Is Nursing this terrible?

[LPNewbie, LPN, LVN]

I graduated 2 years ago and immediately had a job at a assisted living facility because I was a RA there while I was in school. Originally I had a nurse working on my shift with me when I graduated (I work 3-11), but then one day she got fired. With only 2 months experience, I became the only nurse on my shift and had to adapt and learn my way.

Luckily, I became very knowledgeable and performed well. I caught on to things like taking an order, doing an admittion, sending someone out to the ER, etc. But now the Med Techs I work with are just completely lazy and don't do anything.

Apparently I was told that since I'm the only nurse, everything that occurs under my shift will fall back on me and my license. Which is scary because the MTs get to leave early and will rush a med pass to go home. All they do and sit on their behinds. I told management and they don't seem to care. It's Me to about 100 residents. The demand isn't high, but every night I am running from floor to floor to do other people's work. I feel like I might mess up on my meds one day.

The Hospice nurse told me that this is normal. Is it really? Is nursing this terrible. Maybe I should do something else. Please offer advice. I just want to help people but I think I need help myself.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Is nursing this terrible. Maybe I should do something else. Please offer advice.

Maybe you should try different nursing specialties before entertaining the idea of leaving the profession altogether.

There are specialties in existence that do not require nurses to be legally responsible for 100+ assisted living residents.

[BlinkyPinky]

Yes, none of that you describe, surprises me. At all.

So if that is your criterion, then Yes, it IS that/ this terrible

[Guest219794]

I graduated 2 years ago and immediately had a job at a assisted living facility because I was a RA there while I was in school. Originally I had a nurse working on my shift with me when I graduated (I work 3-11), but then one day she got fired. With only 2 months experience, I became the only nurse on my shift and had to adapt and learn my way.

Luckily, I became very knowledgeable and performed well. I caught on to things like taking an order, doing an admittion, sending someone out to the ER, etc. But now the Med Techs I work with are just completely lazy and don't do anything.

Apparently I was told that since I'm the only nurse, everything that occurs under my shift will fall back on me and my license. Which is scary because the MTs get to leave early and will rush a med pass to go home. All they do and sit on their behinds. I told management and they don't seem to care. It's Me to about 100 residents. The demand isn't high, but every night I am running from floor to floor to do other people's work. I feel like I might mess up on my meds one day.

The Hospice nurse told me that this is normal. Is it really? Is nursing this terrible. Maybe I should do something else. Please offer advice. I just want to help people but I think I need help myself.

Nursing is not this terrible.

Your job in nursing is.

14 years ER/ICU here- if my only choice was to do your job, or go back to work for $12 an hour, I would quit nursing. But, plenty of nurses find jobs they love in LTC. Personally, I would be too scared.

"Apparently I was told that since I'm the only nurse, everything that occurs under my shift will fall back on me and my license."

That part is a myth. Check your BON. You will not find nurses disciplined for the actions of others, aside from the occasional egregious act. On the part of the nurse. In other words, unless you direct somebody to do something wrong, or fail to intervene when you should, you will not lose your license. That part is just a really weird theme that runs through the nursing field.