Day & Evening Shift at LTC

SouthernLPN2RN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Oct 13, 2005

Each facility is different, so YMMV, but I find I'm just passing pills from the time I get there until shift end, then I can chart. On first shift there is a head nurse there to take care of problems, orders, treatments, etc, but she's only there M-F on first.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2005

Anyone wanna move this to LTC?

Days...You have at least 2 med passes, treatments, two meals to work around, residents coming and going to therapy and appts, family members, docs to round with and more staff or IDT meetings.

evenings..only one meal, normally 2 med passes, the occasional doc to round with, family members, we have more tx than days, less staffing than days...

HONEYBEAR · Oct 13, 2005

:rotfl: Good Luck with starting your new job.......LTC mmmmmmmm.....you either love it or hate it......I work 7p-7a.....from 7p-11p I usually supervise....report labs, do tx's, deal with complaints, and familys etc. Then I take a floor from 11p-7a-which involves 1 med pass from 5-630a, catching up on ppwork that was not able to get done on the other 2 shifts....I love what I do....let us know how your 1st few days go. :)

Chicklet2 · Oct 16, 2005

Hey thanks for the advice. I volunteered for 3 yrs at the nursing home, and I liked it so hopefully I'll like this. Everyone in my class think i'm stupid for going to LTC b/c they think i'll loose all my skills. Thanks

Chel · Oct 16, 2005

Anyone wanna move this to LTC?
Days...You have at least 2 med passes, treatments, two meals to work around, residents coming and going to therapy and appts, family members, docs to round with and more staff or IDT meetings.
evenings..only one meal, normally 2 med passes, the occasional doc to round with, family members, we have more tx than days, less staffing than days...

...don't forget about the increase (massive) in behaviors. Sundowner's....gotta love 'em.

Todd SPN · Oct 16, 2005

I like evenings for a couple of different reasons. For the latter half, the bosses are gone. Like the pay differencial. Dislike having to deal with the faxes that come in between 4-5pm and I'm the only one on the floor.

Chicklet2 · Oct 20, 2005

Hey, well I had my first day in LTC on monday from 7am to 3pm. It was really good. The people there are soo nice. I'm a bit overwhelmed though b/c you have either 38 or 39 clients depends on which team you are on, but u have that many clients to give meds to. I was thinking like 25-30 at the most. I get 10 days of orientation though, 5 to days and 5 to night,s which is really nice. I only have one problem with an RN that was in my general orientation class that pretty much told me LPN's are useless.....

cantoo · Oct 21, 2005

Chicklet2, you will NOT lose your skills in a long term care facility. In the facility I work in, we have mediports, PICC lines, PCA's, patients with HDY, TPN, wound vacs, trachs....you name it. In fact, you must learn excellent assessment skills as we don't have ready access to doctors like in a hospital where the crew comes running at any sign of trouble. Most LTC facilities also now have sub-acute units with very sick patients who should still be in a hospital. LTC can be very difficult and it takes a great nurse to be able to handle that many patients and still give good care...but it can be done. Learning time management skills will be essential to how well you do.

And never, ever let anyone tell you you are "useless" as an LPN! These folks need good nurses. A degree does not a good nurse make!!! I have met LPN's that could run rings around an RN! Your value is in the good job that you do...not the letters behind your name!

I wish you much luck and I hope you learn to love LTC. It can be so rewarding and we are in such need of good nurses.

Kel

EinnOgTveir · Oct 22, 2005

It's much nicer to work when you have orientation. I only got orientation after I had been at the facility for 3 weeks :chuckle:

I spent those 3 weeks asking people a lot (although sometimes i was the only nurse and had no one to ask) and wondering about my duties.

In Finland the duties of the practical nurses and nurses are quite similar. They do wound treatments and pass meds too (except for narcotics) although if there is a PRN they have to ask it of me.

Chicklet2 · Oct 23, 2005

Well I just completed my 3rd day of Orientation at LTC. I abosolutely love it and am happy for choosing to work there. The people are soo nice, except that one RN, but I haven't seen her lately. All the residents are soo nice and it's soo rewarding when some of them actually remembr your name and the stories they have to tell you. I must say I have used most of my nursing skills. Thanks

suebird3 · Oct 25, 2005

glad to know everything is working out for you. i am an rn....was a pn "forever". unfortunately......there are a few people out there who do not think pn's are worth it. oh, well.

hope you have fun during the full moon......trust me.....it gets reeeal interesting!

use those prn's liberally; that is why they are there.

take care!

suebird