on a regular basis, that promotes more infection potential not less. Tell that to the RN. Your facility is way behind times. Run away fast.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Hey rncountry~

I looked up and printed out some things I have found about insulin, foleys and I am looking for some others....

but I wanted you to know, as soon as this lady's foley was changed....she got a UTI. She now requires nightly sterile water flushes and takes an ATB.

But when I said something to the DON about that, she said it was in dr's orders. I am still ticked because it wasn't even marked on the TX sheet that it was time to be done, but I am supposed to be a mind reader on top of everything else, I guess.

I have decided to get some feelers out and look for another job.

Thank you all for your support and comfort.....

[debRNo1]

julie

TECHNICALLY having worked in LTC- it's whoever picked up the order for the foley change that is at fault for not putting it SOMEWHERE for staff to know when to change it. NO we are not mind readers.

Despite recommendations my facility routinely changed FC's. I would question the sterile flushes cause I highly doubt they are using proper technique and soon she will be septic or resistant.

As far as regs go.......

Why a foley ?

seen by urologist ?

Is there a diagnosis ?

Is it a justifiable reason to have a forgein object in you body ?

just wondering

deb

[Love-A-Nurse]

julie, how are you today? keep the faith!

[rncountry]

Glad to be of assistance Julie. And just for the sake of more ammuniation per se, it is not recommended to do any regular flushing of foley's. All that information can be found on the CDC website. Next just because it is a physician order does not mean it is appropriate, any DON worth their salt would know that, and be sure that physicians are actually following the guidelines. After numerous studies it is found that the more often a closed system is messed with, the higher the number of nosocomial infections. Then there are the further guidelines in LTC. What is the reason this patient has a foley, there has to be a definative dx and it can't be simply for incontinence. As deb wrote, has she been seen by a urologist? Has every avenue been explored to get the foley out? State inspectors fully expect to see it has.

It also should be pointed out that the nurse who noted the order to change the foley should have been the one to do so, if they could not for whatever reason it needs to be placed on a tx sheet and passed on in report. If the nurse noting the order did not put it in the appropriate place the write up belongs to that nurse not you. That is nursing 101, the responsiblity is on the nurse who noted the order.

You also might just throw in the CDC guidelines on changing foley's have been in place for at least 9 years now. Maybe they should catch up with times, or have someone in infection control who knows what the hell they are doing. Of course a DON who knows what the hell their doing would be nice too. To me it is apparent the DON does not.

Let us know when you get another job. This place is not worth your license.

[casperbjs]

julie, you worked to hard and long for your license, for you to stay in a place like that. quit, quit, quit. there are a lot of places that you can go that would treat you a 100% better! i bet this nursing home has been cited by the state numerous times.

[FullMoonMadness]

Julie. I worked ltc for many moons. For our pts who keep catheters,the person who verified the mars and dr orders each month were responsible to indicate on the tx mar when the change was due. so..if there is an error here,it is that persons fault,not yours, and i believe the order probably reads change "q month", not "q 30 days".

in addition, i read these boards all through your lpn program. you were so excited and eager to finnish school and become a nurse. I remember how happy you were when you graduated and passed your boards. do not let this nurse or that facility steal your joy.get out and do it quick. there is a job out there for you. good luck

[rstewart]

I do not post as frequently as many on this board. I also do not routinely post supportive replies as some seem to. (Frankly, I sometimes read between the lines of some posts with complaints of unfair treatment and perceive some signs that there may be two sides to the story.)

That said, I must tell you......RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN!!! In addition to being correct about the clinical issues, the previous posters are correct in their advice to get out right now. There is no good that can come out of this situation.

People in LTC are elderly, frail and have health problems; these days, if that weren't the case, they wouldn't be there because alternatives exist. You put 64 of them together and something bad is going to happen to one of them---despite your best efforts, that's just the way it is. Guess who's going to get the blame when the inevitable happens? That's right----YOU!!!

In fairness to your hubby, unless he is in your shoes he does not have the background to understand the immediate seriousness of the situation; so....have him look at the unanimous opinions on this board---and resign immediately.