Feeling a little down about first job - LTC

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I am a new nurse working in LTC full time 3rd shift (4 nights/week). I finish my ADN in June, when I will take my NCLEX-RN, but I took my PN when I could so I could get some experience before finishing my degree. I have been working for about 2 months now.

It is really stressful. I knew that LTC would be a challenging environment, but it is hard to handle. Work consumes my mind when I am not there, and I feel tired and stressed most of the time.

It's not so much the nursing tasks that stress me out. I get my meds out without errors, I complete all my charting, send meds back, do chart checks, stock new meds, get charting ready for the next 2 shifts, file charting, etc, and still get out on time usually. The only task that did overwhelm me was change over. I got it done, but had to come in early 2 nights and another nurse put in extra hours to help me. There were alot of discrepancies between MARs...some ended up being med errors (things that should have been on the MAR, meds that should have been DC'd, or meds that got put on the MAR but nurses forgot to write orders for).

Anyways, most of my stress comes from everything else. I try to keep my head down and work but I can't help but notice sometimes when treatments aren't getting done, or there are med errors from previous shifts (like I know how many scheduled controlled substances should be used on some residents, so how can I not notice if there are too many left when I come back into work). I had a situation where no one had taught me the correct process for pulling from the controlled substance stat box, and then my ADON told me she took care of it but I found out over a month later she never did anything about it. Sometimes residents get admitted a little before I get there and I am left without things they need (like a walker - which resulted in a fall, or briefs, or a urinal, or 3 nights I've had no thermometer probes). I have no way of getting these things in the middle of the night. I got a note from my DON saying most of the incidents are on my shift and I need to make sure my CNA's are rounding (I do my best to oversee them, and I feel like it's a little out of my control if a resident tries to get out of bed and falls). This week the other night nurse called out for her 3 nights because of being sick and they wanted me to cover some shifts. I told them I couldn't because I just do not think I can handle more than 4 nights a week.

My question is, are these things normal for nursing? I am feeling really discouraged about everything. I have been applying for hospital jobs because I want out as soon as possible, but I can't quit because I have to have income. I also worry that floor nursing isn't going to be any better.

So if there is any advice anyone can give me, I would really appreciate it. Right now I feel like I am just going to try to keep my mouth shut and get my work done until I find another job, but sometimes I wonder if it is worth it...

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I worked at one LTC facility like that where there were never enough supplies and the wound care hadnt been done in like 4 or 5 days cause of the dates on the dressings, no one ever charted on any of the residents and the ones who really did care always got dumped on!! The D.O.N even knew that there were employees there who would even go outside on their breaks and smoke pot!!! Not to mention the ROACHES!!! After 2 weeks of this I left cause you dont want to have your name or license attached to a facility to that!!! You have to just go by your gut instinct. Believe it or not there are jobs for nurses that you will actually love and be happy with it just takes time to find that sometimes. Sometimes when you want a good job you have to look up reviews and really search for that great job. After 3 years as an LPN I have finally found a great skilled nursing/LTC facility to work for. The way I see it is: I worked to hard and long for my nursing license and I am a caring nurse with a really big heart who loves her job as a nurse so a great place to work is what I deserve!!! So dont accept that "its not worth it to find a better job"when a great job where you would be appreciated is waiting for you!!!!!

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Specializes in med/surg, cardiology, advanced care.

not being a hater, unfortunately the things you describe (and more) are not uncommon. have you seen this thread?

https://allnurses.com/geriatric-nurses-ltc/why-ltc-so-580353.html

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Advice About LTC,

I would say that from my month working in LTC that if you feel like it is risky or question the way it is being run leave! Like the previous post if you can find a good one it might be worth it, but look at the people working there. If they have been there for years and still feel overwhelmed that could be something to consider. The money is good but no amount of money is worth risking your license. Hope this helps!!

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Specializes in LTC, OB/GYN, Primary Care.

Normal? I would say no. Yes things like that happen but at a good facility they are few & far between. Where I used to work if anything like that happened (med error on previous shift or orders failed to be put on a MAR resulting in med error) that nurse would instantly be tattled on and most likely disciplined. It was both good and bad. I think the supervisors, ADON & DON had a tighter leash on what exactly was going on on the floor. I would try to find a new job if I were you. This is not the norm and not OK. There are better facilities out there.

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