weekend crisis

[ktwlpn, LPN]

It seem that it's always a crisis on the weekend at my LTC.We just recently contracted with a hospice after many years of failing dreadfully at end of life care.It's a real learning experience for us all-Problem is that 2 of the docs won't write for consults until the resident is CTD and we have to call them out on a weekend and then getting the comfort meds in is problematic.And what it with this "nationwide shortage of Roxanol?" (Omnicare Pharmacy again)

Some of my co-workers are calling me the "Grim Reaper because I am always the first one to "have the talk" with a family.Let's get real here-if your mother is 97 yrs old is it a surprise that you may be called upon to make a difficult decision someday? And suppose we can't get ahold of you? What then?

The nurse and social worker that came in Sunday for our most recent "crisis" deserve a medal. Bless them and bless all of you. It just drains me and I don't have to do the real work...

[Ginapixi, BSN, RN]

ktw... it can be draining! since you have a contract with a hospice, ask if they will do some inservices for the staff (may be some will catch up with you and you will no longer be the "lone grim reaper"); keep it up! and god bless! and the roxanol should be flowing again after the FDA noted the booboo they made

[shrinky]

We also have a problem getting docs to order Hospice in LTC because they see it as a duplication of services. They think that the staff can do as good a job at enof life care, and maybe some can, but Hospice specializes in this care and we know that we can do more for the patient and family. I get a lot of late referrals for either in hospital or home hospice also and as much as we try to inform the docs, they will do what they want anyway. Good luck and hope that the inservices help the staff to identify patients earlier in the journey.:heartbeat