I got a 2nd job!

Up2nogood RN, RN · Oct 25, 2008

So, had to share....
I got a 2nd job flexi at a local LTC....it's a nice facility, and 2 of my co-workers work there part-time. I've done the drug-test, employment physical, and am supposed to do paperwork on Monday. Then, 3 shifts of training, and boom....working out a regular schedule.
The nice part about this is that I don't HAVE to work a certain number of shifts each month...but I figured a average 6 shifts a month and 30 bucks/hr and 30% to taxes....roughly about 1500 extra a month. Whoo hoo!
Now, I am nervous about starting in LTC...and being a new RN to the facility. But, I wanted to ask...anyone on here have any tips about working in LTC at nite? (6-6:30 shift) Thanks all!

I'm doing the same thing as you. It's fairly simple; not many treatments & just PRN meds to give. It can get crazy when a patient is going south though since there isn't another nurse to back me up. I don't leave the floor for a lunch b/c that just wouldn't be safe, and I can't really trust most of the aides that work b/c they are a bunch of backstabbing, immature, neurotic, complainers. But all in all it's easier than the hospital where I work at too. If you have good dependable aides working with you that you can trust that's a plus, they are your eyes and ears. There's no way I'd be able to physically look at 50 patients like we do in acute care. A couple tips of advice-time your treatments or assessment with the aide when they go in...9 times outta 10 the patient will want something that if you get stuck doing can mess up your whole night. Keep a close eye on those full code patients that are sick, if something is gonna happen it usually happens at night. I'd rather call the Doc and send them out than perform CPR! Don't let the aides walk all over you, the ones I work with have tried to pull some crap on me but luckily I was an aide for 15 yrs so I don't buy any of it LOL. Good luck

shahsa · Oct 25, 2008

LTC is a great job for a second job. Usually the med passes are the hardest, but if you have good aides, you will be great!

Jules A, MSN · Oct 25, 2008

Love my per diem job. The money is great and since I know its not my full time gig it makes it easier to deal with. :)

Irene joy · Oct 25, 2008

Are you talking about 6pm to 6:30am? I'm not a nurse yet (2nd quarter of six RN program), but I worked at a LTC facility as a med tech and would have to pull a double sometimes and work over night. Truthfully, the dinner med pass is busy and directly after you start getting ready for the hs pass which of course takes longer since you go their rooms and their not altogether in the dining room. That lasts till about 8:30 or 9:00

After that things slow way down and it gets kind of quiet. Prn pain meds are given and such. Then depending on the policy of your facility, hourly rounds start. It is true that things do tend to happen more at night (crashing blood sugars,ect.). One of our nurse's policies was "when in doubt, send em out".:wink2:

Up2nogood RN, RN · Oct 26, 2008

Are you talking about 6pm to 6:30am? I'm not a nurse yet (2nd quarter of six RN program), but I worked at a LTC facility as a med tech and would have to pull a double sometimes and work over night. Truthfully, the dinner med pass is busy and directly after you start getting ready for the hs pass which of course takes longer since you go their rooms and their not altogether in the dining room. That lasts till about 8:30 or 9:00
After that things slow way down and it gets kind of quiet. Prn pain meds are given and such. Then depending on the policy of your facility, hourly rounds start. It is true that things do tend to happen more at night (crashing blood sugars,ect.). One of our nurse's policies was "when in doubt, send em out".:wink2:

Luckily in Oregon we have med aides so all the routine meds are given by them on days and evenings, and I'm just responsible for PRN's and IV meds.

NsgChica · Oct 27, 2008

I been working as anurse for seven/eight months now and I am considering working agency (not travel nursing) or working LTC. I have my first interview coming up...yeah for perdiem!!