Does this seem right?

Published

:o I have only been a nurse for 5 months, so I'm not really sure how things should be.....

I was only given two days orientation before I was pulled from that wing to another section of the LTC facility I work on, after getting a brief report (who takes pills whole, who needs crushed, who was a t.f., who was an accu check) I was left alone. It took me over 4 hours to pass am pills. I understand that after getting my license, I am a nurse now. But shouldn't new grads have a little training before they are let loose to be responsible for over 20 residents? I over the first month of being a nurse worked all 7 units at this LTC facility, with only two days orientation on one unit. I have been left responsible for over 40 residents, more than once. This can't be right. I feel I can handle it now, but 3-4-5 months ago, you have to be kidding. Does this happen everywhere, or did I pick the "nice" place to work?

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Its legal...but not right...A 5 month old nurse needs more orientation... Ask/ demand it or maybe look elsewhere? We do a lot of things in my place, but orientation is somewhat sacred, even with older nurses that have nursing experience but no LTC.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

When I first got my license, I went to work on a med-surg floor at the hospital. It was my first time on the floor, working in a hospital...working at all as an RN...the "real" nurse called in sick, so at 3:05, the supervisor informed me I was the charge nurse for the shift. I said , "But this is my first day...I've never worked before." Her reply, "You're an RN...those initials mean you're in charge"...so, sadly, it's not only the LTC's who throw you in to sink or swim. Luckily for me, and the patients in my care, I didn't sink....

I make sure when I orient new employees, especially new grads, they get the time they need. Might as well take a little time in the beginning to show them the right way then be constantly correcting them or fixing things later.

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Specializes in Rehab, Step-down,Tele,Hospice.

I was "floated" to the spinal cord injury floor last weekend. I had 11 patients with 5 of them being total quads, 3 on bladder scans and caths and and the other 3 were just plain dementia. I have 4 months experience as a RN and oh I forgot to mention I had a agency CNA who God as my witness did not know that you have to answer the lights, (she thought I was going to tell her what to do) asked me how to work the BP machine and did'nt do vitals until I asked her like 4 times to PLEASE get vitals.

It was a total night from Hell.... the CNA walked before the shift was over, and I was in tears by the time dayshift got there.

Of course all I got from the oncoming nurses was..... So are you saying you did'nt get a stool sample from Mr. xxxxx.

UNREAL!!!!!!! :crying2:

So in answer to the OP's question... yeah I guess this is normal

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If you have to ask the question then you already know the answer is NO! That is why so many nurses leave LTC for hospitals, the turn over and burn out are horrendous. Good luck to you.

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When it happened to me administration said "it's all LTC". This was after orientation on a well managed, well staffed unit and getting sent to the "hell hole" that nobody wanted to work (snarly NAs, care manager always MIA, every resident a screamer)

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
If you have to ask the question then you already know the answer is NO! That is why so many nurses leave LTC for hospitals, the turn over and burn out are horrendous. Good luck to you.

BadBird....read the 2 posts before yours....it's not just LTC...it's nursing.

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I figured things were not going to be easy when I started, but I feel like I was thrown to the wolves. Family and friends worried that because I had went to a small community college I didn't get a good enough education to perform well. They all say now they think I went to a great school or I wouldn't have been able to handle what was thrown at me. I guess I should thank the wonderful instructers I had, they weren't so bad after all!! :)

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I was fortunate enough to get 3 months of orientation for Med surge when I first got out, but 6 months after I was treated like heck and left that place never to even look at it!

Then I had it written into my employement agreement (smart gal! I learned from others with this experience) that I would have 3 months of orientation followed by a review before I took on the charge nurse role at my current facility. They were not pleased then, but they had no choice..they needed a nurse badly and no one was really applying (I had searched 6 months and was needing the money so I too needed the job), but now they are thrilled because I know so much and they depend on me...which backfires..LOL (they expect me now to DO everything...LOL!).

What they did was wrong, but done quite often...they can care less about your liablity (only theirs which they would say "no nurse would be worse than a new grad"). We see it from our view...of patient safety, taking on unresonable tasks, and causing harm to someone...which I think should outweigh since we are professionals and know our stuff...

Alas...a good lesson for you is "the managment team is always right"...sounds bad but listen. They will always think they are right and will have no probelms telling you so using whatever scare tactic they wish. The trick is to start learning yet another part of nursing..a large part...getting through the BS and having things still come out your way (but still making it look like managments idea...same with docs too..LOL!). Learn the greys, learn who to go and communication skills to get that person to help you, and learn the fine art of ego stroking...sounds so bad but it comes in soooooo handy (even if you are biting your lip bloody like me! LOL!). You have to work around them, so start now with this...or a smaller probelm to solve and get to know that management team and how to get through to them...

Took me two years of really working on it..but I have mine down pat with a few bumps in the road..but at least I get listened to to a point, and they know if I am unsatisfied with the results I will NOT stop...I think they call me the bulldog...once I bite I don't let go of it! Thing is I know they are adverse to change so I word things carefully, and once denied or stalled...I wait a while (like months) and get right back on it stronger...

Good luck to you and welcome to the wonderful art of nursing! Fun isn't it..LOL!

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