Advice/Tips for training new LPN's in LTC

[scrublifenurse10, LPN]

I've been an LPN for 7 years and worked in LTC for the last few years. I love what I do! My husband and I recently bought a house that is 3 counties away from where we were living (almost and hour away), and I started a new job in a LTC facility near our new home. I've only been there for about 3-4 months...but have been commended for my work ethic and positive attitude and have been asked by management to be a preceptor for training new LPN's. I'm excited about this opportunity; however, this particular facility does not have a lot of training material available. I'd love to have some sort of training packet to give new hires that will be helpful. Management is fully on board and would like me to help develop a training packet to be used facility-wide. My question is...what are the most important things you feel need to be including in the training packet for new LPN's in a LTC facility and also are there any forms, info, etc that you personally use that you feel would be helpful (please provide links to documents if you have them).

Thanks so much!!

[lindseylpn]

The LTC I used to work at started giving new hires a clipboard with a large packet that could be referred to when needed. It had a sample of all filled out forms we'd be routinely using like incident reports, skin assessments etc, info about ordering meds from the pharmacy, standing orders, info about where supplies were located, what was stocked on each crash cart and their locations, how to calibrate the glucometers, a sample report sheet, a sample CNA report and vital signs sheet, info about how to figure out who to chart on for the shift, info about how to take call ins, info about DNR and full code procedures, info about how to make up an ER packet when sending someone out, lab procedures and paperwork, a map of the building and parking lots and much more. Basically a lot of it was info about everything that's quickly skimmed over in orientation that could be easily forgotten like how to fill out a certain form or where something is located. It was nothing fancy, handwritten and photocopied but, proved to be a great tool when training new hires. Management asked those of us who were on the "training team" what info we would like included and we all contributed things that we wanted in the packet.

[amoLucia]

1 - Phone usage direction and how to PAGE

2 - TELEPHONE/text lists - FIRE, AMBULANCE & Emergi Rescue (this freq varies from facility to facility and may involve pre-arranged contracts with some providers).

one for doctors, dentists, psychiatry, psychology, Pain Clinic, Wound Clinic

one for providers like hospitals, Mobile Xray, Mobi-Dental, laboratory/phlebotomy services

PHARMACY, incl IV Pharmacy

DIALYSIS

departmental extensions

3 - Dept Head phone/text numbers (this may depend on Administrative decision - I have had to call Maint & Dietary on 11-7. At minimum, you'll need the DON number.

A supervisor freq has Dept Head home numbers, but it may need to be avail to staff nurses as well. Supervisor also has nurses' home numbers.

4 - A checklist or some kind of checkoff of materials or information provided.

*Personally, I always found I preferred to have my OWN copies of phone numbers. Every unit always seemed to 'hide' their copies somewhere different so I always had my own.

Just a thought here - y'all are calling you a 'preceptor' but TO ME, sounds more like you're going to be Staff Development. Esp since you'll be developing things from scratch. Might you deserve a 'title' and some $$ for it??? Methinks so!

PS - I was usually RN super on 11-7 I LTC. But I'm thinking more widely for the LPNs I knew who were covering as charges or were floating (at least until they got to know where to find things).