RN in a small town private- Long term care facility

[ee5620]

Hi, everyone!

I recently got offered an RN position on an assisted living facility in houston, TX. I currently work on a good hospital, and I work nights. The job sounds simple enough, this is what I got from the interview....

small living facility

only 16 Residents at one time

Time is flexible...meaning I am only hired to be on the facility once a week or every two weeks (up to me)

money $50.00 an hour (2-4hrs) worth it? I am not sure.

Responsabilities according to owner? Reconsile meds once a week or two, do inservices (at least once a month, or not? she left it up to me) and leave meds prepared for a week at a time.

I am not sure about this, I don't have any idea, what my accountability is in this job....to be honest I am a little worried I told her I would like to think about it. Truthfully I am researching the RN's role in this type of setting. I don't want to expose my license, I have worked way too hard for it. I love being a nurse. I guess my question is, what exactly am I responsible for, where can I find out more about the RN's role in an assisted living facility? something seems wrong with this picture, but I am not sure what it is.

Thanks for your input and feedback.

[SitcomNurse, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN]

Imnot so sure I would take a job where i didnt know what the residents responsibilities, and my legal obligations were. I am all for making the $$ where ya can, and an extra $200 a week is great. I love to teach, and am confident that I can pour meds for a week on only 16 people.

I would not take this job where the standards seem so slack that you have no idea if you have adherence to them.

I was in a facility as it was trying to get its state certification. It was so hard trying to get everyone to understand that my licence is on the line when you order oxycodone, and I have no idea they are taking Nyquil every night for a head cold they didnt report. They werent required to report it.

Assisted living facilities are comming under scrutiny for failure to report and failiure to maintan safety. Family members want to know why Mom or Dad didnt take the meds. You dont know, you just poured them. Psychotropics and all.

do a web search for Assisted living legislation or regulations... you will see what is comming down the pike.

It takes more than 4 hours a week to do this job, and the people who do it up are are trying to make is as safe and homelike as possible. Most of them are working an hour here or there, without compensation to make sure things are in order to protect their residents and the facility.

When they are regulated in a way that gives a real check and balance I will be all for it. But from the News I have read and heard about (I'm in NY), I wouldnt go there until the legislation is calming down. It was OBRA 1964 all over the place up here a few years ago.

Good Luck.

Sitcom Nurse

[ee5620]

Thank you so, much for your input and your suggestions. I will definitely research it before I accept the position, I was not sure but with some research to back it up I will feel much better knowing I made the right decision.

Thanks, and happy holidays.