Gripe!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

OK, I am a brand new lvn working in a small rural hospital. I only work on Sundays because I work six days a week at a beef processing plant. To explain the set up at this hospital....A shift consists of 1 RN who is in charge, 2 LVN's (one passes meds to all pts and the other performs patient care) and 1 CNA. OK, so every Sunday I have to pass meds because I need the practice. I'm fine, I like the challenge. But sometimes I get soo flustered because there can be nine pts admitted and I have to pass meds on all of them and also any ERs that come in, including IV meds. It can get hectic. Sometimes I feel like a total idiot and sometimes I feel like I can conquer the world. Sometimes the nurses are really good to me and others make me feel like I'm incompetent. I love the experience Im getting there but other than that I really have decided that I'm miserable there. What do yall think, does this mean I'm not cut out for FLOOR nursing?? (PS, I do ER nursing too). Please give me your opinions.... Thanks.

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No, it just sounds like you need more experience! How many people are you typically giving meds to? That situation sounds confusing to me, and I'm not new!

Is passing meds all you get to do? You need experience doing other things, too.

Do you ever get a day off?! Good heavens, I'm tired just listening to you .:)

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

NO, I dont get any days off. Last day off was for the 4th of July. Yes I get to do other stuff, like give neb treatments, start new IVs, EKGs, and other stuff like that. But here at this hospital the LVNs dont chart. We dont touch the charts. If I push lasix and I want to know tha K+ level before I pust it, I have to ask the charge what it is if I want to know. And even then the charge looks at me like Im crazy. Heh, I dont know. I cant wait till I finish my RN. That will be in Dec, by the way. Thanks for the reply....

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I shudder to reopen the financial discussion, but are you working at the meat plant because it pays better than nursing???

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

I used to work there for the money as a butcher, lol, but I decided I deserved better and went to nursing school. I work there as a nurse there and I love it. Hee hee.

The reason I want to stay at the hospital is because I know I get priceless experience there. But, the med pass on 5+ patients kills me. I have to pass meds to ALL patients that are admitted, whether it be 2 or 12. And pass meds to emergency patients that come in. I just feel like Im not making it....and if I cant make it in a small rural hospital, am I gonna make it anywhere??

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it sounds like you need more exposure/experience, preferably more than 1 day/wk.

perhaps you could work as an lpn 5 days/wk and at the meat plant, 1 day/wk?

no matter, if you could get more time in as a nurse, i think you would feel less overwhelmed.

sure there will always be those killer shifts.

but overall, many of these tasks are doable once we become proficient.

and that takes more exposure.

good luck.

leslie

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.
it sounds like you need more exposure/experience, preferably more than 1 day/wk.

perhaps you could work as an lpn 5 days/wk and at the meat plant, 1 day/wk?

no matter, if you could get more time in as a nurse, i think you would feel less overwhelmed.

sure there will always be those killer shifts.

but overall, many of these tasks are doable once we become proficient.

and that takes more exposure.

good luck.

leslie

:yeahthat: I find that when I am transitioning to a new position I need to do it intensively for a few months until I have mastered the responsibilities. Then I can back off, timewise.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I'm a new LVN who passes medications to 30 patients at a psychiatric hospital. With practice, vigilance, and good time management this feat can be accomplished flawlessly.

I also pass medications to 18 residents at a nursing home.

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

Yeah, I know in long term care, lvn's pass meds to many pts. NO IV meds right??? That sounds hard too. At least in LTC you (for the most part) see the same pts every day. At this hospital there can be a geriatric pt in one room and a pedriatric pt in the next room. I know if I were there more I would get the hang of it more. Seems like I spend alot of time checking compatibility of IV meds and mixing piggybacks all day, and then rechecking everything. Restarting this IV because it infiltrated. Giving and ER patient epi SQ for severe allergic reaction, lasix SIVP.....morphine, nubain.....Its just hard at first. Ill make it..

I think everyone is confused about me working at the beef plant. I work there as a nurse six days a week. I have seen some cool lacerations there too. :)

Thanks for everybody's support. I think Ill be fine!! Just needed to vent and get some feedback!!!

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If you are miserable, time to take stock and try to get things changed where you are or else on.

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you could move to a facility that gives you one set pt assignment instead? Also one that lets you chart and look on the chart? Isn't that odd that you can't look up the K level of someone yourself when giving meds? I would want to! I'm not giving K to someone just because "charge nurse said the level" you have to visibly see it. What if she made a mistake? Then you gave the med? It was come back on you. kwim?

I usually have an assignment of about 7 pts but have had up to 9. I'm a new grad LPN also. I can't imagine having a set assignment but also having to do emergencies and IV therapy too! At my facility I do treatments and meds, anything PEG tube related, but we have an IV nurse to focus on that.

Nurses are only human. Try not to take a job where your incredibly overworked or overwhelmed. Rushing can cause mistakes, and if your a new grad you need more support.

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