Rotating Halls??

[lexibear99, LPN]

At the LTC facility I work at, we have permanent halls. At least we did, :confused:now the DON has decided that we are going to rotate halls, we will be on each hallway 4 months at a time. Alot of the nurse are up in arms about this because they have worked with the same residents for years, do you rotate halls in your facility?

[ladylikeRN]

Well, since I work contingent at three LTC facilities, I work wherever they need me in that particular facility. On the other hand when I was full time staff at my previous work, they shifted me at times, although they lied in the interview and said that I would not likely be pulled. I was all over the place and out of sorts. Now, contingent work has really helped me adjust and it pays better for them to push me around, so to speak.

[StrwbryblndRN]

Did they give a rational? Maybe that will help understand it better.

Does not make alot of sense because the

residents need continuity also.

It would be intersting to find out what prompted this change.

[pielęgniarka, RN]

We have several nurses that have worked at this facility for over 10 years so they have their own primary hall-- never, ever, work another hall. The rest of us are bumped around. I ususally have a couple days in a row on the same hall then move to the next one.

I REALLY like your bosses idea of rotating nurses every 4 months. The res. still get continuity and it makes the facility more flexible to rearrangement of nurses in case of a call in because the nurses are familiar with all residents.

I would imagine rotating will help with the burn out rate, the nurse won't get burnt out on any residents and vice versa.

[lexibear99, LPN]

Her reasoning was, because when she needs someone to fill an extra shift, no one will sign up unless it is there hall because they don't know the other residents. I know it is good to know everyone but the residents down my hall were in tears last night because they feel the nurses that have worked with them know them inside and out and they don't have to remind them of the extra's they need. I don't know but I think i am going to go agency nursing, I know then I will be where ever but at least I will get flexibility of schedule. I had thought about this before but like my permanent hall so now that things are changing I think it would be a good time to try it out!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

We rotated halls every month. One wing was short term sub acute and the other long term. The nurses on the short term side didn't get burnt out from taking care of sub acute patients all the time and the nurses on the long term side didn't lose their skills.

[Furwillfly]

I agree that residents need continuity and a nurse should be on a wing for a certain amount of time. One can get to know their residents well and are quicker to pick up signs of illness.

However, the other side of the coin I can understand completely. We have 'wing wars' from a few nurses and it's honestly ridiculous! I'm charge and I go where ever I need to go as I also work the floor.

It is something that also happens with my CNA's. One won't work any hall but 'their own'. I do think staying on a hall too long can burn one out sooner. And with the behaviors and difficult clientele we have more than one month would be awful. However I give any whinny person whatever side they want cause I don't want to hear about it, and don't want them to quit. = poor charge. But it is harder if you don't get the support you need from your bosses.

[Candyheart]

The facility I work for have both nurses that only work one floor and one particular wing and nurses that work every where. Most of the permanent staff have a two week block schedule which means you work the same place and time on a certain day during the two weeks. It can be difficult at first because every nurses station has a different supervisior and HUC so the paperwork is in a different spot. Even the fax machines, some you put the document face up, some face down. Since I also am a new graduate, it was a lot to learn. I like to change units, I meet many new people and have had to learn many new techniques.

[achot chavi]

We do rotations but only so the staff is familiar enuf to cover a call-in. We never rotate more than one person at a time to ensure that most of the staff are seasoned and can help orient the "new" CNA or nurse. Its purpose is specific and across the board so no one is insulted. Once in a blue moo we have to move someone permanently- usually there is grumbling at first but ir settles down.

It's important 4 staff outside a unit 2 b familiar with other units. This is not like floating a ped nurse to the OR