new grad RN in LTC- overwhelmed!

If you dont feel comfortable, you have an obligation to consult with the DON and tell her,
Is the DON on call at night so you can call her with any problems?
Is the staff helpful?
Is a certificate for IV's mandatory for the job, if this was a problem, the DON should have brought it up, I wuld guess it isn't a problem or they will teach u..
Personally I have done 8 units or 320 pts on a night shift, never liked it but I had great LPN's on each unit, I just made sure to keep doing rounds and keeping them awake!!
Good luck whatever you decide!!

And since you are orienting get your skills updated. Ask the LVN's to let you do some of the IV's and such.

Is there no RN on the morning shift??? No one you can call with question s and problems?
I would tread carefully here.

Somebody there has to be designated as the DON...I'd find that out pronto!

Just recently got hired at country villa wilshire.It has 80 bed capacity,76 patients and 2 stations. We were already orriented by the staff developer( watching a lot of videos.hehe). The 21 day orrientation is now starting.Im glad that our DON and RN supervisor is there to assist us.And if we're not doing anything,We're helping the charge nurse LVN to pass meds so could be able to know the patients personally.

Some nursing homes in Pomona are really scarry. CNA and LVN takes
care 20 patients at night shift. It was really hard for both workers.
I used to work in a nursing home in Pomona, so I know the inside.
Some CNA and LVN are sleeping at night b/c most of them take
double jobs somewhere else. How do you motivate your workers
to keep alert???

If you are stuck in this situation, please just learn as much
as possible and find another job in the meantime. It is hard
to change the culture of work place, even with
your 100% passion and devotion.

Good luck to you!!

Wow, sounds like everyone is freaking out in here. It is the standard in Illinois to have 1RN in the building and usually the rest are LPN's. What that means for you, you will find out from your job description (which I assume and hope that they gave you in your orientation). As a new grad, I would have a frank discussion with your DON (with the ADON present if possible). In this, I would make your reservations clear to them that you are nervous and request that you be given the (sorry folks for the next part but for lack of better wording, here goes) 'easiest' assignment. In that way, you should be open to other things should you be needed. This may not be possible if you have medicare residents as you will be expected to care for them in order for the facility to get reimbursement.

As for the rest of the staff being LPN's, they are quite self-sufficient and capable. You will not be walking around and monitoring them at all times. This is just a preposterous thought. I would make it a habit to check in with each unit. You may be expected to ensure that all staff arrived and if not, take appropriate action. You will get these duties defined by your DON.

I would make sure that your DON/ADON/House Supervisor (usually they take turns taking call) will be available to you during your shift by telephone whenever you need it. It may be more often at first, but once you become more comfortable, it won't really be necessary unless there is some emergency. My first experience in a LTC facility had me as the only RN in the building with only hospital experience in the tele unit with a max of 5 patients. I also freaked out. The worse that happened about 1 month into this job is that there was a tornado and the roof fell in...right over the nurses station!!!!
My ADON was the best that I ever had. She new I was new at 'managing' so many others and made a point to call me every am at %am to check in an give me advice if needed. This saved me from having to call her and I felt more assured just knowing that she would be calling and that if it couldn't wait, I could call her for direction.

Best of luck.

This is certainly not true in my location. At both facilities I've worked at a nurse is not allowed to touch an IV (start one or maintain a line or hang a med) until they are IV certified through our IV pharmacy. And IVs were a part of the curriculum in my LPN program.

I'm an LPN at a SNF and believe it or not, I don't sit around looking for RNs to take advantage of or screw over. I conduct myself in a professional manner and have a great cooperative relationship with my RN supervisors that is based on mutual respect.