So now I'm a QDDP?

[Evalina]

I'm a part-time RN in a DD group residential/dayhab organization, 20 hours a week, and trying to figure out what to do. I work with a full time LPN, who's now our Acting Director, and was recently informed that for the purposes of day to day business, as well as annual meeting and support team meetings, that I'm not only qualified to be a QDDP, but will be acting as QDDP. But I'm not qualified!!!!

I hate this. I'm supposed to chair meetings and knowledgeably discuss matters I know nothing about, and make notes so that when the contract Q picks them up, he can develop a plan around them. Honestly, I spend a lot of these meetings feeling like a complete doofus. Prior to this pronouncement, I was already working 10-15 hours a week off the clock to complete my giant workload, but the conversation that contained this new assignment also included an admonition to "find a way to get it all done in 20 hours". Sigh.

Not to mention that at this point, though 2 nurses work a total of 60 hours a week, with the increased responsibilities they only spend a total of maybe 30 hours a week on nursing.

I'm feeling completely overwhelmed, and carry a constant feeling of dread.

Anyone else been put in a similar position? Any ideas? I don't want to jump ship, and I don't want to 'splode, but something's gotta give.

[jeffrey_rn]

This reply comes a year late and probably a dollar short but for those who do read this and are in a similar set of circumstances, I want to refer you to The National Association of Qualified Developmental Disability Professionals. It is a great resource for QMRP/QDDP questions and a nice central link hub. And, of course, there's always Google! The NAQ- http://www.qddp.org

[KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

Almost another year later, but I fear this may becoming a trend. Our CEO just came up with this brilliant idea. I have resisted because the caseloads are too large (15-18) to effectively manage both skill sets.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

I work in a state facility and they are looking for ways to reduce staffing. They may close the healthcare center (8 RNs out of a job) and are not going to fill 2 empty RN positions that currently exist. They are comparing us to other facilities around the nation to see how things are done elsewhere. It just seems that the lines are blurred when it comes to what the RN can do and what DSPs can do - which is a lot. Why pay an RN $25hr when you can train the DSP to do it for $13? Off the soap box what exactly are the RN job duties at your facility?

[KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

I think we have effectively "killed" the QDDPRN idea for our agency. Medicaid waiver specifically requires nursing oversight and so do out ICF's. I told the CEO to look elsewhere for cost cutting measures. Q's are not not nurses and although technically a nurse could be a Q not all nurses have the skill set needed. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.