can anyone relate?

ambil · Feb 14, 2009

I've been living overseas for many years and don't know some of these abbreviations. What is LTC?. Even without knowing this from what you say it sounds as if the orientation was very unfair for you. Hang in there with this menopause thing. I know from experience, being 50, that there is a sort of nursing menopausal demence, ha. I think too at times I must be getting a little wacky, but all I can say is hang in there. We middle aged nurses have soooo much to offer in experience and knowledge. Granted, I can't run the halls as fast as I used to but I've certainly not become stupid. Have patience with yourself and trust yourself and your own instincts. It will get better, and like I said, I bet the main problem was due to a poor orientation and not because your losing it!

meluhn · Feb 14, 2009

I worked LTC for many years and it was extremely difficult, even impossible to do things as they should be done. You are not alone. However, I think it just depends on what you get used to. I stayed in LTC for years because, as an LPN at the time, the money was so much better than the Hospital. I remember feeling very overwhelmed when I first started at the hospital after becoming an RN.

caliotter3 · Feb 14, 2009

I think that you did not give yourself enough time. LTC was my first nursing job. I was in my job for just at a year and that is how long it took me to get the hang of it. I was slow at first but picked up as time went on. My supervisor complimented me on the fact that I floated to each of the different areas and learned how to work in each, when there were people who had been in the facility for years who refused to move out of their "comfort" zone. You need to always remember that a learning curve is just that. I doubt that anyone could pick up everything in just three weeks. Good luck on your next venture.

ktwlpn, LPN · Feb 14, 2009

I have been a RN for 16 years. I have worked mainly in hospitals, also in dialysis. I took a position in a LTC having no experience. Oriented on unit for 3 days with me having half the load, not really having a mentor. People were nice but this is not orientation as I know it. I quit after 3 weeks. I could not keep on the time schedule for med pass of over 24 patients, still unsure of all the paperwork. I feel so incompetant. Makes me think it is time to hang up nursing. I am also starting into menopause. I just wanted to know if any other experienced nurse could not do LTC????:cry:

KEY WORDS---"starting menpoause" You did get a lousy orientation IMHO but having been through menopause I can tell you the symptoms are crazy! Do some research -I had itchy skin,palpitations,MEMORY PROBLEMS, profound depression among other things. I felt at times as though I was at the breaking point. I was really frightened because I was young and had no idea what was going on . My periods stopped suddenly at 38 and that sent me to the doc and I found out I was in menopause. I had been having symptoms for 10 years that were treated as simple depression-or maybe the doc thought I was just a nutcase. Anyway once I got myself regulated and educated I became a new woman. I had good results with some natural interventions but not everything works for everyone-keep an open mind. :yeah:

What a relief! You think you are heading for a nervous breakdown and it turns out to only be menopause! What a celebration! Good LUck...

chevyv, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2009

Starting menopause or not, you got thrown to the wolves. I'm a new lpn and going through the same thing as you right now. I posted in the lpn section : A day in the life of a new lpn. Sounded very similar to you except I got 6 days on the floor before they sent me alone to a wing I've never been on with 28 residents. It was a nightmare and I haven't been back yet. I wouldn't want my mom to ever go into a nursing home if this is how they train their new nurses. I was scarry. I took forever to do the first med pass! State would have had so much fun doling out the fines that night.

You did the right thing. If you employer can't give you the training support needed, why would you want to work for them?

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2009

I know I would not do LTC, not for any paycheck. I'll take a paycut and landscape instead.

I learned that lesson as a CNA. My pt. load was 22, and I had to bath 11 of them. Plus put them to bed at night and everything else. I knew of pt's who went HOURS.........I mean many.....without being checked on. Once I got out of that, I never went back, never will. Wont be a part of it.

Melinurse · Feb 14, 2009

I think you may not have given it enough time. I am a new grad and at the LTC I had 4 days orientation and they keep putting me as charge. Crazy isn't it? Even after 2 months there there are days where you will fall behind and you won't get everything done. Even some of the nurses who've been there for years have days where med pass takes so long they never get a chance to do treatments. Maybe the issue is not the orientation or workload, menopause or maybe that facility was just simply not the right one for you. I have noticed a difference between some LTC as I visit pts in several around here. The differences are suttle but can make all the difference.

When I hit menopause, I would carry a squirt bottle of refrigerated water with me to use during hot flashes at work. Helped some.