New Nurse Working on a Locked Unit. Should I Stay??

[Newgurl17, CNA, LPN]

Hey everyone,

I work on a locked unit where casual staff such as my self don't like to work, according to a regular staff nurse and after my first shifts, I could see why. I don't want to go back to work on this unit but I'd feel bad if I had to cancel all my shifts I have booked on this unit because apparently the regular nurses are burnt out. I don't have a lot of experience working as a nurse (4 months), let alone in a locked unit and i'm just feeling overwhelmed and scared, feeling like i'm not doing anything right when i work on this unit, like i'm not good enough. I don't feel like my orientations were adequate, despite asking for an extra orientation shift and was trying to avoid working on this unit at first. There's a sheet in front of the wound care binder that wasn't updated regularly and narcotic counts weren't being done as frequently as they should.

There are two sides on this unit, one being with 24 residents and the other 17, the one with 24 is the heavier side. I learned coming on to my evening shift that if you work one day on the heavier side, you don't have to work there the next day.

I was working with an lpn one time who told me that the unit is disorganized. She had a line on this unit for 3 years and i told her that there wasnt a shift routine for a shift i was working that day.

The first couple of shifts I had, the rn who was usually there was not there and I was so thrown off because I was working with an LPN instead for the entire shifts. In the evenings on the weekdays, I am by myself until 4 and I always work the heavier side because I don't want to leave the cna's alone and I think it is the more important side, especially now that we have more residents walking around.

Any advice for working on a unit like this?? Should i even stay?

[DTWriter]

Make a list of the pros and cons in regards to working on the unit.

Here's one pro (a con if you were to lose your keys): It's a locked unit.

Unless you feel your license is in danger, or you emotionally/physically cannot take it any longer, I suggest sticking it out until you are able to secure another job, especially if you need the money. Though, imo, if you are willing relocate, you can find another job with 4 months of experience. In fact, there are nurse residencies that take new nurses so long as they have less than a year of nursing experience.

Honestly, it is difficult for a new nurse to find a job on a well-staffed unit.

[Newgurl17, CNA, LPN]

Thank you for your comment,

Definitely planning to stick it out. I also work on another unit, so I don't have to stay. I've also made a list of things I liked about the unit and things that I don't particularly like as well. My old classmate has been telling me about where she works full time and she said there are less residents and it is less busy compared to the facility that we are both working in. They are short of nurses there as well and I would probably get hired there right away, though it would be a longer process compared to where I work now. Also that place is half an hour away from where I live and I don't have to work there. My old classmate suggested to not take any more shifts from this unit, and after I told her my experiences and what the unit is like, she told me that it is NOT worth my license. DTWriter, have you worked in a locked unit in ltc? If so, while I continue to work on this unit, do you have any advice for helping the cna's keep the residents safe in a timely manner while also being able to follow up on things that need to be done as a casual nurse? I work in the evening.