Is it just me or is everyone a little slow when they start out in LTC

Absolutely! And it won't take long, you just have to be patient with yourself and ask others to be patient with you while you learn the process and develop your own routine.

I recently returned to LTC nursing after years in management, and you can bet I was slow at first, especially being older (50), overweight, and seriously out of shape. But after a couple of weeks, things began to flow better and I got faster. Now I manage 22-28 residents with two CNAs and a half-time CMA, and even with half of them being diabetic and needing FSBS/insulin twice per shift, I almost always get everything done on time including my own med passes......and no, I don't pre-pour. It WILL get better, I promise you---just give yourself time!

I have never worked LTC, but I have to assume that in time, once confidence is built and having a better handle on the routine, sure, you would become more expedient.

It is not you. It took me about a year to start to feel comfortable in LTC. I started a little slower because I was making sure I didn't make a mistake. You can improve on your speed by doing things to make it more organized for yourself. Make sure the cart is in order and set up before you start. Make a list of who's who and what's what for yourself. Example: write down your BS and insulins, list those who need a BP first, etc. Start 15 minutes early. Don't worry. As time goes on, you will take less time.

Anything new takes time to get the hang of it. Go for it!

I started out in LTC and I refuse to go back. After a short time you will pretty much memorize your residents meds and med times, treatments, and blood sugars and insulins. There is usually not a whole lot of change, thus it being LTC. So yes you will be slower at first as you are learning. I found that working in LTC, that sometimes your day would be just fine but heaven forbid something should happen like having a resident fall or receiving a new admission. Your whole day goes to hell after that and you end of staying 2 hours after your shift. This usually happened to me a couple times a week. God bless the nurses work in LTC.

...a little slow.. ? - I was a snail when I first started. I think this is true for any new job situation. I can usually improve my speed by about 50% after a few months, however, the newly gained time is always eaten up by more duties and assignments.

I agree with the people who said Go for it. I think it takes time to become proficient at anything new. Med passes in LTC are difficult to master because each resident likes things a certain way, and no two will ever be the same. I would think that as a new kid on the block you would be given some time to adjust and maybe even work right along side of someone for a period of time before going solo. LTC can be very rewarding, too.

It took me a good month of having the same patients to pick up speed I have 30 patients and it takes me 2 hours to do my first med pass and about 2 hours to do my 2nd. and let me tell you where im at that is pretty good time. I have seen nurses there still passing pills at 11:00 It helps to not look at the time this will cause you to get stressed and try to rush which causes med errors.