1. Manager butts in too much with work on the floor
2. Movin and handlin is atrocious, beds dont even go up and down and you are supposed to do immobile bed bound beached whales on your own! And hoists cannot be used in rooms as they are too small.
3. There is no routine! Everything is chaotic, paperwork is non existant and you never know what is happening because nobody shares info.
All the staff who work there have done so for years and don't see the problem!!!
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Hi mermaid,
Any advice for my first day of work on the job as an LPN in LTC? I've been working in a Peds dr office since graduation, and am just about to start LTC. I feel like I know NOTHING, but am positive that in the long run, I will be a positive addition to patient and staff/facility alike.
Blue
Blue-
A new job is exciting, isn't it?! My first piece of advice would be to make sure you get a good orientation to the facility and the unit you'll be working on. When I ran my own orientations for new staff it was the usual 3-4 days. Day 1-watch a seasoned nurse do the med pass and treatments and the pile of paperwork. Day 2-have that nurse watch you...or do half the pass depending on how you feel. Don't worry if you're slower than the nurse who has been there a while. You need time to learn the patients and the routines. Better to be a little slow and careful. Day 3 - do the med pass and the treatments with the other nurse at a comfortable distance. Silly how we all think 3 days is enough, but somehow that has become the industry standard and most facilities use the 3 day model. If my budget allows it, I have nurses orient for at least a few days longer.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. If your co-workers are less than helpful, speak to the staff development coordinator or supervisor. There really are no dumb questions...plenty of dumb answers, but no dumb questions. How else will you learn.
Don't be surprised by the patients/residents giving you 'the business' because you're new. I worked at one place for 6 years in management and all the patients knew who I was, but the few times I had to do the med pass, they all razzed me and told me I was too slow and didn't do it like the other nurses.
I hope you love your new job. LTC needs all the good nurses we can get.
Tossed the job, now borderig on depression trying to find another. Hate feeling like a bum just doing nothing all day (except surf the web looking at every job site!). Got 2 interviews lined up next week though one if for a new home that might not open until September and I really can't afford not to work until then.
Specializes in Occupational Medicine, Orthopedics.
Thanks Mermaid,
I'm not sure, but I think it's only one day of orientation. I'm hopeful that my break in time will be better than some due to the fact that I will be working basically PRN until mid September. One of the reasons I accepted the job at Manor Care is because they are allowing me to stay on at my current job until the doctor I work for moves her practice. Manor Care will use me on my doctors days off, and whenever I can fit it into my schedule. I felt strongly about trying not to leave the office before her so that they wouldn't have to hire another LPN for the short time before her departure. This will make the transition much smoother for co-workers and patients alike. All that being said, I'm hopeful that the time between now and mid September will be basically a training period for me (one can dream).
As far as LTC work goes, I have a feeling I will be good at it one day, and that it just might be my niche. Womens intuition?
I may be asking advice along my journey... stay tuned
Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..
Tossed the job, now borderig on depression trying to find another. Hate feeling like a bum just doing nothing all day (except surf the web looking at every job site!). Got 2 interviews lined up next week though one if for a new home that might not open until September and I really can't afford not to work until then.
Big veterans home there isn't there,any chance of a job for you there?
Think I burned my bridges with big veterans home as I worked for them for two days and quit cos it was too like a hospital and the c/a's didnt like nurses helping them.
I know it sounds quite bad calling people beached whales but I need to get the point across. Anyhow overweight people are difficult to move as are tall people. I know if I ever need someone to move and handle me, they better be 6ft like me or they will have probs!
CapeCodMermaid, RN
6,092 Posts
Blue-
A new job is exciting, isn't it?! My first piece of advice would be to make sure you get a good orientation to the facility and the unit you'll be working on. When I ran my own orientations for new staff it was the usual 3-4 days. Day 1-watch a seasoned nurse do the med pass and treatments and the pile of paperwork. Day 2-have that nurse watch you...or do half the pass depending on how you feel. Don't worry if you're slower than the nurse who has been there a while. You need time to learn the patients and the routines. Better to be a little slow and careful. Day 3 - do the med pass and the treatments with the other nurse at a comfortable distance. Silly how we all think 3 days is enough, but somehow that has become the industry standard and most facilities use the 3 day model. If my budget allows it, I have nurses orient for at least a few days longer.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. If your co-workers are less than helpful, speak to the staff development coordinator or supervisor. There really are no dumb questions...plenty of dumb answers, but no dumb questions. How else will you learn.
Don't be surprised by the patients/residents giving you 'the business' because you're new. I worked at one place for 6 years in management and all the patients knew who I was, but the few times I had to do the med pass, they all razzed me and told me I was too slow and didn't do it like the other nurses.
I hope you love your new job. LTC needs all the good nurses we can get.
Keep us posted on your first few days.