Advice pls?

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I'm a LPN in my province and i just started working in LTC, it's my first job.

At first, all staff are wonderful and helpful however, ever since i started picking up night shifts, i get note ups from my DIrector of Nursing.

1) i had one pr who had head lice and is being treated for it and i gave the treatment to the Health Care Aides 2 days prior the actual treatment.

2) i was under the direction of RN who is my DON and another LPN who is getting trained to be the ADON, i was an extra nurse on the day shift and my DON gave me 1 thing to do but the LPN gave me paper works to do, so i am on floor and office constantly.

I was helping a day nurse who had billions to do and needed assistance and my DON saw me doing paper works and told me that "for the past 4 hours i was not doing anything and was only asked to do with 1 thing and i am to only help with under her and the LPN. Anything that the day nurse needs assistance will have to go to her. I told this to my union rep and she told me that it feels like i was unappreciated and felt like i was a joke

3) i was doing Dr orders and i did not know that the 2nd check was if i have received the item (i didnt know this until i was told at the end of sept by one of the staff) and most of these i have done a lot pf these during the night and it screws me up. The reason why i was signing them was i did not want anyone to think that i ignored the orders. Thats when i realize that was a bad idea.

Bottom line, i feel like my nursing career is in a bottom line and my confidence in the facility has gone down the drain. I feel like i am losing my license anytime soon and is getting reported. i have been with them for almost a year now and i need some advice or motivation or if anyone is on the same boat as me and what did you do? I am planning to quit and look for another job but on the other hand, i need a job to get my family going.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Are you in Canada?

You sound overwhelmed.

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I am having a bit of a hard time following, however, if you are the extra nurse on with the intent of doing what the DON and/or the LPN ask you to do, then you need to do that. The day nurse needs to talk to the LPN or the DON if she is feeling that she needs help, not you.

I am not sure what you meant about the lice thing, however, I am surprised that you all don't need treatment, as it is highly contagious. Did you treat the CNA, or did you give the CNA the treatment to give the patient? Unfortunetely, because the treatment would be considered a medication and a treatment, this would fall under the scope of the LPN, and not the CNA in most facilities. If you gave a treatment to the CNA, then you also can't do that without an order. The CNA would have to follow up with employee health or her own doctor. It can be a bit of a grey area, as many facilities give out tylenol, ibuprofen, that type of thing to employees, but that is not something that necessarily should fall on you to decide and do or not do. That there is a case of lice in the facility that you just "treated" and did not report could be the issue here.

You can only do what you are assigned to do. If you finish your assignment, then certainly ask if there is anything else you should be doing. It sometimes feels like you could be doing more for others, but bottom line, you need to do what you are asked to do by your DON or charge.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

moved to Canadian nursing

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Are you in Canada?

You sound overwhelmed.

Yes i am in Canada, BC. What makes you say i am overwhelmed?

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I am having a bit of a hard time following, however, if you are the extra nurse on with the intent of doing what the DON and/or the LPN ask you to do, then you need to do that. The day nurse needs to talk to the LPN or the DON if she is feeling that she needs help, not you.

I am not sure what you meant about the lice thing, however, I am surprised that you all don't need treatment, as it is highly contagious. Did you treat the CNA, or did you give the CNA the treatment to give the patient? Unfortunetely, because the treatment would be considered a medication and a treatment, this would fall under the scope of the LPN, and not the CNA in most facilities. If you gave a treatment to the CNA, then you also can't do that without an order. The CNA would have to follow up with employee health or her own doctor. It can be a bit of a grey area, as many facilities give out tylenol, ibuprofen, that type of thing to employees, but that is not something that necessarily should fall on you to decide and do or not do. That there is a case of lice in the facility that you just "treated" and did not report could be the issue here.

You can only do what you are assigned to do. If you finish your assignment, then certainly ask if there is anything else you should be doing. It sometimes feels like you could be doing more for others, but bottom line, you need to do what you are asked to do by your DON or charge.

The staff didn't get treatment about the lice thing which i agree we should have. I gave the CNA the treatment to apply it on to the pt 2 days before her actual treatment. It was my mistake and i acknowledge that. All staff is aware that this pt has a head lice.

That's right and that is what i have been doing. My DON assumed me for the past hours that i have not been doing anything which i have been taking directions from the LPN and not from the DON because she was busy. And i do admit i did help the day nurse for a little because she needed to get caught up with her work, she's behind. I didn't think giving a hand to a co-worker is a crime.

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moved to Canadian nursing

Thanks! Didn't know that there was one :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Yes i am in Canada BC. What makes you say i am overwhelmed?[/quote']

You seem overwhelmed and frustrated with a whole bunch of issues happening concurrently at your new job. I'm not a Canadian nurse so I can't speak to the specifics of your job expectations. (I do think BC is beautiful though my travels have been limited to Montreal & Ontario)

However having enough wit to come and vent your frustrations and concerns anonymously to other nurses can be insightful and therapeutic. ;)

There are quite a few Canadian LPNs active in this forum, I think Loriangel is one who is also an AN Guide. Hopefully they can guide and support as you begin your nursing career. There are several active members who work in LTC.

Hang in there!

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First off, it sucks to work as an LPN in BC. You are educated to full scope but are restricted by facility policy and depending on where you work you are treated as a glorified NA and may be "permitted" to do a few meds.

I don't understand what your role is meant to be. Were you hired as a "float" LPN? If that's the case you will be doing hands on and administrative.

In your facility, have the NA's been certified to administer topical medications? If so, you did nothing wrong by requesting the NA do the lice treatment. If not, big no no. You would have to do the treatment yourself.

You need to talk with your supervisor and find out who will be directing your workload on a specific shift. You cannot be pulled in two or three separate directions at once.

Also, from some of the phrases you used, is English your first language? Could there be communication issues that aren't being acknowledged?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You definitely need to clarify what your role is and who is to be instructing you on your duties. Fiona is right. I worked briefly with an RN from BC and in her eyes PNs were just the same as aides. Is there perhaps a communication issue as well? I suspect English is not your first language.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I work LTC and it can be very overwhelming for new grads. Every day will get easier, since knowing the residents and their routines is a huge piece of the job.

Ask for additional orientation lf you need it and clarify the expectations with your supervisor. Do they have an orientee checklist for you? I also used a small notepad the first couple of months to help me remember certain routines.

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You seem overwhelmed and frustrated with a whole bunch of issues happening concurrently at your new job. I'm not a Canadian nurse so I can't speak to the specifics of your job expectations. (I do think BC is beautiful though my travels have been limited to Montreal & Ontario)

However having enough wit to come and vent your frustrations and concerns anonymously to other nurses can be insightful and therapeutic. ;)

There are quite a few Canadian LPNs active in this forum, I think Loriangel is one who is also an AN Guide. Hopefully they can guide and support as you begin your nursing career. There are several active members who work in LTC.

Hang in there!

I am because my boss is assuming that i did not do anything for the past few hours and i cannot tolerate those kind of ppl. i do not like ppl looking down at me just because I'm an LPN and my boss is a RN.

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