First RN job at LTC.. Please I need help badly!

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I just got hired at a LTC as a Charge Nurse. They have 3 stations with 30+ patients each. I had two days of orientation on the floor, and it was my last day today. I'll be working part time and will be rotated in the 3 stations. I feel like the two days of orientation isn't enough. I'm scared as hell with the med-pass and paperwork. How will I be able to make a routine if I rotate within the 3 stations. So all in all I have to get acquainted with the 100+ patients. I think this is too overwhelming. I don't know what to do. Paperwork is really messing me. I don't know all of the forms that I need depending on the case or situation at hand. I told my DON but she told me to tough it out for 3 months, which she thinks a new nurse would be able to get a hang of it. I'm also scared for my license.. I don't want my BSN and RN license to go down the drain because of this job..

PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS AND ADVICE! Thanks in advance

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

By all means, ask for more orientation! Two days doesn't even let you get the feel for one unit, let alone three. And if you're brand new to nursing period, I don't think a full week on each unit is asking too much, even if the management does. Ask. The worst they can do is say No, and if they do......well, you may want to rethink whether this is a job you even want to stay with.

You are not only your own best advocate, you are your ONLY advocate. If you don't look out for yourself, who will?

Wishing you the best!

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I told the DON already. She said it's normal to feel this way. Just tough it out. I asked for more days of orientation, but she said it was not possible.. I just don't know what to do.

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Is it really like this for all LTC's.. I'm scared that if i quit, i won't be able to get another job. Hospitals won't hire, so LTC is like my only option. Does it mean I wasn't meant to be a Nurse?!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Not at all, it just means you probably aren't meant to be a nurse at THAT facility. Any LTC that fails to offer proper orientation doesn't care about its nurses, and by extension, its residents.

The last one I worked at, I was given four full days of orientation......and I was an experienced LTC nurse who'd worked for that facility before! So NO, not all LTCs are like that---not the good ones anyway. Trust me, you can do better than this place. If I were you, I'd keep my head high and either demand more orientation, or leave; again, no one but you can (or will) advocate for you or your license, certainly not your DON.

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Thank you so much for your comments. I'm gonna talk to my DON again. If they won't give me more orientations, I'm gonna think things through whether I should stay or not.

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Hi! I am in a similar boat as you! I recently posted "Newish RN at LTC please help" lol What has helped me with medpass is I asked the regular nurses about their res. You can make a list of residents with who has crushed meds, who takes whole, who has GT, who has scheduled narcotics and who needs Bp before meds and put that in front of the MAR/Medex. One of the agency nurses told me my list was helpful for her so share the good stuff! Team nursing is not dead ;) Also depending on your shift.. know who goes to PT/OT or who has appt that day and get them done first. Every minute and/or problem averted saves time! And lord knows we need it in LTC. Also even though you are charge, your supervisor is your resource person.. make sure he/she knows what's going on so you are not in it alone. I hope he/she is nice! Good luck!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

You should have more than 2 days or orientation. My nurses get at least a few weeks. It's worth it to give new grads a strong foundation. If they need it, we extend orientation. Not all places throw you into the middle of the fray like that.

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Specializes in geriatrics, management, home care nurse.

To Racs09_RN,

Working in a ltc facility is overwhelming at first but believe it or not you will get to all of your pts/ resident's in a fairly short time just by working all 3 floors. I remember my DON telling me to try to get to know who 10 residents are a day which is sometimes hard but you will memorize all of them and even more than memorize them you'll get to know them all and remember what their idiosyncrasy's are. Just know it takes time and you will learn as you go along. Working in a ltc facility is definitely for you if you want to get to know your patients as in the hospital setting they come and go so quickly that you don't get a chance to know them. The residen't in the ltc facility will also start treating you like family also once they get to know you. It is a very rewarding career choice and isn't easy but is very doable. You can really learn a lot if you research all of their disease processes and meds that you administer. Good luck but I know you'll be great!!!!!

Lisa

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I need some advice badly.. After 2 days of orientation i've been on duty for my first time.. and it was really horrible. they all taught me some things to speed up. but i wouldn't do it. i just couldn't do their suggestions. i'm really by the book type of person. i don't like taking chances. especially since i worked so hard for my license. i just wanna quit. would it be ok? how do i do it? would it hurt my resume? this is my first job. and it scares me to hell. im just not fit to be there. i really think that the way i'm feeling right now would affect my work more if i go back there. can you quit after just being oriented? would i still get paid? how do i do it? thanks! i just really dont think the orientation was enough. and i just have no support from the other employees. im totally freaked out!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Have an honest talk with the DON and ask for more orientation. Two days just isn't enough. See what she says....it won't hurt and maybe her answer will surprise you and you'll get some more orientation.

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Specializes in Geriatric/Sub Acute, Home Care.

I am hoping your dilemma with your new position and worked out with you getting more orientation. 2 days is NOT ENOUGH, especially with 100 patients!!!

I am a 17 year veteran. only an RN, but I was thrown into the hellish handbasket of switching from supervisor one day to floor nurse the next.....the reason was to orientate me ON THE FLOOR and get used to the patients. BUT, this did not work for me. I was On a different unit when I was a floor nurse, then the next day I was supervisor of my 100 patients. I needed a routine which was most difficult to get into, because the staff nurses were per diem, part time and full timers. I never developed that sense of confidence and what happened is another nurse that was working there before was returning, and THEY ALSO HAD THE STATE COMING...so I was more than half baked at that job. I found out I was only a patsy, a body to cover someone else until they returned. But they never told me that. It made my distaste for my LTC job intensify unfortunately. My trust went down the toilet. I hope you worked something out, cause you NEED to feel confident, comfortable and somewhat organized. Good Luck.

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