Where do they find these caregivers?

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I have just started a new job at an assisted living facility.:angryfire Do they only hire totally untrained staff or what? We usually only have 4-6 patients that have to have vital signs done. The aides tell me things like " I didn't know I was suppose to take a pulse too. I didn't know I was suppose to take a temperature too. Yesterday, I tried to give a 5 minute inservice about vital signs. I was verbally attacked before I could finish my inservice. I was told by the aide that she was very busy and couldn't get vital signs done by 11am. This aide expects all the nurses to "beg her over and over to get the vital signs done" I'm not going to play this game with her. I finally got angry and told her that I was going to write her up if vital signs were not done by 11am. Everyone else is able to get their vital signs done by 11am. What is wrong with these people anyway?:trout:

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

In FL, not only are they untrained, but they're out there "helping" residents take their meds.

Totally legal too.

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I have just started a new job at an assisted living facility.:angryfire Do they only hire totally untrained staff or what? We usually only have 4-6 patients that have to have vital signs done. The aides tell me things like " I didn't know I was suppose to take a pulse too. I didn't know I was suppose to take a temperature too. Yesterday, I tried to give a 5 minute inservice about vital signs. I was verbally attacked before I could finish my inservice. I was told by the aide that she was very busy and couldn't get vital signs done by 11am. This aide expects all the nurses to "beg her over and over to get the vital signs done" I'm not going to play this game with her. I finally got angry and told her that I was going to write her up if vital signs were not done by 11am. Everyone else is able to get their vital signs done by 11am. What is wrong with these people anyway?:trout:

Apparently they don't care.

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Have you noticed that it's no longer about the patient care but about how much money the facility makes.What we have to look for when it's our time to go in to the assisted living.

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I've noticed that assisted living facilities offer less pay than other options. One of my acquaintances worked at one but she didn't describe having unqualified caregivers to worry about. It sounds to me that unless you find support from your boss, you are going to have headaches and stomachaches dealing with these people. I would suggest that you have a talk with your boss without delay concerning expectations and how they intend to support you.

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

I would proceed with caution. I have heard horror stories about CNAs "running the place" and confronting them or writing them up will lead to repercussions. It shouldn't be that way. You should have some leverage, but the reality is very different.

I would talk to your supervisor first. Maybe he/she will have some good advice for dealing with this.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

Ever have an aide report blood pressures of 60/120! When I questioned this, they were right in my face about "I do to know how to do this correctly". Well.... than!

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Specializes in ER OB NICU.

As a nursing student in 1981, I was the only one with prior experience as a CNA and was told to be in charge of vitals for a group of 4 students on 10 or so ltc patients. We, were to have the vitals by 11am. I thought to myself, this will take 20 minutes, what do we do for the next three hours or sol. WRONG the patients could not be found by the students, before pics were on charts, and they did not know their own names most of the time. We finally finished about 2 mnutes till11. I could not believe it.

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Thanks all.;) The caregiver reported me to the supervisor for raising my voice while speaking to her-how dare I suggest that she do her job!!!!!! Good grief! Anyway, the supervisor just laughed and said I'm doing a good job and to keep it up. I have learned that they only pay caregivers minimum wage and that full time caregivers receive no medical benefits at all. Yes, I guess the bottom line is to make money for the facility. I think it's going to be quite a challenge to work here. Thank God it's my friday today!:monkeydance:

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire They pull them in off the street and say "here's what you're supposed to do". This has long been a bone of contention for me. I have done LTC in the past. I talked until I was blue in the face :uhoh3: on turning patients Q 2/hr, I&0, skin care, restraints, etc...these people don't care, they are not teachable. They don't even have their CNA. Gees. I couldn't take it anymore. I quit.

In Holland a person who works in a LTC must have a degree in geriatrics. Nurses who work in LTC must take an extra year of geriatric education. I'm not advocating that this be a requirement in the US but by God there need to strict rules for hiring people to take care of our elderly. Lawmakers forget we're all (hopefully) going to be old one day.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
Have you noticed that it's no longer about the patient care but about how much money the facility makes.What we have to look for when it's our time to go in to the assisted living.

I often wonder this myself. I hope God grants me a peaceful death before.

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

In cali the aides in Assist living are only Nursing assistants, not certified at all to my recolection.

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