any advise for a first timer?

May 25, 2005 06:33 PM

by hunny_pye

HI!!! i have an interview coming up this week. Can you help me come up with questions to ask? is 6 days of orientation enough? what is the normal nurse-patient ratio for LTC? what are he duties and responsibilities of a RN? what advises can you give to a beginner like me?

Thank you very much!

redwinggirlie · May 25, 2005, 07:10 PM

If you are a new RN, NO NO NO NO NO is six days enough orientation. Though I work in a hospital, orientation can and should last a few weeks. Please be careful. Take the time you need to become comfortable. In LTC settings, I think the patient load is pretty large..... six days? Perhaps I'm wrong as I've not worked in LTC. Good luck and be well.

Bird2 · May 26, 2005, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by hunny_pye

HI!!! i have an interview coming up this week. Can you help me come up with questions to ask? is 6 days of orientation enough? what is the normal nurse-patient ratio for LTC? what are he duties and responsibilities of a RN? what advises can you give to a beginner like me?

Thank you very much!

The facility that I work does 6 days of orientation which is 2 weeks. We work 12 hour shifts. It is not enough for many nurses. It may work for the experienced LTC nurse. It would be nice if they gave you 3 weeks of training with a good nurse. It is more than a pill pass so make sure they show you policies, required paper work,a list that will tell you who to notifiy of an appt needs to be made etc. Be proactive with your own training. Good luck. LTC nursing gets a bad rap but I find it very rewarding. Most LTC are working on quality improvement so you could see great changes in your work.

Bird2 · May 26, 2005, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by Bird2

The facility that I work does 6 days of orientation which is 2 weeks. We work 12 hour shifts. It is not enough for many nurses. It may work for the experienced LTC nurse. It would be nice if they gave you 3 weeks of training with a good nurse. It is more than a pill pass so make sure they show you policies, required paper work,a list that will tell you who to notifiy of an appt needs to be made etc. Be proactive with your own training. Good luck. LTC nursing gets a bad rap but I find it very rewarding. Most LTC are working on quality improvement so you could see great changes in your work.

Also - We run 5 nurses on days and 3 on nights. We average 100 residents. The RN is the charge nurse and works the Medicare unit.

HONEYBEAR · May 26, 2005, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by hunny_pye

HI!!! i have an interview coming up this week. Can you help me come up with questions to ask? is 6 days of orientation enough? what is the normal nurse-patient ratio for LTC? what are he duties and responsibilities of a RN? what advises can you give to a beginner like me?

Thank you very much!

Hi,
Six days for a new grad is not long enough. Pt ratio varies from place to place but count on at least 25 pt's. You will know when you will feel comfortable in being set loose on the floor.....so open your mouth......if you are not ready do not let them push you out there on a floor of your own.

michelle126 · May 26, 2005, 08:30 AM

Yep....ask for more orientation. Ask what the staffing ratio is. Ask about their surveys and to view them. YOu can look at it online. Get a job description from them. Ask about staff..have they been there long. Ask for a tour. Look at the residents...are they happy looking? what's the place smell like? Look at the staff. Of course ask about the benifits and stuff. What about mandatory OT? Do they use it....how often.
As far as what you will be responsible for what shift will you be working?
Meds, Treatments, IVs, G tubes are pretty normal..Dealing with docs, families, making appts, calling pharm....

TriageRN_34 · May 26, 2005, 09:19 AM

Oh I soooooooo agree, even being an experienced nurse, I was new to LTC and especially the difference in Assisted living (where I work). I got 3 weeks orientation, and that was awesome (I asked for that amount!).

Other questions to ask in interviews...well, what do you want to really know! Be honest! Like the type of patients coming in, how many rehab patients, is hospice used in the facility (as in hospice nurses coming in, not you having to do it!), CNA ratios, RN ratios, health coverage, bonuses, raises, evals...you name it!

I also insist on talking to a nurse from the facility with NO admin present so I can get a more realistic view! Or ask to shadow for an hour or so! That really has done wonders for me in making choices on positions! I also ask HOW LONG NURSES STAY THERE! (and I read the want ads and look for running ads, that is a sign of high turn over!)...

Good luck to you...but please don't take a 6 day orientation..that is unrealistic (and shows you that the facility just needs a body fast..which is NOT in your best interest!).

hunny_pye · May 26, 2005, 11:56 AM

thanks!

thanks for your words of wisdom! 6 days of orientation is really not enough for me and just thinking about it scares me! If everything goes well with the interview, then i'm gonna ask for at least 3 weeks of orientation.

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any advise for a first timer?

any advise for a first timer?

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