New nurses in LTC

MichelleRN34, ADN, RN · Dec 3, 2012

You are not stuck... I started in a LTC. After a year i got a job in the Hospital. I didnt have any problems remembering my skills. It is easy to feel overwhelmed. Take a deep breath... Get a routine....things will get easier... Once you have a little experience apply for the job you want.

chrisrn24 · Dec 5, 2012

I think if you want to do something else, make a plan. A lot of hospitals want you to have some experience, so try applying again in a few months...that might make all the difference!

VANurse2010 · Dec 6, 2012

As a new grad, you really don't have any skills to lose. I don't mean that in a snarky way - but it's true.

LTCangel, ADN, BSN, LPN · Dec 8, 2012

Uhmm...yes you are passing lots of meds, aren't you learning the reasons for these meds? Aren't you assessing your residents while you are in their rooms? You have your own hall, you should be learning the ins and outs of all of your residents and their specific conditions by now. Aren't you seeing their labs? Calling the doc with issues and learning what is ordered? Taking care of foleys, gtubes, trachs, wounds, wound vacs? Our facility also does IV fluids and uses PICC lines, does yours? Are you learning when someone is going downhill and needs sent out to the hospital? All of this and more is teaching you critical thinking skills. Think about it. Aren't you doing care plans on your residents and charting? You are doing everything that a nurse in the hospital is doing, you are learning time management skills. You are learning prioritization, you are learning how to delegate to your CNAs. Look at all you are learning instead of thinking that you are missing out on something.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Dec 9, 2012

If your coworkers are telling you to "get out now", I would question their motives.

Anne36, LPN · Dec 9, 2012

I have to agree with LTCangel. Ive been on my own for about 6 weeks and still have a lot to learn. I have residents with wound care, foleys, peg tubes, IV antibiotics, etc. Im still trying to make sure I get the paperwork right and have tons of questions still. In LTC I feel overwhelmed because of the amount of work we have to do in so little time. I have never been able to do an entire shift to my satisfaction and wonder if I ever will. There are several RNs where I work that have been there for about a year since graduation, its a good place to get experience.

Blackcat99 · Dec 9, 2012

If your coworkers are telling you to "get out now", I would question their motives.

I agree with you. Beware of your so called "co-workers"

cienurse · Dec 10, 2012

"Uhmm...yes you are passing lots of meds, aren't you learning the reasons for these meds? Aren't you assessing your residents while you are in their rooms? You have your own hall, you should be learning the ins and outs of all of your residents and their specific conditions by now. Aren't you seeing their labs? Calling the doc with issues and learning what is ordered? Taking care of foleys, gtubes, trachs, wounds, wound vacs? Our facility also does IV fluids and uses PICC lines, does yours? Are you learning when someone is going downhill and needs sent out to the hospital? All of this and more is teaching you critical thinking skills. Think about it. Aren't you doing care plans on your residents and charting? You are doing everything that a nurse in the hospital is doing, you are learning time management skills. You are learning prioritization, you are learning how to delegate to your CNAs. Look at all you are learning instead of thinking that you are missing out on something"

:up: Amen and thanks for posting that!!!

cienurse · Dec 10, 2012

Sorry, that was a quote from another poster which did not come out in quotations. No plagerizing, I assure you!

Spring_Peeper · Dec 12, 2012

My first job is in LTC, too. In case I ever want to leave and apply at a hospital, I am keeping track of acute problems I've had the opportunity to deal with, so I can talk about them in an interview. Lots of interesting things have happened and I've only had my job 5 months so far: hemicolectomy pre- and post-op; pre- and post-op cyst that required surgery; pneumonia; cellulitis; pleural effusion; uncontrolled A-fib; gastritis; pre and post DVT... And I also keep track of the stable patients and the meds used to keep them stable. Maybe if you made a list of what you are learning about it will help you see the positive side of your job? :up: Best wishes.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2012

I started at a LTC a day after passing my NCLEX. Had 6 wks orientation (by week 3 I wanted to be out on my own, management saw I was ready). I actually use MORE of my learned skills than one would think. I've also learned how to do other skills with expertise, skills that were taught during lecture and gone over in lab, but were never needed in clinicals. My LTC work has helped greatly with my current RN program. I haven't lost anything working LTC, I've only GAINED.

Take everything you do as an opportunity to learn and master your skills. If you go in with the attitude you are going to do nothing but 'push pills' you are not going to see all the things you really do other than pass meds. I know for myself while med pass takes up the majority of my time, I also have a zillion other things I do.

It's falsely assumed by many that LTC are your little old lady/man have chronic and stable conditions. Gone are those days. My floor is LTC, however we get overflow from our rehab/short term, as well as patients who are being d/c from the hospital but are too acute to go home safely. We get them. I have more acute issues with my residents than chronic. Many of the patients I cared for during clinicals in the hospital are the same ones who will be d/c with basically the same issues to the LTC. With the exception of IV fluids etc, there was little difference between what the hospital nurse did for that patient than I will for them when they come to me (actually, ironically one o my patients in my RN clinicals ended up discharged the day after I was there. I went to work at my LTC and who do you think my new patient was..yup, that same patient from clinicals and nope, nothing different in terms of treatments, meds etc was different than what they did in the hospital. Except, she had no iv fluids, but she did have IV antibiotics which i was responsible for in LTC)

As I said, take every opportunity as something to learn from and hone your skills/techniques from.