[futureohiolpn]

I am brand new to nursing I just received my license last friday. I landed a job right out of school and I thought great how lucky for me. I worked there as an aide until I passed the nclex and although its not a top of the line facility the staff seemed to care for the residents so I thought great.
Now that I'm on as a nurse they spring a 50 resident med pass on me. I gotta be honest that scares me. I don't really feel like I can safely do a 50 person med pass right now. I'm slow cause well I'm new and I don't know all the people yet and this is a behavioral unit so some of them can't tell me who they even are. I feel trapped because when I asked about nurse to patient ratio I was told at the most 1:28. The most meds I've passed at one time was to about 15 residents while in school, and now they place me on the behavioral unit and tell me to do a 9pm med pass to all these people. What should I do I desperately need help.

[deanaRN]

Well, you asked, so I will be honest....RUN!! GET THYSELF INTO A NEW GRAD PROGRAM STAT!

Let me tell you my position and maybe that will help you understand why I say that:

I graduated in 1999. By taking the 1st job offered (LTC) and given little orientation (2 days) I was in way over my head and asked to do things that required too much knowledge and experience for a newbie. (passing meds like you describe, supervising, etc.) By the end of 2 months I quit nursing altogether. I was frustrated, ashamed, embarassed, depressed, and guilty for "wasting" all those years in school. My family was baffled that someone who loved nursing school like I did couldn't hack it. The only thing that made it easier to swallow was that I was busy caring for my MIL who had CA and my 6yo BIL.

In hindsight, I was very young and not making smart choices. Had I went to a different facility with a nice long new-grad orientation program and taken a job with reasonable expectations of a new nurse I feel the outcome would have been 100% different. It seems those of us that entered a new grad program did/are doing much better than the ones that didn't. I have talked to several who had stories similar to mine as well as some who are now incredibly fantastic nurses. The first few months on the job really seemed to make the difference.

As for me, after much thought (and time) I changed my mind about nursing. I am currently enrolled in an RN refresher program (almost finished) and have applied for a new-grad position with a great orientation program. I am so excited about nursing, for the first time in years.

I wish you the best of luck!

[futureohiolpn]

Originally Posted by deanaRN

Well, you asked, so I will be honest....RUN!! GET THYSELF INTO A NEW GRAD PROGRAM STAT!

Let me tell you my position and maybe that will help you understand why I say that:

I graduated in 1999. By taking the 1st job offered (LTC) and given little orientation (2 days) I was in way over my head and asked to do things that required too much knowledge and experience for a newbie. (passing meds like you describe, supervising, etc.) By the end of 2 months I quit nursing altogether. I was frustrated, ashamed, embarassed, depressed, and guilty for "wasting" all those years in school. My family was baffled that someone who loved nursing school like I did couldn't hack it. The only thing that made it easier to swallow was that I was busy caring for my MIL who had CA and my 6yo BIL.

In hindsight, I was very young and not making smart choices. Had I went to a different facility with a nice long new-grad orientation program and taken a job with reasonable expectations of a new nurse I feel the outcome would have been 100% different. It seems those of us that entered a new grad program did/are doing much better than the ones that didn't. I have talked to several who had stories similar to mine as well as some who are now incredibly fantastic nurses. The first few months on the job really seemed to make the difference.

As for me, after much thought (and time) I changed my mind about nursing. I am currently enrolled in an RN refresher program (almost finished) and have applied for a new-grad position with a great orientation program. I am so excited about nursing, for the first time in years.

I wish you the best of luck!

Thanks I appreciate that, I wish I could run cause that is what I feel like doing. I'm currently looking for a new job because I know that is too much responsibility for me at this time. The only reason I'm getting this position is because the nurse who worked this unit before me quit saying it was too much for her, and she had experience. I just don't understand why they placed me on that unit fresh out of school.

[futureohiolpn]

Its funny you said you only got 2 days of orientation cause they are only offering me 3 days.

[DidiRN]

I had a job as a new grad where I had a med pass to 50 patients...but they were very low acuity, and this was 1985
I don't blame you one bit for being scared, honestly. I know the acuity in LTC is much much higher. Back then I didn't even have tube feedings, and a rare foley, and very little charting to do. But I did get at least a week of orientation.
Hope you can find something else.

[Town & Country]

I just don't understand why they placed me on that unit fresh out of school.

They're doing it because new nurses often don't want to "make waves" and they are more apt to go along with unsafe nurse : patient ratios!

[DutchgirlRN]

They are pushing this 50 patient med pass off on you knowing you are new because they just don't care. You can pass meds, they need someone and they don't care. It's all a numbers game. I think 50 patients for one nurse, even an experienced nurse, is dangerous. I worked as an LPN in a LTC facility and I had about 30 patients, I had alot of experience and it was still a challenge to finish my med passes. I hope you have already given a two weeks notice because you need to get out of there before you lose your license. Believe me they don't care about you. There are plenty of places willing to train new grads. The best experience you could possibly get would be on a med/surg floor. I didn't say easy but I did say best. Once you have a year under your belt you can do anything. Good Luck.

[Town & Country]

Definitely get out of there and go to a hospital where you will get two or three months orientation!

[futureohiolpn]

I totally agree. I think they saw sucker when I walked through the door since I'm new. But this is my license and I'm not going to let this situation mess up all that I have finally accomplished. I'm going to talk to the DON tomorrow and I've already started my job search again. I'm just glad that people can understand my point of view because the nurse managers that I've spoken to all tried to make me feel like I was only overreacting to the situation. My first thought when I found out where I was being placed was this is not safe. Its so easy to make a med error and the more I go through orientation the more things I find out about the place that I think are really unsafe. I just don't want any part of it.

[tcdtx]

Originally Posted by futureohiolpn

I totally agree. I think they saw sucker when I walked through the door since I'm new. But this is my license and I'm not going to let this situation mess up all that I have finally accomplished. I'm going to talk to the DON tomorrow and I've already started my job search again. I'm just glad that people can understand my point of view because the nurse managers that I've spoken to all tried to make me feel like I was only overreacting to the situation. My first thought when I found out where I was being placed was this is not safe. Its so easy to make a med error and the more I go through orientation the more things I find out about the place that I think are really unsafe. I just don't want any part of it.

Overreacting????? They are insane!!!!! RUN! I graduated in December, myself. The way I see it is: I worked really hard for my license, and the only one that cares about that is me, so I am going to do whatever I need to do to protect it. You're smart to get the heck out of there! Good luck!