I just want to scream so bad right now.
I am an ER nurse new to ltc. I took a prn job as a nursing facility. orientation was to be for 5 days..
1st day of orientation..did med passes and all that needed to be done. They have two nurses...one passes meds and one charts....No big deal...passing meds is not rocket science..i give meds in the ER. day two ..passing meds again with the same nurse orienting me...i had explained that i am comfortable with med passes...i need to know the documentation and the charting process, calling doctors and lab or whatever..ER charting and protocol and LTC charting. and protocol.two different worlds.. NO USEFUL PROTOCOL MANUAL.... The nurse who deals with charting.. ( heard by other staff members she is very territorial..hates people invading her space) she actually told me that in a way also..Not in a mean way...just said she has OCD, and likes things a certain way ..no big deal.
Day three comes...i decide that i want to know the charting routine..not med passes...the same nurse who has been orienting me to passing meds seemed kind of peeved that i want to "manage to help and learn "with the other lady who does all the charting, labs and calling doctors stuff.. three hours later..she states she feels she has a fever and her heart rate is elevated..i personally checked her pulse..84. She called the DON and states she needs to go home at 11am. She gave me the key to pass the meds..she literally didnt do anything..i didnt learn anything again..each time i try to ask about charting . She states " oh the unit manager does it,,youll be fine" she went home.
I was at my regular job. The scheduling lady called stating the DON wants to cut my orientation to three days and let me be on her own. I told her.not possible..all i have been doing is passing meds.
days four..no luck..pass meds again...
yesterday was day five..last day..3-11 shift..another nurse ..explained to her today is my last day. Seemed helpful and nice..started to help me with paper work..40 munites later...did a couple of finger sticks..5pm meds and 6 pm meds not done yet.. around 7.30 pm.she states she has to go pick up her daughter..i said ill help pass the meds...she left. Couldnt find med key...she mistakenly took it with her.she didnt leave a cell phone..nobody had the keys..she didnt get back till 10 pm..call bells had been ringing since 8.30..no insulin done..majority of these patients are alert and oriented..guess who had to pass the meds and apologize for "me being late to give meds"...ME.
11pm still passing meds..nurses leaving patting me on the back stating. " You are still passing meds???:angryfireOh..eventually you'll be able to do it quicker..u are still learning" what did my preceptor do..sit behind the desk..chart a little bit and eat her food..i didnt have a break..i left there 12.10 pm..
Still dont know a lick of charting..last day of orientation..I am about to call the DON and tell her..if i dont get at least two days of orientation to focus on the documantation...I QUIT!!:angryfire i have so many other options.