OMG I feel so overwhelmed

[kayleighac]

OMG I feel so overwhelmed, I just got a new job at an LTC and the nurse to patient ratio is 1:30. I felt like crying last night, it was my first night alone as a new grad, and it was a Sunday, so it wasn't even busy, but it took me so long to do my med pass that by the time I was finished with my 5 p meds, it was already time to start my 9 pm meds. Another LVN even insisted to help me last night, and I still got out of there an hour late. I can't imagine how it would have bene without her help!! Any suggestions or tips?? I feel like I'm doing something wrong...

[Dierdre]

Hmm, I'd spring for less money and less responsibility. Get thee to a physician's office, minor emergency clinic, plasma center, blood bank, or something where you're not responsible for other people's lives. If your state doesn't have medication aides and cna's that are allowed to take vital signs, find somewhere else to work. I did, and I'm much happier with my life now. I make $.46 less an hour, and boy is it ever worth it.

[eldragon]

I started my third week in LTC yesterday, and it's tough.

The pay is not good, either. $14 an hour to bust my hump for 8 or more hours, not able to sit down or even breathe during the entire shift?

I really think the dayshift load is for the birds.

I am exhausted by the time I get home at night. I am useless.

I feel like I sold my soul to the devil for $14 an hour!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

When I was a CNA in a nursing home, we were to take temps, pulse and respirations, but no blood pressures. Even with that, it was not really done. Most of them used to write down anything for vitals. Everyone is overworked...period. In the hospitals, CNAs were made to be Patient Care Associates, where they are supposed to do blood pressures (they did it as CNAs as well), fingersticks, phlebotomy (sometimes) and EKGs. The blood pressure machines were not manual ones, and the few that were available had the wrong size cuffs. They were not calibrated, anyhow. Sucks,because patient care is going down the tubes.

[eldragon]

When I was a CNA in a nursing home, we were to take temps, pulse and respirations, but no blood pressures. Even with that, it was not really done. Most of them used to write down anything for vitals. Everyone is overworked...period. In the hospitals, CNAs were made to be Patient Care Associates, where they are supposed to do blood pressures (they did it as CNAs as well), fingersticks, phlebotomy (sometimes) and EKGs. The blood pressure machines were not manual ones, and the few that were available had the wrong size cuffs. They were not calibrated, anyhow. Sucks,because patient care is going down the tubes.

True.

Anything done right, takes time.