[marina17]

how do I get overcome the fear and what ifs related to starting my new job as a agency nurse...I feel stupid....because Im not a new nurse...my first assignment is on a LTC unit and I wonder how many Residents they have...foleys...g-tubes..dressings..and will I get done in time...and if not will the facility think that Im tooo slow?
Has anyone had the same feelings when they started out with agency for the first time?

[oldladyRN]

No need to worry.

I have been in your situation many times. You accept an agency assignment at a facility with which you're unfamiliar, and the uncertainty is horrible.

LTC facilities are notorious for being short on nurses, and you will (more than likely) be overwhelmed with work. It has been my experience that you will be responsible for 35-40 patients. Sometimes there is a medication aide to pass meds and sometimes there's not. You will have a pretty heavy load, but all you can do is prioritize and make sure that the patients' care and safety comes first. You only have two hands.

Sure, you may not get all of your charting and treatments done by the time your shift is over. In fact, you probably won't finish on time, and it doesn't mean that you were lazy, or slow, or did a poor job or prioritizing. Being behind and overworked is just the nature of LTC. Rarely is the shift in LTC where I have been finished and could leave on time when my shift was over.

I am not trying to discourage you, but I want you to have a realistic picture of what your load will be like before you get there.

Good luck, and you'll be fine.

[marina17]

Originally Posted by oldladyRN

No need to worry.

I have been in your situation many times. You accept an agency assignment at a facility with which you're unfamiliar, and the uncertainty is horrible.

LTC facilities are notorious for being short on nurses, and you will (more than likely) be overwhelmed with work. It has been my experience that you will be responsible for 35-40 patients. Sometimes there is a medication aide to pass meds and sometimes there's not. You will have a pretty heavy load, but all you can do is prioritize and make sure that the patients' care and safety comes first. You only have two hands.

Sure, you may not get all of your charting and treatments done by the time your shift is over. In fact, you probably won't finish on time, and it doesn't mean that you were lazy, or slow, or did a poor job or prioritizing. Being behind and overworked is just the nature of LTC. Rarely is the shift in LTC where I have been finished and could leave on time when my shift was over.

I am not trying to discourage you, but I want you to have a realistic picture of what your load will be like before you get there.

Good luck, and you'll be fine.

HEY...thank you so much....for your input but also for being honest...I know that you are right and you did not discourage me....