floating

[remched]

I just finished my 90 day probation period. I am working as a perdiem LPN in LTC. I am also a new graduate. My question is, I was oriented to ONE of 4 wings in our facility for the entire 90 days, and now they are floating me. I was alone on a wing a couple of days ago, that I had never done, and there were 3 tube feeds. Some of the residents are used to their meds at a certain time (and will watch the clock). A couple of them yelled at me because I was 45 minutes late. But well within the one hour before/one hour after rule. I was not familiar with the med cart, and had trouble finding meds for certain residents. I called the DON the next day, and asked her if I could have more orientation to the wings I had never done. Is this appropriate, or am I expected to "figure it out on my own"?

[antidote]

I would say this is appropriate since this is something you're not used to, and it's been a while since you've been back.

Better to be safe then sorry :)

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

It is appropriate if you dont feel comfortable with what they have you doing. However, dont expect they will. LTC is kind of notorious for short orientations and high expectations i think. I hope if you feel you want some more orientation they will give it to you.

[coolvibesRN]

I think its appropriate to ask to be oriented if you are not familiar with that unit. At least they can give you afew days there but not sure if they will.

Good luck

[huskersfan]

At my facility we have to take turns floating to another unit if someone calls in and they can't find a replacement nurse. We get no orientation to the other floors and are expected to figure it out and ask questions. It can be very stressful.

[jill48, ASN, RN]

I think it is appropriate. It's an LTC. It's not like you are being floated from OB to Neuro. Anything you need to do in an LTC you should already know. If you ask for more orientation time, they may look down on you. But do whatever you feel you need to do to be comfortable. As for the meds being 45 min late, they will just have to get over it - like you said, it was will within the hour before/hour after parameters. I think the hardest thing about floating to different units in LTC is that you don't know all the patients and it takes time to figure them all out. Good luck. Stay organized and it should help you.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

When I was the supervisor and even one or two times as the assistant DNS, I had to do the med pass. Our med carts were the same from unit to unit and meds are meds so that wasn't a problem. But, the patients were used to 'their' nurse doing the pass in a certain order and in a certain way, "The other nurse gives me ALL my meds now!" Well, madam, your meds are ordered for 5pm and 9pm so I am not giving them all now. I always went by the book and it was obvious to me that many of the other nurses didn't.

Don't be afraid to ask for an orientation to the floor before you take the keys. And if you are doing the pass within the one hour before and after the patients will just have to get over themselves.

[marjoriemac, LPN]

I sympathise, I done night shift in my care home to cover holidays. The residents were all yelling because they did not ge their medication quick enough, but nobody had told me who likes theirs as soon as possible. The c/a we had from the agency even knew more about the routine than I did. I did learn though, after that first night, to cure my earache I went to certain residents straight away with their meds!