What "bad habits" are LTC nurses known for??

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A brand-new DON who previously worked in an acute care setting interviewed me and said that she would rather hire a new grad so that she can "train them how I want them" and that LTC nurses usually "have a lot of bad habits".

WHY did she generalize like that and WHAT bad habits might she have been talking about?! (Sorry, I was afraid to actually ask HER. She seemed like a really tough lady and I was kind of taken off guard).

Is there a general list of bad LTC habits people know about? Should I be worried to work in LTC due to any prejudices against people who have worked in this area of nursing?

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Not documenting on snf or mds at times, not writing orders for standing order medications, not documenting on resident when sent to er.

Just e few where I'm at :)

ABehrnes,LPN

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Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

-Not documenting PRN meds.

-Not restocking the med. cart for the next shift

-Not wiping the bottles of liquid meds. off, leaving them sticky and messy

-Leaving empty med. cards in the cart and not replacing them with a new card

-Not calling the pharmacy when a med. runs out or is going to run out within a day or two

These are just a few things I ran into working the floor in LTC. In LTC everything is rush, rush, rush. Nurses are pushed to get finished and hit the clock before they get a minute of overtime, so things are often overlooked, or the nurse just doesn't have time. I never complained about any of those things left for me to do as long as the residents' needs were met.

Don't be worried about working in LTC. Just like any job, there are good ones and bad ones. They're not all terrible places to work.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Seen lots of errors involving insulin, diabetics, coumadin, and wound care.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

"borrowing" meds from another residents card rather than pull from contingency, leaving med carts unlocked, checking sugars/giving insulin in public areas, touching stock meds instead of shaking them out into the cap first.

I think these are shortcuts some nurses take that I consider bad habits. Errors involving meds are far above a "bad habit" and happen lots of places, IMO

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Buck -- Errors oft arise from short cuts and bad habits, IMHO.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

speaking negatively about their staff and generalizing ;)

unfamiliarity with BON guidelines and nurse practice act especially in reference to iv therapy

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When i worked evening shifts in ltc i would give some of the 9pm meds at 5 to cut down time.

I did not sign the Mar but carried a paper towel with the room numbers on them.

i would sign at 9pm.

Yeah,i know it was illegal.

a big one some people missed mentioning.....not washing hands after every 3 clients.

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I know some of the nurses where I work do this. I don't and some of the residents get irritated with me because of it.

When i worked evening shifts in ltc i would give some of the 9pm meds at 5 to cut down time.

I did not sign the Mar but carried a paper towel with the room numbers on them.

i would sign at 9pm.

Yeah,i know it was illegal.

a big one some people missed mentioning.....not washing hands after every 3 clients.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... some of the nurses... do this. I don't and some of the residents get irritated with me because of it.

Yeah, cuz they usually go to sleep at around 7:30 pm. :yes:

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I wake many people up at the 8pm med pass. Turns out I can't be in 27 different places at 7:00! Who knew?

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.
... Turns out I can't be in 27 different places at 7:00! Who knew?

slacker

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