Help?

[kayleighac]

I am a BRAND new LVN straight out of nursing school with no prior medical experience. In school, the max amount of patients we were given was 5, and they only had us pass meds on one. Now I just got a job at a LTC facility and I will be in charge of a whole station of 30 patients!! This is a bit overwhelming for me, and I have 8 days of orientation. Today will be my 4th day and I still feel completely lost. My problem is time management. I don't see how I can possibly pass meds on 30 patients in a 2 hr time frame PLUS charting on about 15-20 of them! Any suggestions??? Thanks!

[cherilee]

That sounds like way too many patients.

Do you work with another nurse with thirty pts? do you have aides? do you only have to give meds? Elaborate on the whole picture here.

If I took that on, I would be setting myself up for some very stressful situations.

Don't accept poor orientation. eight days sounds minimal and not conducive to learning strong nursing skills.

Do not accept or continue the job just because it is there. There are other jobs that will give new grads an extensive orientation. At the least, ask for more orientation. Time management is something that comes with time, but you need the support and proper amount of time with a preceptor and other nurses as a new grad to develop these skills.

Lisa