Overwhelmed...

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I am a new LPN grad in Illinois and thankfully it only took me about a week in a half to get a job. Although I really would not prefer to work in a nursing home, I am really grateful to have had this opportunity to learn more and to get my foot in the door. I'm only twenty years old and I am hoping to get in a RN program soon. I am also a current student at DePaul University. I know that I probably shouldn't work and go to school full time, but I really need the money and I need to be in school. My pay is actually pretty decent for a new grad- $23 w/ $2 weekend diff- and I figure if I work at least six months, I can dig myself out of the debt I have accrued.

My problem at work is I just don't feel confident in my abilities. This home is the only place I've interviewed where they don't treat me like a child but as a colleague. However, I feel like I needed way more orientation. I was scheduled for five days, then four days and on the second day I was alone. Someone coded before I got to work and died and even though I didn't know them, I was just overwhelmed of the responsibility. I literally have these people's lives in my hands. I'm so afraid of making mistakes, med pass is extremely slow for me not including paging MD's and necessary paper work. I want very much to succeed, but honestly after the eight and a half hours I put in, I very much want to ball up and cry my eyes out.

Does anyone have any advice, or has anyone felt the same?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.

I'm 32 and also a new grad LPN and also recently employed in a LTC facility. I too am terrified of making mistatkes and having people's lives in my hands. My med pass is slow.

But.................I really love what I'm doing. I did great in school and am careful. I look up stuff I don't know on break. I ask questions of other staff.

You're not all alone!! Ask questions, I'm sure your colleagues would much rather you ask than wonder why you're not asking. Know as much about your residents as possible.

It is hard. I feel overwhelmed at times. But you will get through it. One day at a time. And you will become more efficient and more confident.

Hang in there!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

LTC is overwhelming in itself, not to mention the stress factor. As time passes, you will gain more confidence in yourself. As far as the med pass goes, it will get easier and you will get faster once you learn your residents and their meds. Good luck!!!

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I know exactly how you feel. I too, was a new LPN and found myself working in a nursing home and had EXACTLY the same orientation nightmare as you did! I think that the country is soooo in need of nurses that they do alot of "quick steps" to get them. Believe me, you are not alone out here. I applaud you for going to work and school at the same time as I know we all have to pay our bills. Just hang in there and know that you are doing the best you can with the system you have to work with. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC, office.

LTC is overwhelming to those who start there. The nurse-to-resident ratio is so high and it's a lot of responsibility.

Don't worry about being slow with the med pass. That will change with time. I used to worry way more when I saw relatively new nurses done quickly; sometimes faster than their seasoned coworkers. It's not a race.

Keep at it. You sound like a great nurse. :up:

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Congratulations all around!!! How did you do it, "a new LPN grad in Illinois and thankfully it only took me about a week in a half to get a job."??? Please details would help. Was this job from an ad, career fair??? You will do fine, give yourself time. Good luck !

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

God I believe everyone has a story like this. When I started as a new grad at a LTC facility,there were 2 nurses to a floor.The other nurse was late she was young as well but had been an LPN since the age of 19. I took report from 1 nurse who had no help for the pm shift (3-11). This was a 64 bed unit that had 62 residents. I started rounds checking my clients on one side of the unit. The other nurse arrives and starts rounds on the other side only to find a client DEAD! Her gtube feeding infusing HOB elevated it appeared as if she was sleeping but her abdomen had like tripled in size and she was ice cold no pulse. LTC facilities have been always been short staffed and the lack of dedicated/motivated

employees perpetuate this. I mean who knows the last time someone had checked on this poor lady. Please do your rounds. Arrive early to find out what's what. It would probably help to make a checklist of sorts.Everyone passes meds slow and feels overwhelmed in the beginning. Within 6 months of working at the LTC I got a position at a teaching hospital in the NICU and have been doing peds forever.

I am very proud of you Nursing is very rewarding, just hang in there!:typing

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I felt this way too, I ws 40 when I graduated and you would think I had it all together, but I was very nervous and slow (I wuld rather be accurate than fast). Take advantage of the orientation that you get, ask alot of questions, don't be afraid to ask. I precept people from time to time and love it when I am asked questions because it shows you really want to learn and that you care. I knew one new nurse that came in with an I know everything attitude and she didn't make it. If she just asked questions, she would have been fine. I still get nervous from time to time, (5 years later) and I still can honestly say I don't know everything, but I still ask questions, sometimes the same questions over and over, but that is how we learn. Good Luck, I hope only the best for you.

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I felt this way too, I ws 40 when I graduated and you would think I had it all together, but I was very nervous and slow (I wuld rather be accurate than fast). Take advantage of the orientation that you get, ask alot of questions, don't be afraid to ask. I precept people from time to time and love it when I am asked questions because it shows you really want to learn and that you care. I knew one new nurse that came in with an I know everything attitude and she didn't make it. If she just asked questions, she would have been fine. I still get nervous from time to time, (5 years later) and I still can honestly say I don't know everything, but I still ask questions, sometimes the same questions over and over, but that is how we learn. Good Luck, I hope only the best for you.

Thanks for that! I am 46. LPN for 3 yrs but just started in LTC. 30 pts. Totally overwhelmed! how do you get organized?:scrying:

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I worked LTC for two years as well as in a hospital at the same time, organizatoin is the hardest thing to accomplish. When I get my assignment sheet, I write on the the back, all the things that I have to do for the day and cross it off when I have finished them and also a time if it has to be done at a certain time. I go room to room with my list so that if I have vitals, a breathing treatment and a dressing change in one room, I know that when I get to that room I have to accomplish those three things. I do as much as I can in one trip. If I don't stop and organize, I make alot of unnessary trips and I run behind all day. I use this for both ltc and at the hospital

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You do what you have to do to survive. A few things to think about: you can't quit work, and you can't quit school. Not an option. Things that may be an option include cutting down to part time at either one. If not, suck it up and go on. Things are going to be crazy when you first start a job; you will get used to it. There are always going to be other people to help you out. You are a safe, competent nurse, that has been proven by your boards exam. You will find a routine, and this worry will be a thing of the past. I'm in the same boat as you. I work full time, attend an RN program full time, have two kids that go to gymanstics twice and swimming once a week, and try to remember that I have a husband that needs attention and a house that needs the same. The first night I ever worked med-surg, everything bad that could happen did happen, and I went to the bathroom and cried for about 2 minutes before I remembered that my patients were more important than my feeling sorry for myself at the moment, so I got up, wiped off my face, and went to face the shift. I once found a sign that helps me deal with things when I start to feel sorry for myself, and I bought it to put up at my nurse's station:

Put on your big girl panties and deal with it!

Good Luck! This gets easier, I promise.:heartbeat

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