Thrown in head first

[Fancy Face]

The first facility I went to ever as an agency LPN gave me a night to shadow a nurse before passing meds the next day. Well, now, this next facility I didn't so much get thru the door and they wanted to give me the keys. I told them I was there for orientation as I had never worked there. Well, it didn't happen and I spent the night behind the med cart and none of the patients had wristbands on and the MAR pictures were way out of date. So I had to rely on another nurse(who had only been there a week) and NAs to point out the patients. Do you all get an orientation before you take over a floor or just get thrown in cold?

[feisty_lpn, LPN]

kiszi - Hospital work is definately different from LTC. The only hospital experience I had was from nursing school clinicals. When my agency asked me if I'd be willing to do acute care, I absolutely jumped on it and I LOVE IT! I admit the 1st 3 or 4 shifts kicked my butt and I felt like a brand new nurse thrown to the wolves. I left the 1st two shifts in tears... from bil feet pain and frustration. I seriously had thoughts that nursing is not for me, what the heck was I thinking, etc. I was ready to quit nursing altogether. It didn't help that the charge RNs treated me like crap... rolling their eyes when I had a question or let them know pt needed an IV push, etc. But I toughed it out and now I beg for hospital shifts. LOL

Now, when I leave a hospital shift... I feel like I've done 'real nursing'. LTC is nursing, don't get me wrong. Its just a different kind of nursing and not one I want to do for the rest of my career. Although it is nice that I can take a LTC shift after doing a few hospital shifts... slow down a bit and enjoy the calm. And not leave with a sore feet and back too. LOL

I dont recommend that you accept hospital shifts from the start since you don't have experience. Being agency is hard enough the first few months. At least it was for me.

HTH, GL