This is my first time posting. I have read many posts on this site and have found the different responses very helpful. My dilemma is this: I am a PN student. I've passed all of my nursing classes and clinicals except for one med surg, which I have to repeat. My school doesn't offer it again until January 2010. I was disappointed and concerned about forgetting all of the skills I had just learned so when the opportunity presented itself to work as a nurse intern I was delighted. Well...that delight has quickly turned to frustration. I work in a very large LTC facility. School so did not prepare me for this. I've worked as a CNA for 21 years so I understood the classroom environment is very different from the real world but actually being in it has still been a shock to my system. I do two med passes a shift for thirty people each and am also expected to do all of the treatments, skin assessments, etc for the whole floor which is 53 people. In addition to that, I'm also expected to help pass trays, record meal percentages, I & O's, and check that all of the residents have their alarms on, mats down, boots and elbow protectors on etc. The CNA's are supposed to being doing some of this stuff but half of the time when I check I find that it's not done right or at all so I need to fix it. I have had 9 days of orientation and am expected to be on my own now. I am still struggling with my med passes. This has taken up most of my orientation. It's a big strech to go from giving one resident meds once during a shift in clinicals to 30 twice a shift. I feel the need to rush or my coworkers will be angry with me for being behind. I've already had a few errors and they were really basic ones, rules that were pounded in to our heads in school. I know the reason is because I'm rushing and not doing all of my checks. Most employees there have no patience for new people. I get a lot of eye rolling and sarcastic remarks. It's so frusterating and hurtful. I know I'm an intelligent person. I'm leaving my shift feeling like such a failure. Part of me thinks what they are expecting me to accomplish in a shift is crazy. I understand that as you learn the residents, meds, and treatments you can incorporate them together to be more efficient but all of that takes time. My orientation has been a joke, I've been on my own for most of it. I've spoken to the DON on two occasions and she followed through once on making sure someone was with me. She told me yesterday the administrator probably won't approve any more orientation. It's so frusterating! I was really looking forward to learning and using some of my skills. I don't want to be a quitter but think I may have to. I don't see how I will ever accomplish everything I'm expected to in one shift. I haven't even gotten to the paperwork yet. From what I've read on this forum, the first year is the hardest. Should I hang there or am I in an impossible situation?
