[nursekathi]

Hi. I'm pretty new around here, and hope to gain from everyone's vast wisdom. I've been a LPN working in psych for the last 1 1/2 years, while finishing my RN. Happily, I passed my boards yesterday, but unfortunately lost my job in doing so, as my facility is residential, and does not require an RN.
I accepted a job yesterday in a larger local hospital on a stepdown tele floor, and I'm feeling nervous. As a LPN I worked tele before, but mostly as a glorified NA & monitor tech. I am comfortable with basic patient care, oral meds, reading rhythms, and paperwork. But I have this feeling of dread now that I'm not going to be able to handle my new responsibilites of managing a group of pts, IVs (esp. pushes and drips) and assessments. I'm sure this is normal, but it's new for me.
This floor claims 5:1 day and 7-8:1 night ratios (I'll be nights), with NAs doing accuchecks, vitals, bladderscans, etc. and a monitor tech. They said I'll get 8 - 12 weeks orientation. Is this enough to go from scared as h*** to safe for patient care?

[vamedic4]

First off Kathi...congrats on passing your boards!!! Sounds like you have a good "starting point" from which to grow and enhance your experience. Hopefullly your orientation will be thorough and your preceptor(s) will be competent and compassionate. Those ratios seem high to me but I only work pediatrics so I'm sure I'm wayyy out of the loop as far as adult care is concerned.
Learn all you can from your orientation experience and don't be afraid to grill your preceptor when you don't understand. That's what they are there for.

Best of luck.

vamedic4

Oh, and if you don't like the job...there's thousands more out there for you.

Originally Posted by nursekathi

Hi. I'm pretty new around here, and hope to gain from everyone's vast wisdom. I've been a LPN working in psych for the last 1 1/2 years, while finishing my RN. Happily, I passed my boards yesterday, but unfortunately lost my job in doing so, as my facility is residential, and does not require an RN.
I accepted a job yesterday in a larger local hospital on a stepdown tele floor, and I'm feeling nervous. As a LPN I worked tele before, but mostly as a glorified NA & monitor tech. I am comfortable with basic patient care, oral meds, reading rhythms, and paperwork. But I have this feeling of dread now that I'm not going to be able to handle my new responsibilites of managing a group of pts, IVs (esp. pushes and drips) and assessments. I'm sure this is normal, but it's new for me.
This floor claims 5:1 day and 7-8:1 night ratios (I'll be nights), with NAs doing accuchecks, vitals, bladderscans, etc. and a monitor tech. They said I'll get 8 - 12 weeks orientation. Is this enough to go from scared as h*** to safe for patient care?

[marvelous96]

Hi Kathi,
It is normal for you to feel worried but you have an excellent background at your advantage. I started working on a med/tele floor three months ago and I was worried. I had never worked in tele, I was mainly in psyche. It is challenging but rewarding especially if you have supportive co-workers. I trust you will have someone there to laugh and frown with when the tough gets going. Just focuss on your strengths and take small steps one day at a time