I know, I know. I ask a lot of questions on this forum but you guys help me a lot.
In our facility with 100+ residents they have decided to have 1 nurse and 1 med tech. This is for the 3-11shift. We feel this is unsafe for the residents and overwhelming to the nurses. Our facility is spread out over 4 wings. I don't have to work this shift much but the nurse has to do meds on 2 wings plus all assessments, charting and crisis management. If you get any admits or send someone to the hospital you get so far behind that you can be passing 8pm meds at 10p.
We have to do insulins for the entire building, there are about 20 patients who are on insulin. You have to do the bs on the patients on your wings and the tube feedings on all wings. If someone needs a prn shot stat you have to drop what you are doing and do it. There are doctor calls to answer, orders to note, skin assessments and tx's. The techs can do tx's on their end unless it includes a dressing change. Most of the nurses on this shift are getting burnt out. I got called in to replace a sick nurse the other night and the day shift had left a ton of paperwork on 2 admits that need done. The pharmacy was not pleased when I had to call them at 1am because those admits needed meds before the 7am meds. By the way I was supposed to get out of there at 11p. We had a fire alarm go off at 11:15 and I had to help with that since I was in the building. I got out of there at 2:30am after doing all my charting, checking orders and etc. I think we should all ask for a meeting with the don to discuss this but the others say she will do nothing about it. I have decided I will not go fill in on this shift anymore.
Irregardless of if you work 2nds or not, the facility is dangerous. The residents are in perpetual jeopardy. Not only would I run for the nearest exit, I would have to advocate for madandated ratios....No way is everyone getting everything that is prescribed. I have only 30, and some nights when I work 3-11, I am still inhouse and charting until 1 or 2am, especially when someone "crumps". Yep I am the queen of send out for eval.....and heaven forfend one of the docs coming in....add a few more hours to take off orders....
You really need to report these instances of patients not getting their treatments, unsafe staffing levels, and so on to the state board and to the proper agency that oversees LTC. You need to be looking for another job too.
yep, you need to report it to your long term care regulator. In Texas, there is a law where each facility must place, in a public place in the facility, a form where you enter the # of staff each shift. In TX this is a law. That is how the state investigators can come in and whoever wants to can see how many staff you actually have on duty. Also, when you turn the info in to the state you will want to let them know of any decubitus sores, weight loss, falls, restraints. These are the things that the state is interested in here in Texas. They don't have a staff to patient ratio in Texas either, but the state tells me that if patients are breaking down, loosing weight, lots of restraints, and there is other signs that they aren't being properly taken care of then the state will come and investigate. All you have to do is report your concerns and tell them why you believe these things are happening. You can even report these concerns anonymously. Good luck and I think it's great that you care. :)
I know, I know. I ask a lot of questions on this forum but you guys help me a lot.
rebel_red
230 Posts
Irregardless of if you work 2nds or not, the facility is dangerous. The residents are in perpetual jeopardy. Not only would I run for the nearest exit, I would have to advocate for madandated ratios....No way is everyone getting everything that is prescribed. I have only 30, and some nights when I work 3-11, I am still inhouse and charting until 1 or 2am, especially when someone "crumps". Yep I am the queen of send out for eval.....and heaven forfend one of the docs coming in....add a few more hours to take off orders....
Tres