Work, Drugs and Time to Go...

Ok, so I've been working as an LPN for about 5 weeks now, and here are my observations so far. First, I am liking the job so far, which is good since I am investing a great deal of time, energy and money into it. Second, I've realized that a lot of my co-workers DO NOT like it. Maybe because they are burnt out from working in nursing homes for so many years, maybe just from years and years of nursing, but a lot of them complain constantly.

We did have a big drug scandal at work last week. There was a mandatory meeting and in it it was revealed that an audit of the narcotics drawer for one of the wings (thankfully not the one I work on) was a total mess. Narcotics were signed out to residents that denied getting the drugs and there was an order written to the pharmacy for a narcotic that was perscribed by a doctor! Of course, this order was never filled. The offending person even went as far as to call the pharmacy and pretend to be the DON. This tactic didn't work either. They apparently got away with taking the meds from the patients for a few days, but that's about it. I say they because her husband worked for us too as an aide. They both are no longer employed with us, since they never called or showed up after the meeting was called. I'm learning that there is a lot of substance abuse in nursing. We have at least 3 known (known as in self-proclaimed) substance abusers who are in recovery and a few more that seem like they might need a program.

Lastly, I actually had a bad and rough situation at work this past weekend. We have, as you might suspect, some residents that have dementia and Alzheimer's. I witnessed a nurse flat out refuse to admister an as needed medication. For those of you not in the medical field, As needed medications are medications the patient can have upon request, such as Mylanta 15 ml every 4 hours as needed for nausea. The patient can have 15 mL once per 4 hour period if they need it for stomach upset. Apparently, this patient, who has Alzheimer's, refused is afternoon pills and then requested the Mylanta. The nurse told him he could not have the Mylanta since he did not take the pills. This is wrong on so many levels it isn't funny. First, the patient does not remember refusing the pills since he haas Alzheimer's. This is like punishing a dog 3 hours after it pissed on the carpet. Second, the word punish. It is not in the nurse's scope of practice whatsoever to discipline a resident at all. The word home is used in a nursing home to note the fact that this is the resident's home and we work for them. And lastly, when I politely (really, I can be polite) iformed her that it was illegal to refuse the medicine, sher stated. "I really don't care, I fucking hate him." From there it's a short step to physically striking the patient. So, after deliberating all night and sleeping poorly, I decided to report my co-worker to the Director of Nursing Monday morning. Of course, this will no doubt make me the nurse with the target on his back next time I work.

So, that's my first month of working as nurse in a nutshell.