Got Med/Surg position!

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

A hospital I had been waiting to hear back from, called today and offered me a position on either cardiac rehab unit,med/surg,another unit with infectious diseases?, or float.

While I was waiting to hear back from this hospital a big article was in the newspaper saying that the hospital will be "phasing out LPNs" 51 to be exact and will be hiring RNs and CNAs to fill their shoes.

Unless the LPN's would take a drop in pay and work at CNA wages, or further their learning and become RN's.

I feel nervous about starting there, Because it seems like there will be alot of VERY bitter nurses.

But I have bills to pay too..

Any case, I accepted the Med/Surg position on dayshift.

This is my first time working in a hospital. I have been a CNA for 14 years, but always worked in LTC, I decided I needed a change and applied at the Hospital.

Is any shift better to work on then others? These are 8 hour shifts btw.

My tentative start date is May 2.

Also What type of training/orientation do most hospitals offer for new employees?

Any help is appreciated :D

Thanks Jenn I appreciate it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Jenn,

Ugh Im so aggravated (if you read one of my posts about hours for part time)!!!!! I think you said you work part time right? How many hours do you get a week?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well today was my first day. Overwhelmed isn't the word for it.

My day started off with the aides/lpns deciding what team they will be on, then off we went.. room to room the lpns did the vitals(automatic vital machine) then the lpn told the aide what the vitals were so they could chart them in the laptop/portable computer. There was approx 8 pre-ops.

Then after that was done some am care/bed bath's.

then "alot" of chit chatting while the pts ate breakfast but most were npo.

Some am care charting,I&O'S,breakfast intake.turning down beds,fixing beds

breaks

then q.15,q.30,q. hour,routine vitals.

the girls used blank post-its by the room number to mark down times so you knew what time the next vital was to be done.

This went on post-op for 3 hours non stop. New patients coming, the morning patients leaving. Hard to keep track!!

The aide I was with also did bladder scans, but I did not get to see these since she had me on the computer. (hence I never did one of these)

From only working in a nursing home, I am truly overwhelmed. I'm sure I had messed something up today, probably alot. I even forgot what brachial meant..

I'm nervous and frightened to death to see when I am by myself.The aide I was with today was nice ,talked to everyone more then she worked about every and anything. Not a big deal.

In the morning before I punched, everyone was lined up to punch, sure enough 2 aides were talking saying so you know your training someone today? The aide I ended up having said I hope she's ready to wipe some ***, im in no mood.

Made me feel special. She obviously didnt know I was who she would be training.

Boy I dont know if I'm cut out for this.God help me!

The routine in the morning is ok, the afternoon is so fast-paced it gave me heart palpitations!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Well today was my first day. Overwhelmed isn't the word for it.

My day started off with the aides/lpns deciding what team they will be on, then off we went.. room to room the lpns did the vitals(automatic vital machine) then the lpn told the aide what the vitals were so they could chart them in the laptop/portable computer. There was approx 8 pre-ops.

Then after that was done some am care/bed bath's.

then "alot" of chit chatting while the pts ate breakfast but most were npo.

Some am care charting,I&O'S,breakfast intake.turning down beds,fixing beds

breaks

then q.15,q.30,q. hour,routine vitals.

the girls used blank post-its by the room number to mark down times so you knew what time the next vital was to be done.

This went on post-op for 3 hours non stop. New patients coming, the morning patients leaving. Hard to keep track!!

The aide I was with also did bladder scans, but I did not get to see these since she had me on the computer. (hence I never did one of these)

From only working in a nursing home, I am truly overwhelmed. I'm sure I had messed something up today, probably alot. I even forgot what brachial meant..

I'm nervous and frightened to death to see when I am by myself.The aide I was with today was nice ,talked to everyone more then she worked about every and anything. Not a big deal.

In the morning before I punched, everyone was lined up to punch, sure enough 2 aides were talking saying so you know your training someone today? The aide I ended up having said I hope she's ready to wipe some ***, im in no mood.

Made me feel special. She obviously didnt know I was who she would be training.

Boy I dont know if I'm cut out for this.God help me!

The routine in the morning is ok, the afternoon is so fast-paced it gave me heart palpitations!

Boy does it sound scary lol!So the nurses did all the vitals if I understood you correctly? Whats I&O LOL input/output? I sortta want to do vitals, did you get to do anything medically related like that? Like I said before I want to use some of my skills, but noone ever told me my duties from the hospital. They havent told me much an its annoying! So can you please tell me how many hours you will be working a week? I heard I might only get 15hrs which I though would be more!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh yes I did Vitals.None manual tho. Then they had i/o papers taped to the front of the beds.You would put their p.o intake on those. Alot like I said were NPO tho since they were pre-op.

Bedbaths, moving beds around from room to room. The Lpn's did everything the aides did..They also did Iv's from what I gathered.Which the aides did not.

everything was ok up until 12pm when post ops were on q15 and q30 vitals.

Not saying its anyone's fault but the girl I trained with today kept talking and talking it was hard for me to keep focus when she was talking about her vertigo,chocolate intake,personal life and not just with me with everyone! even the housekeepers.

Not to be rude or ungrateful for her help but I honestly got a headache and still have it.

She didnt have me punch out for lunch, she didnt tell me when I could take breaks. If she wanted one she would say ok I'm hungry.

I'm with her another 2 days. I feel bad for when i dont work with her on Frday and I'm with someone else, they probably will be expecting me to know more.

This was my first day and I got thrown from this one to that one, and then left on a computer with flow sheets I HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT.

I'm one who will jump right in there and do what I can to help out, But today I feel as tho i learned nothing and probably screwed up charting on people's vitals. I feel horrible.

Hopefully you will have better luck then me

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks Jen for the info..it gives me some idea I guess..since I havent really been given any info which stinks. I have my huge physical/whatever else tomorrow..which will take 2-3 hrs! Did you have to go through something like this? Hopefully they wont make me do anything too crazy...(agility physical). Hopefully you get the hang of it, and like it! Feel free to chat/vent on here with me. Im open to any tips! Im sorry I asked you before, but you didnt mention it...how many hours are they giving you for part time? Thanks:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Oh yes I did Vitals.None manual tho. Then they had i/o papers taped to the front of the beds.You would put their p.o intake on those. Alot like I said were NPO tho since they were pre-op.

Bedbaths, moving beds around from room to room. The Lpn's did everything the aides did..They also did Iv's from what I gathered.Which the aides did not.

everything was ok up until 12pm when post ops were on q15 and q30 vitals.

Not saying its anyone's fault but the girl I trained with today kept talking and talking it was hard for me to keep focus when she was talking about her vertigo,chocolate intake,personal life and not just with me with everyone! even the housekeepers.

Not to be rude or ungrateful for her help but I honestly got a headache and still have it.

She didnt have me punch out for lunch, she didnt tell me when I could take breaks. If she wanted one she would say ok I'm hungry.

I'm with her another 2 days. I feel bad for when i dont work with her on Frday and I'm with someone else, they probably will be expecting me to know more.

This was my first day and I got thrown from this one to that one, and then left on a computer with flow sheets I HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT.

I'm one who will jump right in there and do what I can to help out, But today I feel as tho i learned nothing and probably screwed up charting on people's vitals. I feel horrible.

Hopefully you will have better luck then me

Jen, you'll be fine. I can remember being VERY nervous (6 years ago) when I started as a brand new pct in a hospital after two years in ltc. Really, trust me, all of this that seem overwhelming and scary will soon be very routine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

today wasn't the greatest, I'm considering quitting. My trainer keeps calling me princess, which is starting to irrate me! kinda reminds me when someone calling you hun, very unprofessional IMO ! I ignored her anyway the Lpn I thought liked me and I was clicking with I think was getting annoyed with me. after 12pm it seemed as tho I wasn't doing anything right and she seemed as tho she was avoiding me. My trainer Aka fellow cna threw me under the bus towards the end of day. The lpn asked why charting wasn't completed on 2 pts who my trainer did care on in the morning and I didn't even step in their rooms all shift , and I knew nothing about! My trainer says that what's the "princess's" job , and looks at me and says get to it!!!

ok well if that was the case I think she maybe should have told me I had to chart on these pts before the shift was almost over. we had some major downtime and she never said anything I don't feel comfortable charting on anyone I didn't do care on or even know anything about.

I tried explaining what happened to the LPN she kinda blew me off.

Ugh with someone new I believe tomorrow because I can guarantee the lpn won't want me tomorrow. I'm torn!

not only that but I get my "parttime schedule" and I'm working 3am to 11am!!! nice rotation! 8 days in 2 weeks which is nice but the 3am shift is NOT! not even a asking If I'm available to work this shift or not.. ridiculous.

my day consists of this

0700 get report sheet,start vitals on everyone,get report from our team rn

0800-0900 breakfast trays,bed baths,charting,fill linen cart

0900-1000 15 min break,charting,bells,vitals

1000-1100 downtime for the most part

1100-1200 lunch 30 min./down time

1200-1300 post ops come rolling in,vitals,lunch trays

1300-1400 rounds,vitals,bells,charting,no 15 break???

1400-1500 downtime ,bells , chitchatting waiting for 2nd shift

sounds simple but when who u work with have no routine and talks more then work . I could just explode!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
today wasn't the greatest, I'm considering quitting. My trainer keeps calling me princess, which is starting to irrate me! kinda reminds me when someone calling you hun, very unprofessional IMO ! I ignored her anyway the Lpn I thought liked me and I was clicking with I think was getting annoyed with me. after 12pm it seemed as tho I wasn't doing anything right and she seemed as tho she was avoiding me. My trainer Aka fellow cna threw me under the bus towards the end of day. The lpn asked why charting wasn't completed on 2 pts who my trainer did care on in the morning and I didn't even step in their rooms all shift , and I knew nothing about! My trainer says that what's the "princess's" job , and looks at me and says get to it!!!

ok well if that was the case I think she maybe should have told me I had to chart on these pts before the shift was almost over. we had some major downtime and she never said anything I don't feel comfortable charting on anyone I didn't do care on or even know anything about.

I tried explaining what happened to the LPN she kinda blew me off.

Ugh with someone new I believe tomorrow because I can guarantee the lpn won't want me tomorrow. I'm torn!

not only that but I get my "parttime schedule" and I'm working 3am to 11am!!! nice rotation! 8 days in 2 weeks which is nice but the 3am shift is NOT! not even a asking If I'm available to work this shift or not.. ridiculous.

my day consists of this

0700 get report sheet,start vitals on everyone,get report from our team rn

0800-0900 breakfast trays,bed baths,charting,fill linen cart

0900-1000 15 min break,charting,bells,vitals

1000-1100 downtime for the most part

1100-1200 lunch 30 min./down time

1200-1300 post ops come rolling in,vitals,lunch trays

1300-1400 rounds,vitals,bells,charting,no 15 break???

1400-1500 downtime ,bells , chitchatting waiting for 2nd shift

sounds simple but when who u work with have no routine and talks more then work . I could just explode!!!!

I really hope it gets better for you. How many days have you worked there so far? Your making me nervous...I have no cna experience at all! Were you aware that you were on a rotating schedule or what were you told? I really wish you the best. I have a bunch of orientation days coming up at the end of the month. Still really dont know much. My college gradaution is this Sunday...just hope I can be proud of my future..hope it works out for the best!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It was my 3rd day of actually working on the floor. This women I worked with were in their 40's/late 40's maybe? It wasnt like I was working with 20 some year olds.

I'm sure its not like this everywhere. But in the current situation at the hospital this is probably why I was treated the way I was.

On the rotation deal. I was unaware of any rotation when I was hired. The Director of the nursing dept ask what shift I wanted to work.She gave me an option of days,evenings,nights. I choose dayshift. Normally places I have worked in the pass LTC there is no rotation, unless you signed up for Overtime or whatever. So during orientation a few of the other girls I was with mentioned they were on rotation? I was confused because this was never mentioned to me, I was in the dark. I mean what happened if I was unable to work, would I get in trouble?

I'm sure you will do fine. I have 14 yrs of cna experience and felt like a complete idiot.

Congrats on graduating! I wish you good luck with the new job :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well Update on the situation... So I called and basically resigned thursday night, Not very professional to leave a message on the nurse managers voicemail. Ofcourse she didnt get it until today! She called me this morning and I explained what happened and how I felt reguarding falsification of records,the princess comment,etc.

She said the girl I trained with said she didn't feel as tho there were any problems, and she apologized if I felt offended and that she would even do my rotation schedule of 3am to 11am and she said I was doing good, and would like me to come back.

At this point I kinda feel awkward going back to the same shift,Im sure my trainer (as she talks to everyone!) told everyone I wasnt coming in because she was calling me "princess", and I made a complaint against her.

I know at my previous job when you heard people making complaints against another coworker you looked at them like a snitch and that coworker would be treated "differently".

I told the unit manager I would prefer to go to another shift. Unfortunely that may not be an option for me. Shes suppose to call me back later today to let me know if thats available or not.

I dont know what I should do? Do I returned to dayshift, knowing everyone knows I didn't show up for two days due to the way I felt I was being treated?

Or do i cut my ties with this hospital?? I feel so torn! I feel as tho maybe I did jump to conclusions and feel I let myself down and didnt give the hospital a chance.

My biggest flaw is always worrying what people think of me.. Ugh I mean thankfully they did call me back today to discuss what happened but 2 no call no shows? Thats immediate termination.

Anyone ever be in this kind of predicament? Advice?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, since they called and talked to you and now know that they WEREN'T really no-call no shows, since you had already resigned, plus there are extenuating circumstances, I don't think you have to worry about termination, if you do decide to stay.

Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn't go back to the same shift. Because, as you said, I'd feel uncomfortable with the whole situation and it would probably affect my ability to focus on my work and do my best job possible. Some people are more resilient than I am, so I'm not saying that you absolutely should not go back...just saying that, if you decide not to, I understand.

It could lead to a bad and resentful work environment if the staff mistakenly think that you're going to run and complain about every little thing, you know?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment