First lvn job!

allnurses Guide · Jan 19, 2014

Congratulations! Since I don't know any specifics about your new job, I would offer some general advice.

Any "homework" you do ahead of time can chase away some of your butterflies. I would review everything you learned about the patient population you will be working with - especially your medications - it will really help to know these inside and out.

Everyone is nervous at first..but anything you can do as a relaxation technique may prevent full on panic. Sometimes if I feel overwhelmed I close my eyes and breathe slowly for a few moments and it really does help.

Try to really focus on listening. It will help you retain information and avoid the need to ask repetitive questions.

If the questions are about something just as easily answered by a reference source go there first. On the other hand if you have serious doubts about a situation as it is happening you must speak up.

When you get home do a mental review of your day. If you hit some snags figure out why and come up with specific strategies to improve the outcome if it happens again.

Realize that not every frown or snappy reply is directed at you. Tell yourself that your preceptors want you to succeed. In most cases it's actually true. ,:-) Anyway those are a few tips.....all the best to you!

TexasLVN516 · Jan 20, 2014

Thank you so much for you help, it is long term care so hopefully my experience from clinical will help a lot but I really appreciate your advice! The mental review is a great idea. Thank you,

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Jan 21, 2014

I'm a new grad LVN working the same shift. I've been working on the floor for 4 weeks now, all by myself for a week and a half.

I'm thankful my company offered training via shadowing for about 2 1/2 wks. While other newly hired nurses were quick to tell company that they were find on their own sooner, I used the additional time to learn more about the little intricacies of the company and residents and how to handle unusual situations.

I also asked my trainers to let me do everything possible. They kept saying they felt bored and I could work by myself but I felt more comfy that way. Each day I added more tasks to those I did by myself. Like the first few days I did my own meds but not treatments. A few days later, I started answering phones during the shift. A day or so later I started interacting with families during my shift.

One of the things I did was volunteer to work with the higher need resident population. The good thing about this was that I don't float all over the building and I really focused on getting to know my residents well-even though they are the "harder" residents.

I focused on learning their names first (no wristbands in my facility) along with their personality and med administration techniques.

My shift goes like this:

Get to work 10-15 mins early to get comfy with what's going on and start setting up, look at written change of conditions.

Start prepping for my med pass and treatments that are due at 5, but can be given at 4.

Pause at 3 to give out ensures with snack.

Try very hard to give tx before dinner.

(Lots of interruptions regarding prns, family needs, etc through this whole time, an about 1-3 times per week there's a fall or incident report that I have to work on)

Med pass during dinner.

Try to start prepping for 2nd med pass due at 8 before my 6pm lunch.

Take lunch around 6, finish prepping my med pass and tx.

Try to start passing 8pm meds as early as possible. This med pass sucks a little! I finish late often.

Do my charting and physician communication after all of this is done. Sometimes I only have half an hour to do the paperwork! Not enough time!

I also have to supervise UAPs, order meds, receive meds, log meds, update MARs when changes occur, schedule outside lab work, communicate with home health and hospice nurses, assess and tx minor skin injuries and illnesses, call families, etc!

I like my job very much! I just have to learn how to not get thrown off by constant interruptions!

SandandSandwiches, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2014

Always stay calm, Don't take anything personal, Follow your gut and do your best to avoid drama at all cost.

Prepare for stress, but know the more you work the easier you will get into the flow of things.

My first lvn job was at a CRAZY facility with only 2 days of shadowing a not so good nurse, so lets just say I got off to a shaky start but a year later have survived. You can do it