Kindred Hospital– Greensboro, NC
My first travel assignment was at Kindred Hospital in Greensboro, NC through AYA Healthcare. I commuted to work from Charlotte, NC about 45 minutes where my parents live. Initially, it was kind of difficult getting an assignment and took FOREVER for me to get an interview. I stayed with my parents in Charlotte, NC and commuted to work 3 days a week. This hospital was a small long-term acute care facility (LTAC) which is soooo different from what I’m used to. Due to the amount of time it took me to get started I was just relieved I found somewhere! Working night shift and driving 45 minutes to get home in the morning was tough, I would NOT recommend that.
I’m used to a patient load of 4 from working Telemetry. This hospital was the most patient load I’ve ever had at 5-6 patients. Most of these patients have chronic health conditions. Mostly total care patients, patients with wound care and pressure ulcers, tracheostomies, ventilators, Peg tubes, etc. Respiratory therapy and nurse assistants were very involved in the care, more than a traditional hospital. The CNAs turned and fed the patients and the RTs titrated the oxygen and performed trach care. One RT got upset because I suctioned one of my trach patients without calling them to do it. Did they expect me to wait while my patient’s O2 sats were decreasing?? I’m familiar with suctioning trachs myself without help or assistance. This facility it just seemed as though I was just there to pass meds and let everyone else do the rest. There were roller med carts, no automated medication dispensing machine, it is a very outdated facility. We counted narcotics every change of shift and put the count on a sheet of paper. Overall, my time here was interesting, now i know long-term acute care ISN’T my thing.
I’m used to a patient load of 4 from working Telemetry. This hospital was the most patient load I’ve ever had at 5-6 patients. Most of these patients have chronic health conditions. Mostly total care patients, patients with wound care and pressure ulcers, tracheostomies, ventilators, Peg tubes, etc. Respiratory therapy and nurse assistants were very involved in the care, more than a traditional hospital. The CNAs turned and fed the patients and the RTs titrated the oxygen and performed trach care. One RT got upset because I suctioned one of my trach patients without calling them to do it. Did they expect me to wait while my patient’s O2 sats were decreasing?? I’m familiar with suctioning trachs myself without help or assistance. This facility it just seemed as though I was just there to pass meds and let everyone else do the rest. There were roller med carts, no automated medication dispensing machine, it is a very outdated facility. We counted narcotics every change of shift and put the count on a sheet of paper. Overall, my time here was interesting, now i know long-term acute care ISN’T my thing.
