Emotional breakdown and nurse frustation

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Just need some words of advice from LVNS out there......

I graduated and passed the LVNs boards last month and was searching for a job in the Bay Area. I found a job just 10 minutes drive from my house (a SNF)..So I applied and was hired on that same day even though I was wearing sweating pants and t-shirt. I was just there for an application.

1. So far I'm a new grad with no real hospital experience whatsoever except for school.

2. Oriented on the floor just to learn the system for 3 days and been put alone by myself on the floor the 4th day. I was oriented with 25 patients but at night I have 50 patients.

3. I have 50 patients with meds between 5-10 each. (half of them needs to be crushed).

4. Here is a typically time frame from a current LVN who works there.

a. Arrive to work at 2:30pm...check the treatment book for all 50 patients.

b. Fill the 20 feeding tubes with the correct amount.

c. Count the narcotics....check to see if all the meds are there

e. Waited for the summary report from the previous shift (some of them are not even completed).

f. Check the blood sugar of at least 20 patients (mind that some of the patients are combative when they get prick so they are fighting you and giving U a hard time.

g. Assess the patients

h. Pass out meds to all 50 patients at 5:00pm....Some patients at least 15 of them wants it exactly on time....and I do mean on time.

i. This according to them takes at least 3-4 hours (crushing meds, giving insulin shots, checking ID band, checking BP). The bad part is that you have to look for them because there are activities going on in the louge and they wander on the two floors.

j. So by this time it is 9:00pm.....(they won't let you pass out the 5pm and 9pm meds at the same time.

k. Now you pass out the 9:00pm meds (there are at least 20 and they also have to check the blood sugar for 10 patients)...

l. The time to finish this is around 10:30pm...Now you have to do the treatment book (putting medicine ointment, dressing change, flushing tubes, colostomy bags, etc....)

m. Now the time is 11:15pm and I get off work at 11pm...I didn't take a 15 minute or lunch break.

n..Paperwork time.....(count out the narcotics for the next shift, give 24 hour report, document and chart the findings, document treatment book that you completed, fill out the I/O sheet, reports)

I have 4 CNAs working under me and still this is suppose to be a 3-11pm shift but ends out being a 3pm-2am shift because this is the usually time I get home around 2am and start the whole process again.

I get off work feeling depressed and sad.I didn't feel like I want to work there anymore...I'm having emotional breakdown after shift and my whole attitude is "I don't care"......

What can I do???I'm a new grad and this is my very 1st LVN job...Should I quit and look for another job or should I give sometime to adjust...

I was told the turnover rate is high....They were desparate in hiring me on the spot....NEED ADVICE PLEASE:o:o:o:o:o:o

I just feel like I don't want to do LVN anymore...:o:o:o:o:o:o

Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
BigB, thanks...got the pm and will start the application process as soon as possible.

Good to hear!

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Specializes in geriatrics-LTC/clinics/med surg/psych.
Just need some words of advice from LVNS out there......

I graduated and passed the LVNs boards last month and was searching for a job in the Bay Area. I found a job just 10 minutes drive from my house (a SNF)..So I applied and was hired on that same day even though I was wearing sweating pants and t-shirt. I was just there for an application.

1. So far I'm a new grad with no real hospital experience whatsoever except for school.

2. Oriented on the floor just to learn the system for 3 days and been put alone by myself on the floor the 4th day. I was oriented with 25 patients but at night I have 50 patients.

3. I have 50 patients with meds between 5-10 each. (half of them needs to be crushed).

4. Here is a typically time frame from a current LVN who works there.

a. Arrive to work at 2:30pm...check the treatment book for all 50 patients.

b. Fill the 20 feeding tubes with the correct amount.

c. Count the narcotics....check to see if all the meds are there

e. Waited for the summary report from the previous shift (some of them are not even completed).

f. Check the blood sugar of at least 20 patients (mind that some of the patients are combative when they get prick so they are fighting you and giving U a hard time.

g. Assess the patients

h. Pass out meds to all 50 patients at 5:00pm....Some patients at least 15 of them wants it exactly on time....and I do mean on time.

i. This according to them takes at least 3-4 hours (crushing meds, giving insulin shots, checking ID band, checking BP). The bad part is that you have to look for them because there are activities going on in the louge and they wander on the two floors.

j. So by this time it is 9:00pm.....(they won't let you pass out the 5pm and 9pm meds at the same time.

k. Now you pass out the 9:00pm meds (there are at least 20 and they also have to check the blood sugar for 10 patients)...

l. The time to finish this is around 10:30pm...Now you have to do the treatment book (putting medicine ointment, dressing change, flushing tubes, colostomy bags, etc....)

m. Now the time is 11:15pm and I get off work at 11pm...I didn't take a 15 minute or lunch break.

n..Paperwork time.....(count out the narcotics for the next shift, give 24 hour report, document and chart the findings, document treatment book that you completed, fill out the I/O sheet, reports)

I have 4 CNAs working under me and still this is suppose to be a 3-11pm shift but ends out being a 3pm-2am shift because this is the usually time I get home around 2am and start the whole process again.

I get off work feeling depressed and sad.I didn't feel like I want to work there anymore...I'm having emotional breakdown after shift and my whole attitude is "I don't care"......

What can I do???I'm a new grad and this is my very 1st LVN job...Should I quit and look for another job or should I give sometime to adjust...

I was told the turnover rate is high....They were desparate in hiring me on the spot....NEED ADVICE PLEASE:o:o:o:o:o:o

I just feel like I don't want to do LVN anymore...:o:o:o:o:o:o

:monkeydance: This job sounds horrible:angryfire :trout: !!! Leave Now. You're risking your license just walking in there:nono: . I recently worked a night shift at a ltc/acute rehab facility(agency). There were also 50 pt's. and I had to handle the nursing care with just 1 aide(2nd aide showed up 2 hrs late):banghead: Many of these facilities expect miracles from their nurses, but dont provide the support to effectively give good pt. care.(I wont be going back to that dump!!! ) Dont give up on nursing, Just nonsense!!!

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Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.

This place is a nightmare! I worked in a SNF and had 30 patients on the evening shift and that was hard, but not impossible. Plus your acuity sounds awful, 20 tube feeds? I had 2-3 at the most. Check out some other SNF in your area, they can't all be this bad.

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
This place is a nightmare! I worked in a SNF and had 30 patients on the evening shift and that was hard, but not impossible. Plus your acuity sounds awful, 20 tube feeds? I had 2-3 at the most. Check out some other SNF in your area, they can't all be this bad.

It is not uncommon for LVN's in northern California to have more than 40 patients. I had 48 myself and the author had 50!!! I chose to leave LTC completely and it was the best choice I could of ever made. LTC in n. california is like the Titanic. It is not because of the pay, as it is around $23 a hour, which is decent. The problem arises from terrible staffing ratios and the amount of work managment expects new grads to do. It is impossible to achieve.

The sad part is LVN's get burnt out and leave LTC and the elderly are left to suffer.

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Specializes in PACU, Pedi, Womens, Mother/Baby, PCU.

I totally know where you are coming from. Have been an LVN for one year. I tried that specialty alzheimer facility and decided to work there because it was really clean was a beautiful facility. But reality set in real quick, was in charge of 50 pts good thing for me was that we had Med Aids so I really didn't have to pass many meds just injections if needed. That job ended really quick, I couldn't take being the only nurse there and I was always having to call EMS to come get someone cause they would get up and fall all the time. It was a crazy mess. Lasted a couple weeks and I was outta there.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Hi there, just wanted to ask you, whats the difference between an RN and an LPN/LVN?
RN = Registered Nurse. Most nurse practice acts classify RNs as professional nurses.

LPN = Licensed Practical Nurse. Most nurse practice acts classify LVNs/LPNs as basic nurses.

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Specializes in Psych/Rehab/Family practice/Oncology.

I am an RN, but I agree with ALL the above posts! Also, I've been where you are, as many of us have! I was still trying to pass 9pm meds and do treatments when the midnight shift arrived! They actually shut the facility lights out, and I finished my treatments with a flashlight!!! Swear to God! RUN KID RUN! You worked too hard for your license!

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Oh My, Please leave that job NOW! As a new nurse you need to treat yourself kindly and not be used like that. I have done a lot of LTC, and in my state, 44 is the greatest load one nurse can have. And, yes, that is a lot even with experienced nurses. You need a chance to develope and grow as a nurse and this is not where that is going to happen. You will become over worked, make mistakes and begin to question your own need to be a nurse. Believe me, It Is Not You!!!!! Research different jobs avaliable to you, take some time to get some good experiences. Good Luck

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Honey, you are being asked to do not only the impossible, but the incredibly unsafe.

There's reason you were hired on the spot.

Get gone now. Today. Use them on your resume, and just say that you were unhappy with what was expected of you, as a new grad, there. Believe me, everyone in commuting distance of you knows their reputation and you won't be questioned.

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I am so gla dthat I stumbled upon this post.I too am a new LVN grad(7mos) and am quiting my LTC job.I am on 11p-7a and have 40 pts.I run from 10:15 till 8 am because I need to change out a foley ( I refused to wake up a 97 yr old at 2 am to change a cath).The day shift arrives and gives us attitude because they think we sit and read gossip papers all nite! It is insane. I find myself driving away everyday feeling stupid,burnt out and that going to nursing school was the biggest mistake I have ever made.It is making me feel so bitter towards the whole field. I will start working at a MR community org soon and hope that I can regain the spirit that I felt when I decided to become a nurse.

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Specializes in OB/GYN,L&D,FP office,LTC.

You need to GET OUT of that facility. The work load is just impossible.

I think you need your own ....employers will cover

you but if something happens they will not support you.

Have you thought about working in a clinic or Doctors office?I don't know

much about the jobs avaliable for LPN's in your area.

GOOD LUCK! Please don't let this discourage you from nursing. We need you!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

maxcrx: I see that this post is about a month old. I hope you have found a new position since then. The thing that scares me about this place is not only the amount, but the acuity of these patients. Twenty feeding tubes is ridiculous. I live for the day that proper nurse to patient ratios are mandated for long term care which will likely never happen.

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