New Zealand 2016
Working as an Enrolled Nurse in a Rest Home in New Zealand, is almost the same as working as an RN, depending where you work, that is.
For the first year here, I was employed at a Rest Home, as an Enrolled Nurse, but was told that I could not give out medication. There were, however, 2 elderly HCA's who had been giving out medication for years, and they were considered as Seniors. This was just accepted. They would assert themselves accordingly, and quite frankly made ones life a bit of a misery.
The other Enrolled Nurse employed there was not allowed to either.This was due to the fact that our Clinical nurse manager somehow felt we were 'not ready'. She was a real bully, and even reduced our two bubbly Rec Officers to tears, at different times. I doubt anyone has actually come out of her office dry faced. Oh..except the two wicked witches, their hearts were stone already.
As we weren't allowed to do meds and dressings, we literally worked as HCA's,
The day would begin with a long and tedious handover, given by an RN who had recently arrived from India, and hardly knew any English. The bitter-faced HCA's would put their two cents worth in, by barking orders at us in between his comments.
By the time hand over was over, we all knew which resident had not emptied their bowels for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, and who we needed to make sure that happened to for the day.We would grab out beepers, which strapped around our waists, and also a thick canvas patient ' lifting belt, which was kept on us at all times, and used to strap around a patient's waist when it came time to move them.
Those bleeping bleeepers never stopped this incessant bleeping all shift. The residents would become anxious with the incessant bleeping, and although you could turn them onto vibrate, this was not allowed.
After handover we would go to our relevant assigned areas for the day, and give out the breakfasts, dishing out the glorious smelling warm oats porridge. I remember once dishing up two small spoons for myself and glugging it down, as I hadn't had time for breakfast that day. (They soak the oats in milk all night, which makes it dreamy creamy. I still have to try that for my girls.)
Some residents need to be fed, and then began the showers and getting everyone up and ready for the day. We each had 7/8 residents to attend to. I became a pro at showering someone thoroughly, and was complimented by my residents on this ability, which made me feel quite proud.
I was amazed at how one resident could squirrel, she was admirable in that regard. You could find absolutely nothing that matched when it came time to dress her, and she became quite abusive if you suggested that you would like to look in her bag.
It was the forbidden zone. Interesting items always turned up there, a nurses bleeper, missing dentures, mismatched shoes and last weeks chicken drumstick.
Sometimes, if a resident was on day 5, desperate measures of manual intervention had to be carried out, much to a certain residents relief, it is times such as these where I felt I was making a small difference to someones day.
In between doing all the cares, and lunch we had to wash and fold the laundry. and put it into the linen cubicles to be put away the next day, also our job. We would be literally exhausted by the end of the day, as it was non stop moving. Although the hard work didn't make it stressful, it was the nasties we had to work with. My Kiwi and Phillipino colleagues and I had some great laughs throughout this year. Most of them are RN's in their own Country, but have to save in order to complete the CAP which will enable them to work within their scope.
I now work at a lovely rest home, which is Christian-based. I am working within my scope of practice as an EN, and loving every minute of it.
A good manager never bullies, but rather guides and shows appreciation.
I have learnt myself what it takes to be a good manager, as I have HCA's working under me, or rather, with me. We are all equal, we just have different roles. Nobody deserves to be barked at.
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