I just posted in the Geriatric and LTC forum. I wanted to be in a SNF because I am a passionate genealogist and I knew that if I ever went back to nursing, I would have to be with The Greatest Generation (Although some day they will be gone and I will have the Baby Boomers, etc.)
I have 30 patients on each side of the floor. I was hired FT 3-11 and will end up on the desk in charge eventually but I wanted to pass meds to refresh myself, get to know the people, knew equipment, protocols, and lose the 40 pounds I gained working at a desk. On the first day I thought "I don't know if I can do this."
Last night was my 13th shift. I count narcs, pass meds, including 2 g-tubes, do the dining room, take lunch, pass meds, do treatments/dressings, house report, charting, computer charting, clean the cart up, restock, count narcs again, give report, and last night I actually did it all, alone, and left on time. I also have a little time when doing treatments to chat with the residents about their life history which is why I wanted this job.
I had to take a medication test for the job. There were 100 questions, T/F, multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, and I got 95 right. Everyone has told me from the third day on I was doing fine, that I just needed confidence.
Two weeks ago I wondered what the hell I was doing, now I am glad I made the decision to treat my RA with Enbrel and get my life back.
Good luck. It can be done without a refresher course if you were textbook smart in school. I went to college from 1993-1997 and I felt like a new grad all over again!
Yes, you can go back. I did!
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Sounds exhausting. I'll stay retired thank-you.
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