I am starting my first job as an LPN at a LTCF next week. Orientation is supposed to last 3 weeks and I am working the 3-11pm shift. The staffing ratio is 40 residents, 1 LPN (me) 1 RN and 4 CNAs.
I know that med passes, tube feeding, wound care, fingersticks, paperwork etc... are part of the job but I really have no idea of how many of those 40 patients require certain kinds of care (am I making sense?). Like I am wondering now (I should have asked!:smackingf) how many of the 40 are really sick and need lots of meds or treatments.
Do you experienced LPNs mind giving me some tips for getting organized so that I can start off on the right foot and pick up quickly?
How do I prioritize my work?
What kind of questions should I ask my preceptor?
Any shortcuts that you recommend? (nothing that will harm a resident or cause my license to be on the line)
They say 3 weeks orientation but I have heard too many stories of getting a few days and being left to fend for self. So I would like to be as prepared as possible, if that is possible to do, lol.
Yes I seen a lot of the same exact stuff with the 'seasoned' nurses at my clinical site. I think in time this is how it becomes. Because it is the 'time factor' of nursing. Just keep in mind, that yes they can laugh or do whatever they want, but at the end of the day it is YOU LIFE , YOUR LICENSE , and YOUR CAREER.... so shrug them off like dust on your shoulder ... keep on going youre doing awesome ...
Specializes in Women's Specialty, Post-Part, Scrub(cs).
Keep your eyes open. And make the other nurse counts narcs with you. This is supposed to be done with the off-going and on-coming nurse. You can count with your preceptor but she has to take the responsibility for what is not there if she doesn't count with off-going. If the night nurse has already left...find your DON or shift lead and have them count with you BEFORE you do anything else. In my facility, we don't have to have a witness for signing out drugs even patches, but we better know where they are. (I will tape them to the resident if need be) And we don't have anyone look at our insulin, either. But, I can have someone check it if I can't see the line well (sometimes that happens)This is one of those things that you will do to get faster. And maybe your next station will be better. You are right about good orientations. We frequently hire new grads who stay for a couple of months then move on. Makes some of the nurses mad. I don't mind because maybe, just maybe, I gave them something they can use later. If after you do your time...you still feel this is an unsafe environment....keep on going to work but start applying for other places. They will appreciate the fact that you have some experience. My new job was happy that I had what experience I had...just for time management alone. And my theory has always been...there is no reason to be unhappy in a nursing job. there are too many different fields out there. Best advice I can give is...The real world is totally different from school. TOTALLY. I was shocked, too at the things that are not followed to the letter. Then I learned to deal with them and always make sure my butt was covered. Such as...I never give my insulins without checking them again myself. I write who and how much on the syringe. Then when I get to the res. I look again to make sure I picked up the right one and have the right amount in there. I ALWAYS count with someone...ALWAYS. I had to report a missing xanax (off a cart I didn't normally work) once when I had not counted with the night nurse. I had to sign my name to it even though I knew and the DON knew that I didn't have it. My counterpart on the nightshift met me at the door one morning and was visibly sick. She had a whole card of Percocet missing. As I did tx half the time and floor the other, I had not counted with her in about 5 days. The other day nurse was always late so they never counted....THAT WAS A MESS...reported to the md, pharmacy, God only knows who else. AND I know she didn't take it. WE all knew that. But, now, she counts with the other night nurse or someone (a trusted CNA even though it doesn't count and isn't supposed to be done). COVER YOUR ON is the name of the game. All that being said. Hang in there. The first few months are trying, hard, confusing, and make you wonder why you ever went to school for nursing to start with. It passes as you begin to get a routine and settle in. This time next year, it will all seem like a very long time ago. I promise.....Bayou
HeartJulz
305 Posts
Yes I seen a lot of the same exact stuff with the 'seasoned' nurses at my clinical site. I think in time this is how it becomes. Because it is the 'time factor' of nursing. Just keep in mind, that yes they can laugh or do whatever they want, but at the end of the day it is YOU LIFE , YOUR LICENSE , and YOUR CAREER.... so shrug them off like dust on your shoulder ... keep on going youre doing awesome ...