New Grad RN: New Job Raises More Question for Self

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Hello My Friends,

Your assistance is needed more than ever!!!

I am a new grad straight out of school AND I landed a job in a SNF/LT/Rehab in San Diego.

The problem???

1)Well, I notice that I receive report in Tagalog (I speak English) and am constantly spoken about in the language. This is from SEASONED (15-20 years at the facility nurse(LVN's, I rarely see RN's)).

2) Patients (who are NOT Philipino) are treated with so much disregard, it is sad to see!!! They are yelled at, left in the hallways (without water, with mouths wide open= excessive thirst).I do attend to these patients my self and am told that I "don't have the time to do this with everyone. Do paperwork(s) and other tasks, first!!!

3) " WHEN STATE COMES AROUND, WE DO THINGS THE CORRECT WAY, WHEN THEY LEAVE, WE GO BACK TO XYZ." Who the Heck is "State" and I want to do things the "right way" ALL THE TIME!!! I was told, "We don't have time to do that." WHA???

I could list things that are so WRONG, I would be here all night.

The job takes a toll on my MIND, BODY, and SPIRIT. I have not been there long, just one week. I am not happy and I am caught financially. I am a single mom with 3 teenagers and jobs for me are far and few between, ESPECIALLY as a new grad RN in San Diego.

Before I became an RN, I listed a few places that hired new grads. Some did not pan out and the ones that want new grads are of poor quality.I need some feedback; I could NEVER turn a blind eye to unjust treatment of ANYONE, especially people who are too sick or too ill to speak for themselves. The toll on my Mind is HUGE.

I went to nursing school to help those who depend on me and to make a difference in the lives of my patients. I have come into a world of finances, no respect, hurry-up-and-get-home, lvn trainers,and crying patients.

Thanks in advance for any advice:crying2:

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

Your post has been moved to the Geriatric/LTC Nurses forum for more replies. Good luck with this situation!

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Specializes in Psych.

the state is the state inspectors that come around once a year (at leastin VT) to make sure the care in the nursing home is correct. I've been through many and find it interesting that more people come out of the woodwork. People who I've never seen before coming to help pass trays.

As for the other stuff, wow that is horrible. I worked in a place for one day, I never went back it was so horrible. Not a mechanical lift in the building to get a 300# man in to his w/c and when I asked for help, I was told I could do it on my own.

One of the nurses who I've gotten report from mumbles when he talks, I think I asked him to repeat himself a dozen times for one person. What a long report that was. If you can't understand the person then they just have to repeat it too you in English!

Good Luck

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Welcome to nursing. You will be undermined for the bottom line, profits matter more than patients, never enough staff or equipment, corners cut all over the place...nursing, especially LTC, is guerrilla warfare - we do what we can with what we have. You will find this almost everywhere you go. Same with catty co-workers and disrespectful aides.

Every new grad feels the way you do: "I got into this to help people. Now I can't. How can these people treat their patients like this? How is this even right?" Truth is, health care is an industry, patients are products, and you are now a cog in the machine.

Now lest I sound overly cynical and jaded, here's what you have to do:

Take care of your patients the right way. You're in training, so now's the best time to form good habits. Be an example. If your patients are happy when you work, that says a lot about how you do your job.

Learn to delegate. Your entire patient load is your responsibility, but it's impossible for you alone to perform all their care - so MANAGE their care. That's what the aides are for.

Ask for help when you need it. You will need it, don't worry.

Be a supervisor. Your patients are also your aide's responsibility. Tell them what you need done. Make sure it gets done. If it doesn't, if they're disrespectful to you, write 'em up. Nobody likes being Mean Boss, but being a doormat only gets you in trouble and puts your license in jeopardy, and then the good guy's gone and the bad guy is still there stirring up trouble.

It's overwhelming at first, I know. There's so much wrong going on, but you have to realize you are just one person. You can do right by your patients. Even if you're the only one there who does, you have still done good.

The more you care, the more it will show. The better you get at your job, the more you'll be noticed. Then it will be YOU training new nurses. Could be you implementing new ideas to make care more efficient. Could be you running the place. Then you can do a lot of good.

Baby steps!

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Hello My Friends,

Your assistance is needed more than ever!!!

I am a new grad straight out of school AND I landed a job in a SNF/LT/Rehab in San Diego.

The problem???

1)Well, I notice that I receive report in Tagalog (I speak English) and am constantly spoken about in the language. This is from SEASONED (15-20 years at the facility nurse(LVN's, I rarely see RN's)).

2) Patients (who are NOT Philipino) are treated with so much disregard, it is sad to see!!! They are yelled at, left in the hallways (without water, with mouths wide open= excessive thirst).I do attend to these patients my self ........

sounds like the place you are working for is a type of skilled nursing facilitiy, if so, it should have many nursing assistants available for you as RN to take advantage, some nursing assistants are bossy, rude and hiding, but some are very konwledgeable and responsible, get to know them and arrage patient care assignments to them, be strong on your attitude when you face the rude nursing assistants, most likely they would avoid the assisgnment from you if you are too soft. I really dislike to face the disparity problems in the patient care today, it seems like health care field is a play ground for some health care professionals to practice racial discrimination and persue personnal revange, while many people use a great effort to build up the tower of humanity, some narrow minded individuals hide in the back trying to degrade it. It is such a shame! You move on as a good nurse and do good as you suppose to, do not be one of those nurses. Love you and best regard to you.

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