Freaking out here!!!!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2006

I have never had even one day of orientation at any LTC/nursing home job I've ever had. I am also a newer LVN with a total of 5 months experience at this date. I have held the title of 'charge nurse' at every nursing home, regardless of my lack of experience.

You are very fortunate to receive 7 days orientation per wing.

ashemson · Jul 17, 2006

Are you serious? Did you work at the nursing home prior to becoming an LPN? Did they just throw you in there and you did the job? I just do not feel prepared at all!

indigo girl · Jul 17, 2006

Getting eaten alive by another nurse will be the least of your problems, I'm thinking. How many patients per wing, and what kind of unit? Dementia?

Skilled or subacute?

Ask your preceptors how they organize their day, and take notes. On day shift, particularly, I'm watching the clock. You have a med tech so that means you are responsible for injections, narcotics, and maybe IV's on that shift. Ask your preceptors if any treatments need to be done before a resident gets out of bed. Nurses who work that wing all the time know what needs to be done on certain days. If there are any meetings you have to attend, you need to know that early in the shift to plan your other tasks around it. Learning how to organize your time is the challenge. You want to get as much done as possible early in the shift while you still have the energy! And, because those admissions may come rolling in (hopefully not early in the shift). I try to do the hardest tasks first if I can. If any resident is going for an appointment or being discharged, you need to know that right away. Is that paperwork done? Days is a tough shift and evenings is not much better IMHO. That's why I work nights. That being said. I think you can do this. There is a flow to things that you will learn to go with. Learn from each nurse and CNA.

Let us know how you make out, and good luck.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2006

Are you serious? Did you work at the nursing home prior to becoming an LPN? Did they just throw you in there and you did the job? I just do not feel prepared at all!

I had never worked at any nursing home prior to becoming an LVN and, yes, they did throw me right in there without any training to do the job.

LoriAlabamaRN · Jul 18, 2006

Seven days is very generous in terms of orientation at LTC facilities. At mine, new LPNs get five days total, not per wing, but they cannot be pulled to another wing for thirty days.

Try not to be worried. I know that seven days does not sound like a lot, but I'm sure you will feel much more comfortable at the end of your training. Don't forget, the CNAs and med tech can be your best assets, as they will be able to "show you the ropes" as new problems develop while you are in charge. If I were you, I'd let them know that you are new and will need to rely on them, this will hopefully show them that you value them and their experience. That's what I did when I took this job. I'm the night shift supervisor for the entire facility, and I only received two days of training. It was supposed to be eight, but the nurse I was replacing called in sick after the first two. I told my staff how much I would need their support, and they were totally there for me.

Butterflybee · Jul 19, 2006

Please let us know how it goes.

ALL the best to you.

ashemson · Jul 19, 2006

Well, tonight is going to be my 3rd night, and I am thinking that this is not really what I want to do. On my hall, I have 55 residents. There is a med tech, so I don't have to pass meds, but it is so crazy! I don't even see every resident at night. There is no possible way, and I don't like that. I don't like knowing that I am their nurse, and I have no clue what they look like or even what their name is. And there isn't time to actually spend time with anyone. There is no structure whatsoever. And I need a little structure!!! I know there will always be interruptions in whatever job you are in, but this is a little extreme I think. I am going to tough it out a little while longer, while looking for another job...

cathy54 · Jul 19, 2006

You will be fine.

I, also start a new job this afternoon. Charge nurse at a LTC facility. At the last NH I worked at, it was an easy going experience. Everyone just pitched in. It was in a small town. This I know will be different. I will have 30 residents, I have to do the first med pass, which I haven't done for a while d/t the other place had med aides for all halls. I have much to learn, but I have been told that soon I will have a routine of sorts.

We will be okay

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2006

Well, tonight is going to be my 3rd night, and I am thinking that this is not really what I want to do. On my hall, I have 55 residents. There is a med tech, so I don't have to pass meds, but it is so crazy!

In LTC your residents do not need to see your face on a daily basis since they all tend to be in stable condition. You do not even realize how good your situation is. Many LVNs would only dream of having a medication aide or med tech to pass the medications. At every LTC job I've worked, I have had to pass out my own medications in addition to the blood sugars, treatments, tube feedings, and other skilled stuff. In addition, my facility didn't train or orient me.

Hoping LVN2BSN · Jul 23, 2006

Well, tonight is going to be my 3rd night, and I am thinking that this is not really what I want to do. On my hall, I have 55 residents. There is a med tech, so I don't have to pass meds, but it is so crazy! I don't even see every resident at night. There is no possible way, and I don't like that. I don't like knowing that I am their nurse, and I have no clue what they look like or even what their name is. And there isn't time to actually spend time with anyone. There is no structure whatsoever. And I need a little structure!!! I know there will always be interruptions in whatever job you are in, but this is a little extreme I think. I am going to tough it out a little while longer, while looking for another job...

Just curious, in my short 6 months in PN school, I've never heard of a med tech. What do you do during your shift with the med tech there? Thanks alot!!!!

Drysolong · Jul 23, 2006

To OP: I think 7 days orientation on each wing is more than EXCELLENT!!

I am a new LPN (graduated in March 2006, Passed NCLEX May 2006) I got 4 days on-floor orientation at a job (LTC) that I haven't gone back to. (I thought I was being hired full-time nights, turned out to be PRN with no nights)

I immediately went to my current job which gave 6 days orientation (3 day 3 night) My supervisor and the other nurses are very helpful to me when I have questions or am not familiar with certain procedures. So I feel well-supported. I actually prefer working on my own and asking for questions and assistance, rather than the orientation I received.

I am the only nurse on my wing at nights with 48-52 residents. I supervise 3 CNA's. (No med tech) Maybe because I am so new, I'm naive. But I look at it all as a learning experience.