RUG meeting disaster today..sigh

[TigerxLiLy]

*Venting*

We have RUGS meetings every Mon/Wed/Fri per corporate.

SS,DOR,restorative, myself the PPS coordinator, Medicare part A nurse (who is suppose to document on and follow their medical progress and do dc planning with family) and either the DON or administrator.

Today neither the DON or Administrator were present.

We had 15 part A and 4 managed care people to talk about in a hour today...which is usually done pretty well..

But today, I was particularly more agitated over the med A nurse texting on her phone and not really adding anything to the conversations ...just "nope everything's fine" when I ask how specific things were with each patient. (She always is texting in RUGS (when the big bosses are not there) rarely gives input on residents...I am always having to tell her what is going on with the patients- instead of vice versa)

She had 2 care plan meetings with families that morning and hadn't seen all the patients ...which is understandable.

But after 15min of typing on her phone off and on and looking bored.. I ask Her "are you texting the Dr or can we put the conversation on hold?"...she didn't answer.. So I asked again.. She looks up annoyed and states "yes I'm talking to the Dr,I'm trying to get my work done."I just say "ok".. And continue...

But then she pulls out a piece of paper,writes on it and passes it to the restorative nurse...who then laughs and writes something back.

I then unfortunately, regretfully, lost my control...

Stood up...looked at the Med A nurse... Stated "you are wasting our time here,that pisses me off so much I could punch you. I'm done here today. Meeting is over."

As I walked out,I cringed...went straight to the administrator..told her what happened.. Apologized for my unprofessional behavior but told her I was tired of doing my job and hers as well (I need the med A nurse (who if we didn't have would be the equlivant of the supervisor) to inform the team of medical issues/changes that have arrived so we can discuss if the appropriate interventions are in place and what is needed in documentation... But I'm cconstantly being told "everything is fine" yet when I go behind to make sure everything is NOT fine..)

Friday on RUGs -the team decided MS.x was not making progrss in therapy,I asked the med A nurse if there was anything medically that could be hindering therapy...I stated "vitals? S/s uti? Blood sugar issues?"...med A nurse goes "nope. She is stable"..so we put in the 48hr notice.

This morning... Her CBG was 24... Look at the past weeks CBGs in AM...all 50 with nursing giving juice w/sugar to bring it up...which the med a nurse sees every time she documents in the electronic chart./facepalm

So of course we can't let that patient go home...but we almost did because the med A nurse wasn't paying attention.

I snapped today.... I did...I don't know if I want to go back...or if I should...

[eldragon]

You need a different Med A nurse. She's awful!

I've never heard of a Med A nurse, but I was a QA nurse on a skilled unit and had to look over charts for new admits and report on them in meetings. I had to know my stuff. Cell phones were not allowed. Sounds like you need either an administrator or DON with some backbone, so that is not tolerated.

[cmiller51]

I've been ina LTC 32 yrs. 20yrs MDS. I've seen it all! I've had explosions like yours many times. Sometimes nurses are given positions they are not qualified for and don't care to learn how to do it correctly. Then some are just plain in it for the money! It is the hardest job in LTC... If done right it can be rewarding, but you have to have a Team. CYA... Document in a binder (hand written) dates, and times of all conversations, and meetings you have including ones with your DON, and Administrator. If you have a corporate or regional MDS consultant, inform them of your situation. Sounds like she is getting away with doing a substandard job!