Originally Posted by stellarjess
i can relate as well. i also live in the bay area, am a new grad, and just started at a rehab/skilled nursing facility. 6 days orientation, 1:20-25 ratio, and i feel extremely overwhelmed. everyone says i'll get the hang of it but i just can't see that happening right now. i want more than anything to work in a hospital but because of the economy this is what we have to do
i don't have any advice, but hang in there. take it one day at a time. hopefully things will turn around soon in the hospitals.
You WILL get the hang of it. I work at a SNF/LTC AND I have 24 and after about 6 months I got to where I could take my lunch, sit down and read the newspaper and in general have a pretty laid back shift. Sometimes it gets busy but for the most part I am comfortable with the amount of attention I can give the patients and comfortable with their safety.
We dont have a desk nuse and last night (PMs)I was doing a new admit and had one pass away in the middle of my admit so I had no free time but I was suprised at the end of the night I wasn't stressed at all. I think I have totaly adapted. 50 percent of it is knowing your patients and having good CNAs working for you. The rest is time management, prioritizing and nursing skills. After awhile you can do your routine charting, treatments and med passes with your eyes closed. The first three months were ABSOLUTE HELL though.
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