Ok I'm a relatively new nurse. Graduated last May and have worked in a LTAC for going on 3 months. I worked med surg last yr and failed miserably. I then went to LTC which in reality compared to my now job wasn't too bad but wanted more experience in acute care. LTAC are facilities that take care of patients with multiple medical issues. They can be very sick at times. I thought I was doing well working 12 hrs nights until recently. Last night was absolutely terrible. I usually get 8 to 9 patients who can be quite unstable. I hit the floor at 730p after report and didn't even have time to assess and medicate my patients. Told I have a admission that is being admitted with multiple wounds and cardiac issues. This can be a long process with verifying physican orders and also staging and photographing wounds, etc. I work in a non computerized charting system and so I am buried in a sea of paperwork which is overwhelming. 24 chart checks, head to toe assessments, Mar checks, lab draws, and never mind you catching up on new admits. Daylight has no idea how bad it gets at night. If a patient goes bad like my last night you better forget about getting out on time. I feel like I suck as a nurse in this facility. Several people have trained and left quickly-wonder why? I'm about to cut out the 12 hrs night shifts to save my sanity or just to leave. Believe me those 12 hrs nights can become 13 or 14 hr. nights if you don't catch up.:( I want this to work but I feel I put myself at risk for losing my license. Does it really get any better? I want to be a good nurse who enjoys going to work but environments like this make this so impossible. I want so much to succeed as a nurse. Is the grass greener on the other side? Is there any such thing as nursing utopia? I don't want to be a job hopper but I can only handle so much. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

I'm a relatively a new nurse, grad of May 2006, and I love my job on Mother/Baby. I am part time. I also teach Expectant Parenting Classes (Childbirth) and a program for low income expectant moms that teaches childbirth, infant care, safety, etc. I LOVE MY JOB(S). I "did my time" in med/surg and I don't regret that long year of hard, backbreaking, exhausting, thankless work. That year taught me to prioritize, interact with demanding patients and FAMILIES, work with lots of people(MD's, respiratory, CNA, PT, etc). Very often I had critical patients, many should have been in ICU. I left because I was in fear of my license and my family livelihood/future. I began to worry, night after night of having 7 high acuity patients, that I could make a mistake and harm someone simply because we had a staffing problem or in hurry to get my work done I overlooked something important. Med/Surg was not my favorite but it is the foundation of all nursing and important and often a foot in the door to another nursing position.

My advice is to explore what interests you rather than what schedule works best or doing a job just because it might be beneficial later. I knew OB/GYN and teaching was what I wanted to do. I took a pay cut to do a job I wanted to do instead of staying where the money was better.

I enjoy my job. Surgery is very interesting, I have one patient at a time and sometimes, I get to scrub, which I love. I work in a level 1 trauma center so I'm never bored, especially when motorcycle and MVA season rolls around.

I really love nursing....there are so many different areas to go into and it is dynamic....what I don"t like is the squeeze that goes on to run facilities with not enough staff. I have been a nurse for a long time. Remember now you really have to be sick to stay in the hospital. What used to be 8-9 patient assignment for a nurse 15 years ago now you have the same with much sicker patients. So you are running around trying to catch up but even when you begin your shift you are behind. Nursing has changed over the years. It is very hard to find time to spend time with your patients and their families to give them that feeling that your not rushed. So what is the answer? How do you fix the system?

Holly.. I'm sorry you are having such a tough time at your new job. I see how it can be so difficult with 8-9 patients and new admits. I work medsurg and I've sent pts to LTAC facilities.. So I know they can be very sick and complicated. If you feel like you are putting ur license at risk.. you may want to think about looking for something else. You worked hard for that license. Don't lose it now! Just do your best and CYA.

The grass can be greener on the otherside. Esp if you can find a facility with good nurse-patient ratios. Good luck

((((Hugs))))

Tiger

I've been doing this for nearly 20 years and I love it. I have burnt out but have never lost my passion for nursing.

Work in home health and LOVE it!!! Love the one-on-one, love the teaching I get to do, love not being pulled 20 different places at once, love still being able to practice my skills but not being a "machine", love really having time to get to know my patients, love the respect that most of the docs give me, love the autonomy, love the flexibility in my schedule, love not working weekends. Of course, there is the paperwork....but what I don't finish in the patient's home....I can finish at home on my couch in my sweats and get to see my kid get off the bus!

I have to agree with Home Care. I love it. I am not saying it is without flaw but I love learning all of the time and getting to know my patients on a personal basis. I did LTC before this and felt like I was passing meds and running to the next one. I never got to spend the time I wanted to getting to know them. Another advantage is not having people working under me endangering my license with stupidity.

I work with patients who are developmentally disabled in their homes and most of the time, I enjoy what I do.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time...there are SO many options in this field...do a little research and see what interests you and try it out!

I love my job...I work in a county mental health clinic, and before that I did try my hand at med/surg...wasn't my cup of tea, but I did gain those ever-valuable assessment skills...before that i worked inpatient psych...I adore psych nursing and can't see myself working with any other group.

I hope you find what you're looking for!:heartbeat

I work in ICU and love it - most of the time anyway

This sounds like an impossible situation - too many very sick pts, too little support (why do you have to photograph wounds etc?), too much to do. No wonder your more experienced coworkers left - they knew it was too much. BTW, this sounds like my first med/tele job where 12-hr shifts routinely turned into 14-, 15-, even 16-hour shifts. I didn't last a year, and was totally exhausted at that point.

I'm sure you can find something much better than med/surg or LTAC. You've been a nurse for almost a year now and should be able to go into a more specialized area without any problem (what I mean is that you have enough general nursing experience - meds, assessments, etc. - so that specializing won't be detrimental to your career).

Good luck to you!

DeLana

i, too, also work in ltac and absolutely love it. i, at the moment, am responsible for 8 vents, full time respiratory therapy on the floor with me, 1 fresh quad, serious copders, most all feeding tubes. i worked for 9 years as agency before coming to this facility, and just love the challenge, the fast pace, and the opportunity to actually get into some serious medical challenges.

you have to be cut out for this for sure. i too have some nights from h***, but goes along with the job.