Wanting to quit on LTC/Skilled nursing facility orientation.

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Specializes in Ambulatory, Corrections, SNF, LTC, Rehab.

I have 2 years combined experience in correctional nursing (clinical role) and out patient care ( lead role).

Recently I accepted a job offer as a Charge Nurse PM shift FT, (I was hired on the spot) in multi state corporation for LTC/SNF which I ended up resigning to my current job as Clinical Lead Nurse in out patient/ambulatory clinic. I feel like it's different coz I haven't work in a LTC/SNF before so I kinda like it. I had 6 days general orientation with them now and currently on my 2nd day on floor orientation itself. I kinda know my meds already coz I had to do medpass in the jail before so passing meds is not an issue to me anymore?

But I have some issues to my current work.

I feel like I don't want to work to this facility coz they have 3 star only? The place is stinky. Residents are always on bed. No offense to the aides, but some CNAs are rude. There's a lot of student in the facility so I feel like it's over populated in the hallway? 1st day on my floor orientation the nurse who train me ask me to the weekly progress note which I don't know the patient so I ask him what to right in my charting the same on my second day of orientation? they ask me to do the med pass alone on my 3rd day of floor orientation.

For 48 residents only 2 nurses on the floor and 4 or 5 CNAs for PM shift. their telephone is old school. some department in facility like social services is too involved in clinical issues which is I don't get it. Medical Records department who audits the charts is not nurses, which is I don't get it. I hardly see the DON or ADON on the floor. no body wants to answer the call light. some staff don't wear their badges which is part of uniform. some nurses and CNAs has fake nails, and some extra piercing on faces. tattoos are so visible. hairs of ladies are not tied up. housekeeping is very poor. med room is untidy. department heads offices are not really organized especially the medical records. the treatment nurse is only one in a 200 plus bed facility.

PLUS!

NO PM SHIFT, NIGHT OR WEEKEND DIFFERENTIAL. NO HOLIDAY PAY. SICK LEAVE WILL TAKEN AWAY FROM YOUR PTO. AND NURSES OR STAFF HAVEN'T GET THEIR ANNUAL RAISE WITH THE LAST 5 YEARS.

Question:

Should I still stick on this job?

PLEASE ADVICE! :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Stick to it till you get a new one...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I once quit a job in orientation. I feel that it's a probationary period, and that is a 2 way street. I was uneasy about some things there and didn't like the culture there

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in I/DD.

I haven't worked SNF,, but a lot of what you describe sounds pretty standard for long term care. Do you have LPNs that you "oversee?" The person training you should be telling you what is expected in a progress note in your facility. If you only have 6 days of orientation you should be doing med passes already. If you have to do it alone in 2 weeks, you'd better start now so you can work on timing while you have a preceptor. As far as the last paragraph of issues, those are questions that only you can answer. Did you know about the shift differential before you accepted the position? If it isn't a good fit it isn't a good fit, but I would make sure that your expectations for this job are in line with what is realistic in LTC, and definitely don't quit your job without having another one lined up (hopefully that is common sense in today's job market).

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

Duplicate threads have been merged into one.

Here's my advice to the OP: hang onto this job until you can find one that is better. Although the conditions are suboptimal, being unemployed is worse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

That staffing for 48 residents seems pretty standard so I really don't see an understaffing issue here. Complaining about the personal appearance of staff...long hair, fake nails, piercings, tattoos..so what? If they are good at their jobs, and believe me finding good CNA's is not easy, I don't really care about their personal appearance choices as long as they at least appear clean.

Other departments are very involved in the care planning for LTC residents. That is why it is called a multi-disciplinary team. I would be more concerned if the social worker showed no interest in the clinical side of care. Also medical records doesn't require a nursing degree and I imagine most medical records persons are not nurses. Our medical records department does all the coding, so having an expertise in ICD10 is more important than nursing knowledge in that position.

Now the low pay, no shift differential, lack of raises I can empathize with. I love corporate health care [not].

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

Did you not inquire about these things before you accepted the job? Like patient to nurse ratio, shift differential, etc? FYI when someone hires you on the spot it can indicate they are desperate, which isn't a good thing. My advice would be that moving on in the future, you investigate the place you may want to be hired at and make sure it's worth your while. This is what many SNF/LTC are. No many offer any shift diff and I havent seen anyone offer weekend pay since 2007. Orientation, like others have said, is a two way street. I have given my regerts during an orientating period before, I was honest and said the work enviroment wasn't something I was interested in and went on my merry way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

NO PM SHIFT, NIGHT OR WEEKEND DIFFERENTIAL. NO HOLIDAY PAY. SICK LEAVE WILL TAKEN AWAY FROM YOUR PTO. AND NURSES OR STAFF HAVEN'T GET THEIR ANNUAL RAISE WITH THE LAST 5 YEARS.

Question:

Should I still stick on this job?

PLEASE ADVICE! :(

I would be highly tempted to quit over this. At the least, I would be putting it applications elsewhere.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Everything you described sounds like the facility where I work except for the last paragraph about pay and sick time. There's a differential where I work and holiday pay.

I keep thinking if I just get more organized I can get everything done. Then I get a day where the phone rings constantly, someone falls, or a resident starts actively dying, or all three.

I'm going to apply to clinic jobs when I've hit the 6 month experience mark and if nothing happens, I'll try again at 1 year. I love the residents in LTC and I love being crazy busy, but even when I'm crazy busy I still don't get everything done -I have a hard time handling that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment