Emotional breakdown and nurse frustation

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Just need some words of advice from LVNS out there......

I graduated and passed the LVNs boards last month and was searching for a job in the Bay Area. I found a job just 10 minutes drive from my house (a SNF)..So I applied and was hired on that same day even though I was wearing sweating pants and t-shirt. I was just there for an application.

1. So far I'm a new grad with no real hospital experience whatsoever except for school.

2. Oriented on the floor just to learn the system for 3 days and been put alone by myself on the floor the 4th day. I was oriented with 25 patients but at night I have 50 patients.

3. I have 50 patients with meds between 5-10 each. (half of them needs to be crushed).

4. Here is a typically time frame from a current LVN who works there.

a. Arrive to work at 2:30pm...check the treatment book for all 50 patients.

b. Fill the 20 feeding tubes with the correct amount.

c. Count the narcotics....check to see if all the meds are there

e. Waited for the summary report from the previous shift (some of them are not even completed).

f. Check the blood sugar of at least 20 patients (mind that some of the patients are combative when they get prick so they are fighting you and giving U a hard time.

g. Assess the patients

h. Pass out meds to all 50 patients at 5:00pm....Some patients at least 15 of them wants it exactly on time....and I do mean on time.

i. This according to them takes at least 3-4 hours (crushing meds, giving insulin shots, checking ID band, checking BP). The bad part is that you have to look for them because there are activities going on in the louge and they wander on the two floors.

j. So by this time it is 9:00pm.....(they won't let you pass out the 5pm and 9pm meds at the same time.

k. Now you pass out the 9:00pm meds (there are at least 20 and they also have to check the blood sugar for 10 patients)...

l. The time to finish this is around 10:30pm...Now you have to do the treatment book (putting medicine ointment, dressing change, flushing tubes, colostomy bags, etc....)

m. Now the time is 11:15pm and I get off work at 11pm...I didn't take a 15 minute or lunch break.

n..Paperwork time.....(count out the narcotics for the next shift, give 24 hour report, document and chart the findings, document treatment book that you completed, fill out the I/O sheet, reports)

I have 4 CNAs working under me and still this is suppose to be a 3-11pm shift but ends out being a 3pm-2am shift because this is the usually time I get home around 2am and start the whole process again.

I get off work feeling depressed and sad.I didn't feel like I want to work there anymore...I'm having emotional breakdown after shift and my whole attitude is "I don't care"......

What can I do???I'm a new grad and this is my very 1st LVN job...Should I quit and look for another job or should I give sometime to adjust...

I was told the turnover rate is high....They were desparate in hiring me on the spot....NEED ADVICE PLEASE:o:o:o:o:o:o

I just feel like I don't want to do LVN anymore...:o:o:o:o:o:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in HH, Psych, MR/DD, geriatric, agency.

That patient load is UNREAL!! I can do a med pass quickly, but there is no way that even I can do 50 patients in 2 hours.

If I were you, I would start looking for another position ASAP. You now know why the turn-over is high and they hired you on the spot. Your patient load is a train wreck waiting to happen and you'll be to blame for it.

Please don't give up on nursing. I'm sorry that your first job is so crappy, but MOST facilities are not like that.

Remember for your next interviews, that you ask them questions too... like turn-over rate, patient to nurse ratio, etc.

GL!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks feisty LPN...I was depressed about my job whenever I think about it...There are times when I sit in my car and cry about it....I don't ever usually do that...But that job broke me down.....Patient yelling at me for their meds.....family members yelling me at their late parents meds.....the supervisor telling me to hurry up....the paper work is endless.

I know that if I work there, mistakes may happen and I don't want to be liable for it. I don't know if I have yet (nursing insurance)...

Am I responsible for that or is the nursing facility covering me???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
Just need some words of advice from LVNS out there......

I graduated and passed the LVNs boards last month and was searching for a job in the Bay Area. I found a job just 10 minutes drive from my house..So I applied and was hired on that same day even though I was wearing sweating pants and t-shirt. I was just there for an application.

1. So far I'm a new grad with no real hospital experience whatsoever except for school.

2. Oriented on the floor just to learn the system for 3 days and been put alone by myself on the floor the 4th day. I was oriented with 25 patients but at night I have 50 patients.

3. I have 50 patients with meds between 5-10 each. (half of them needs to be crushed).

4. Here is a typically time frame from a current LVN who works there.

a. Arrive to work at 2:30pm...check the treatment book for all 50 patients.

b. Fill the 20 feeding tubes with the correct amount.

c. Count the narcotics....check to see if all the meds are there

e. Waited for the summary report from the previous shift (some of them are not even completed).

f. Check the blood sugar of at least 20 patients (mind that some of the patients are combative when they get prick so they are fighting you and giving U a hard time.

g. Assess the patients

h. Pass out meds to all 50 patients at 5:00pm....Some patients at least 15 of them wants it exactly on time....and I do mean on time.

i. This according to them takes at least 3-4 hours (crushing meds, giving insulin shots, checking ID band, checking BP). The bad part is that you have to look for them because there are activities going on in the louge and they wander on the two floors.

j. So by this time it is 9:00pm.....(they won't let you pass out the 5pm and 9pm meds at the same time.

k. Now you pass out the 9:00pm meds (there are at least 20 and they also have to check the blood sugar for 10 patients)...

l. The time to finish this is around 10:30pm...Now you have to do the treatment book (putting medicine ointment, dressing change, flushing tubes, colostomy bags, etc....)

m. Now the time is 11:15pm and I get off work at 11pm...I didn't take a 15 minute or lunch break.

n..Paperwork time.....(count out the narcotics for the next shift, give 24 hour report, document and chart the findings, document treatment book that you completed, fill out the I/O sheet, reports)

I have 4 CNAs working under me and still this is suppose to be a 3-11pm shift but ends out being a 3pm-2am shift because this is the usually time I get home around 2am and start the whole process again.

I get off work feeling depressed and sad.I didn't feel like I want to work there anymore...I'm having emotional breakdown after shift and my whole attitude is "I don't care"......

What can I do???I'm a new grad and this is my very 1st LVN job...Should I quit and look for another job or should I give sometime to adjust...

I was told the turnover rate is high....They were desparate in hiring me on the spot....NEED ADVICE PLEASE:o:o:o:o:o:o

I just feel like I don't want to do LVN anymore...:o:o:o:o:o:o

I worked the same shift as you and delt with 48 Patients. You are up agianst so much more. You license is on the line every day.

GET OUT of that place. Trust me, leaving an understaffed nursing home was the best choice I ever made. It's not worth the hassle, headache, and potential lawsuit and license removal. GET OUT. This happens all the time in California..they throw new grads into impossible situations and give them little if any really training. Is there any wonder we leave and don;'t stay. LTC in California is like the Titantic. Get out before it takes you out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Where else can an LVn work especially in California? I'm in San Francisco.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

I was told the turnover rate is high....

That was your first clue.

IS VAcaville, CA too far of a commute? If not I have a great LVN position you might be interested in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Thanks feisty LPN...I was depressed about my job whenever I think about it...There are times when I sit in my car and cry about it....I don't ever usually do that...But that job broke me down.....Patient yelling at me for their meds.....family members yelling me at their late parents meds.....the supervisor telling me to hurry up....the paper work is endless.

I know that if I work there, mistakes may happen and I don't want to be liable for it. I don't know if I have malpractice insurance yet (nursing insurance)...

Am I responsible for that or is the nursing facility covering me???

You had BETTER GET YOUR OWN , PRONTO!!! I didn't mean to make it seem like I am yelling, but, the facility will only cover you if you have correctly followed policy and procedure, yet, the workload they are presenting will bring you to the point where you may take shortcuts to survive. I'd try and find something else and leave. The supervisor will say hurry up, but translation is...she is saying but not saying to 'do what you have to do'...which means shortcuts. You are not experienced enough to take short cuts right now. I wish you luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is true for all SNF/long term care facilities in the Bay Area.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks..You guys are right..I was too afraid because of the workload that was bestow upon me that I was speechless....There was many times the administor sees me taking the meds out that she asked me, "Are you ok?". All I can say to her was, "We'll see" with a blank express. From that point on I was depressed.

They did show me all the shortcuts. I think that the experienced LVN knows what I mean when they worked in SNF with some many patients. I chose not to do the shortcuts because it goes against my ethics of professional and humane care....

I'm taking your advice and trying to find a .Is there any recommendation for a new grad?? Where else can a Lvn go work for??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

Max, let me know if you got my PM.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

BigB, thanks...got the pm and will start the application process as soon as possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Hi there, just wanted to ask you, whats the difference between an RN and an LPN/LVN? I'm Scottish, and dont know if we have equivelent grading here. we have nurses, or midwives, then Sisters, then senior sisters, or team leaders. i'm guessing CNA would be the equivelent of our nursing auxilliaries, Just something i've wondered about on here!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment