Sitting out another station

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I work in a very small facility. One side is Rehab and another is SNF. I work in rehab but I sit in SNF. it's literally 20 steps away from where I sit at (I do charting, documented, ect) I do my rounds every 1 or 1 1/2 hour & I've never had an incident or code happen to a patient where I was not around to catch & assist with. The DSD has an issue and tells me that I can't leave my area or else she would write me up. I'm confused and I told her what was the issue I'd be being on the other side? She didn't have a reason, only that she didn't want me there. I do not want confrontation so I just listen and sit where my patients are at. My question is, in a facility (especially one as small as this one) is it wrong for me to sit anywhere I please??

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Offhand, I would have to agree with the DSD, but then, I would have to see the physical layout. Were something to happen and you are relating events either in writing or in a deposition, it might be difficult to justify sitting "elsewhere".

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No, it isn't harassment. Yes, you should sit in the unit to which you are assigned.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Duplicate threads merged.

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I'm

An Lvn BTW. I expected that form my DON not a DSD

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Im an LVN. I've thought of taking this to the DON OR CORPORATE

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Im an LVN. I've thought of taking this to the DON OR CORPORATE

At which point they will tell you to sit in your assigned unit and you will have then paced a target on your back. Is this really the hill you want to die on?

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Specializes in Gerontology.

Can you hear call bells/ telephone when you are sitting in the other area?

Can patients/visitors find you in the other area?

If not, this might be why you are being asked to sit where your pts are.

I don't know what a DSD and I don't know why you seem to disrespect her, but I agree with the above posters that this is ot an issue to make waves over.

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Specializes in school nurse.

There is an unanswered issue here. Do you sit on the "other side" because you're socializing with staff there? Or is there any valid reason not to stay in your work area?

Going to the DON or corporate over this would be like amputating your finger because you got a splinter in it...

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Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..

It's not about whether anything has happened (yet).

It's about them having to explain that no nurse was directly on the unit when something (and it will) does happen. It's like wearing the seat belt. The fact that you've never been in a wreck before the one that kills you matters not when it happens.

For me, I'd want to be able to say I was *there* when an incident does occur. EVEN IF the incident has NOTHING to do with you being 20ft away........if you are when it happens........that'll be the variable they focus on afterwards.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

You are assigned to SNF - you should be on SNF. It's actually very simple and I'm curious why this is a big deal to you rather than just being where you're assigned to be? (Yes, I get it.short distance and all..but this is just not worth ruffling feathers up the chain about)

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

So I feel what this person said to you was a little off but I can see both sides. In a SNF that has Sub Acute/rehab there is an attitude that this is more like hospital work. That SNF resident sides are for LTC, Rehab is short duration. The reimbursement is different and they do have some fundamental differences of which have a nurse available at all times...but so does LTC.

What really matters is that when state comes in you should not see any division form Rehab to SNF or F Tags will be delivered. What this person is doing is making a division and if both sides are not treated the same state will have its way and plan of corrections will be needed.

Now you are in the SNF area I am not understanding why you feel the need to document at this particular area. If there is an area in the SNF that you can document with less interruptions and privacy I would do this, not because Rehab is better but this is the area where you work. If the Rehab area is where it is most convenient and you can still perform your duties then I see no reason why you should not chart there unless this causes a rehab nurse to find an area in SNF that is farther away to document, it would make better sense if you could use SNF so rehab could use their area for documentation. This solution allows you both to be in an area that if needed you could render assistance.

Questions:

1. Why is it so important to you to document in this area you speak of?

2. Is there another area you can document without walking a great distance?

3. Why would another co-worker say something to you about where you are documentation, what is your culture like there? If you know and are bucking the system then I can think of better challenges for you to do just that, just PM me.

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