I just started working in a 152 bed LTC/Sub Acute/Rehab facility. I just finished my first 4 days solo. I work days, and I don't ever ever ever get finished before 6 or 7 PM. My first day, I didn't finish my 9 AM meds until 2 PM...and I was STILL doing fingersticks. I nearly cried that day. Then when I got to the nursing station all my charts were lined up with new orders that needed to be carried out, labs that needed to be followed up, etc. Again...I nearly cried.
I had a med error, because I missed 2 doses of 2.5 mg Lomotil on a patient (2 consecutive days). It was my fault, I failed to see it on the MAR. I cried the whole night, went to work and told my supervisor. Then I told the patient (own RP) and she laughed. She is 81 years old and was a nurse for 40 years. She said, "You cried all night over that little tiny white pill that doesn't do a thing for me? Don't EVER do that yourself!" I felt relieved because I thought she was going to rip one into me. I'm just worried what MANAGEMENT is going to think. It is considered a 'narcotic' and I am new....I hope they don't fire me...I just started.
I had a 911 transfer the 2nd day. One of my patients BP was sky rocketing at 190/100 and she had been complaining of chest pains during the noc shift (but not during my shift, 911 was all on my case about why the NOC shift didn't call 911 when she was having the chest pains....I DON'T KNOW!!!). They sent her back to our facility 3 hours later...so I had to do a transfer than a readmit!
3rd day (when I wrote myself up for the med error) started out awesome. I finished my 9 AM med pass at 10:30 AM without a hitch! Then the **** hit the fan. The patient with an unstable BP started having a high BP of 185/100 again. Subsided only to 177/100 with due BP meds. So I had to spend forever waiting for the advice nurse, and all the relaying back and forth with the on call doc. Then another PT started to have a high BP and kept complaining of being hot on top, cold on the bottom. Had to call her doctor. Then another patients PICC line became clogged. Had to call the doctor, the pharmacy, the IV nurse, the doctor, the pharmacy, the IV nurse. All these phone calls kept me running up and down the hall and my record med pass time was diminished. I was behind yet again. I had to send out the PT that was feeling hot and cold. I had a new admit. Came back after endorsement to a million labs, Coumadin, bacteria, C diff... OMG. Had to follow those up. Had to document all that happened today. Had to do my charting. Had to write myself up for my med error and document.
I'm off today...but I dream about work. I dream about med errors. I dream about missing something on that damn MAR. They really ought to color code it or something!!! Pages falling out and crap...that's just not right. I'm worried that one of my patients might be crapping out while I'm doing my med pass. I have 20-27 patients. They all want PRN pain meds all the time.
*sigh* I love nursing. This is my first clinical nursing job. I had been working in a med spa for 6 months. But...can I do this???????????????? I really want to succeed, but I'm worried they are going to fire me in the end. They compliment me that I seem so calm and cheery, little do they know I'm crying or screaming inside. I don't sit down or eat or go to the bathroom while I'm there (well I sit while I'm charting for 3 or 4 hours). Is this going to get any easier...or is it just going to be like this forever? Am I going to get fired for my med error? UGH I can't believe I was so stupid, I'm so careful too! I count pills and everything before I give them!
Any tips for me? How to keep organized? How to stay on top of things? How to prioritize? I feel so lost sometimes. I really want to be able to do this job!!! Thanks for letting me vent, any advice is appreciated.
I just say thumbs up to the 81 year old patient, former nurse, that did not want that Lomotil anyway!
The other nurses HATE her because she always checks up on things and uses her nursing knowledge. I think she's a doll. I've learned a lot from her already. The other nurses resent her and treat her like crap...roll their eyes and ignore her requests.
I just wanted to say, hugs to you. Like others said, breathe. LTC/Rehab is very demanding. Everyone knows you are new. Just take your time, don't let anyone rush you. I'm so glad it's only 20-27 patients, I used to have 40. Smiling helps, the residents love it too. I just know you can do this! Promise you'll update us in a couple of months, because I know you'll be doing great!
I just wanted to say, hugs to you. Like others said, breathe. LTC/Rehab is very demanding. Everyone knows you are new. Just take your time, don't let anyone rush you. I'm so glad it's only 20-27 patients, I used to have 40. Smiling helps, the residents love it too. I just know you can do this! Promise you'll update us in a couple of months, because I know you'll be doing great!
It does. A new admit was sitting by the nurses station one evening and I stopped, smiled and introduced myself to her as I went by. She said to me "dear you are the nicest one I've seen yet here"
lvnjden4ever, R.N.
47 Posts
The other nurses HATE her because she always checks up on things and uses her nursing knowledge. I think she's a doll. I've learned a lot from her already. The other nurses resent her and treat her like crap...roll their eyes and ignore her requests.