Hi, am about to be set free after orientation

TBLPN, LPN · Aug 13, 2004

i work on a unit that i personally am responsible for 26 patients in ltc. after 11p i am responsible for 54. the med passes, treatments, and tubes, on top of charting, v/s, census reports, skin assessments and 24 hour reports are quite overwhelming. i've been working this unit for almost a year now, i used to work 3-11 p, talk about chaotic. but, you will adjust, you will get your own routine, and once you get to the know the residents and their "quirks" it will all go smoothly. to sit and type to you all that i must get accomplished in a 12 hour shift seems impossible, but somehow, i get it all done every weekend. unless of course, there is a major catastrophe, then that is a completely different story. i have found when my cna's are on the ball and doing what they are suppose to be doing, my nights go a lot smoother. when they are acting up (which they do often) then my nights are not so smooth. good luck, take a deep breath and jump!!!!:)

Dixiedi1 · Aug 16, 2004

before your first shift, sit down and think about what it is you have to do. try to put some order into it.

when i was working agency ltc staffing i printed out some cheat spreadsheets to help me stay organized. i put the name and room number along the side of the sheet. then filled in meds, tx, tf, etc in more columns.

as i went through the kardex i put a slash in each need for each pt. then as i completed that need i made it into an x.

it took some time to get ready to go but everything went so much more smoothly for me.

if you create the cheat spreadsheet for a floor you will be working on full time you can use a clear overlay to make your marks (will wipe off at end of shift) and within a week you won't need it anymore.

this worked for me when i was doing one shift here then there then another place. in several months i never went back to the same facility a second time but it was never because hey asked that i "not come back" scheduling was just so crazy that it never happened.

hi, all, i just started at a nursing home while i go back to school, and am being oriented for another week. i just got my schedule for next month and noticed i got the worst floor which i hardly have been oriented on, i mean the floor is crazy. there are 52 residents of which 27 i have to give meds to.... all have plenty of insulin, g-tubes, and treatments... i am so scared of being alone, does anyone have any words of advice on how to make my first med passes more efficient, and not so scary for the first couple times i do it so that i wont be scared... i dont know if i will be able to handle it right now, and need some serious words of encourtagement.... thanks:uhoh21:

xmaxiex · Aug 17, 2004

I too am a new nurse and was horribly overwhelmed at the workload , the rude co-workers, and lack of orientation . That being said I also devised cheat sheets for myself , I planned ahead as much as possible , and I tried to breathe every so often !

I realized that the reasons I choose the profession are still valid, and the days that I can squeeze out a minute just talking to a pt and making their day better makes it worth it .

Important too , don't ever be afraid to ask a question !

Good Luck , hang in there , it will get better !

91WhiskeyM6 · Aug 17, 2004

Tips:

1- Get organized! Bring a notepad and write down EVERYTHING you need to do for that shift.

2- Take charge of your CNA's and have them turn those residents. You don't need anymore pressure ulcers to treat.

3- Administer those Ativans PRN so you don't get fall incidents to slow you down and incur the wrath of the families.

4- Document (leave reminders or refer to tip #1)

5- Remind yourself to relax. After 1-2 months YOU'LL BE BORED with your job.

Roozeyk · Sep 5, 2004

All I have to say is........God Bless all LTC nurses.....I did it for one year...and what your saying in your post is the exact reason I quit doing it.