Rehab vs. LTC

[txnurse2014]

I work at a rehab facility that also has LTC pts.I work three suppose to be 12 hr shifts weekly that half the time run 14 hours long.Two of my three shifts I work LTC hall with 22 pts. and a med.aide and am able to handle the hall fine.But on my other shift I work the Rehab hall with 12 very demanding and time consuming pts. and no med aide.Yesterday I had two admission within 30 min. of each other and ended up staying till almost 10:00pm and had been there since 6am.Patients arent put in the computer till they arrive and it took an hour for it to be done.I am told just to do what you can and leave the admission for the next nurse yet also told to send med list to pharmacy and input meds,admit assessments into the computer which doesnt leave much work to leave.When I asked for help with the two admissions I was told it doesn't take long to do admissions.I am so frustrated with my facility.Only have been a nurse six months all six at this job.Management isnt helpful and DON isnt either and already gave notice and is on her way out.I was not trained in how to do admissions and theres no info written on what needs to be done which I feel is part of my problem.Should I look for another job or try to work out some of my concerns.

[Capp]

Your description of this facility sounds very similar to my most recent job, which was LTC/Rehab. The nurse-to-patient ratio with the rehab patient's was way off, we would end up getting stuck there long after our shifts ended, and if you got an admit on your shift it added like four hours to your shift. Your DON gave notice; my DON quit abruptly in the middle of the day because she couldn't handle it.

Anyway, it sounds like a facility that is not well-managed. I would advise you to look for a replacement job based on that. Especially considering that there seems to be a lack of loyalty towards employees. However, if you like working with more challenging patients, you might find that most jobs available to you are with only LTC patients.

[txnurse2014]

yes i do like the experience i get with more varied conditions and needs.I am struggling because i like working three days a week and having a set schedule every week.i might wait and see if the new DON is any better and gets the facility back on track.

[VANurse2010]

The subacute halls are all like that. Full admission assessments do not have to be completed (at least in my state) for 24 hours. If it's that bad, leave the complete assessment for the next shift (I'm not suggesting you do this all the time). It is, however, ridiculous for you to be there until 10:00PM while the night nurse goes about her day.

As for me, I'm just fine on a LTC hall, but I despise subacute. I will never, ever work in an environment like that again.