Help-new lvn just hired for Peds. HH

[dragon.chow]

I just got my LVN license. After hearing the LTC nightmares my classmates are going through and considering my back probs. and desire to continue my education, I took a position in H.H. all pediatric cases.

So far I love the work but I'm a little scared of the nurses training me.

Scared for a few reasons. Mainly because they're horrible, horrible people. Lazy and doing what my teacher called "BAD! BAD! THINGS".

I can't really complain to the supervisor because this agency is desperate for nurses, all signs point to "don't care what you do (or don't) as long as you fake the paperwork and don't kill anyone" nursing.

I've been pretty much told so. I'm still new and anything I say will be a she said-she said situation.

I really need this job. I hurt my back while working as a caregiver waiting to take the boards. There are not a lot of jobs for new grad lvns with iffy backs. The pay isn't horrible and I can set my hours and days so I can jump back in for my RN. I love the detailed care I can do with just one pt. per 8-12 hr. shift.

Advice?

Cammy

[caliotter3]

You describe some of the major advantages of hh. I was going to school when I started out in hh and arranged my hours around school. I can understand your concerns about what is going on. I had these same concerns all the time. My advice: Do your job the way you know you need to do it. Ask the appropriate questions of the supervisory personnel if you come across something that you are unsure of. Thoroughly document all care given and make sure that you are following the plan of care, no matter what the others are or are not doing. In addition, to cover yourself, make note of the discrepancies and write them down in your agencies version of a communication note to your nrsg supvr/DOCS, so that they are aware of improper procedures. If you must distinguish between nurses (and can't make a blanket statement about everyone), use the initials of the nurse who is not following policies. Keep the personal out of your communication notes. You are documenting events and untoward practices, not assassinating characters. Be thorough. If your agency does not have a form for a communication note, then use blank paper and title your documentation Memorandum for Supervisory Staff Concerning (Name of client). Take the initiative to make certain that the care plan is updated with new orders and that these orders get properly annotated on the MAR/TAR. If the managers want to discuss any of this with you, do so professionally. But don't go running to them to say that Nurse Suzy Q is "doing this and that", unless you have first approached Suzy Q and attempted to help her or find out what is going on with her. Do this during your 8 hrs and what little extra time it takes. Then, when job evaluation time comes, you are covered. If an investigation ensues, you are covered. Don't get into any p****** contests with the other nurses. Nurses with poor work habits like to go to the boss and accuse a good nurse of causing problems when all she/he is doing is what they are getting paid for. When the time comes that you have enough experience under your belt, move on to another employer that you have found and believe to be more on the ball. This place sounds like a lawsuit or worse, waiting to happen. Good luck.