I CAN'T HANDLE my patient load....

[Nola009]

& I am serious. I have been told this can happen and that it gets better with time. I work SNF/LTC and don't take a break (or sit down at all) and finish q hrs. late every day.

This is when I don't have an admission or incident. .

Meds are late. Aside from the bare minimum charting may/may not get done.

I had 3 days of craptastic 'orientation' and obviously it wasn't enough. They won't or "can't" give me more orientation bc of budgeting and lack of concern.

It's really terrible.

I literally can't handle the work load (25 patients) & I don't know what to do. People get their meds and assessments and that's about it. I pass skin screens and faxing stuff over to the next shift and I still end up far behind.

What else can I do ? Where else can I go that I might be able to handle the pt load???

I'm a new grad and in this area hospitals don't hire new grads.

Please don't say just 'stick it out' bc I don't know if I can!

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Well, you're really got 3 options:

1. Quit your current job and look for a new one.

2. Stay at your current job while you look for a new one.

3. Suck it up and deal with it at your current place of employment.

You know the drawbacks and upsides to all of those scenarios. You said #3 isn't something you're sure you can pull off, but the real question is, what's the realistic option for you financially? What's quitting your first job at this point in your career going to do for your future hiring opportunities of you quit before you find a new job?

Outside a LTC/SNF facility, your options are going to be limited. You could work at a doctor's office or at an outpatient clinic, but many hospitals won't count that as actual experience because it so greatly differs from inpatient work. The pace of a clinic isn't always a piece of cake, either, believe it or not, nor is inpatient.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

There's a learning curve for every new grad with a new job.

Any job. You don't just walk out of school able to handle the same work load as someone with 10-20-30 years more experience than you. Unfortunately, you're expected to handle it.

Is there a nurse there that can mentor you? Any other new grads that can be a support system?

If you don't need the job...quit. If you have to work, then find a way to make it work.

I would respectfully suggest you quit the "I can't handle" way of thinking.

"I have to do this" is a better alternative.

I've been in your shoes as have most nurses here.