i'm a new grad, started 1 wk orientation at ltc last week. this is how it went and why i was asked to consider somewhere else:
1. the 1st preceptor i had came down on me alittle hard when i was giving out meds for the 1st time. she also got annoyed with me asking questions.
2. changed preceptors and asked for more time.
3 got more time and my 2nd preceptor wondered why i asked for more orientation time because i was giving out meds so well
4. had to do a med pass today, where someone other than the preceptor watches u give out meds - failed it, here's why:
-i put my meds on a tray and set it down on a chair next to the resident, to give it- according to the person giving the med pass this is not allowed
- she says i didnt wash my hands long enough- even though i was counting as i washed my hands, and 1 or 2 little not drastic mistakes were made- i was nervous, she said these were the problems not giving out meds themselves.
this is annoying and discouraging seeing that it took me 5 mo to find this job, cause here in nyc everyone wants pn with experience. what do you guys think, and what should i do!:trout:
i posted earlier on how i was ''let go'' on my new job. anyway, do you all think 1 week of orientation is enough for a new grad (pn) working in a nrsg home with 40 residents.
No I agree that 1 week isn't long enough but that is just they way it is in LTC I guess. I am a new LPN in Feb. when I started a new job I got exactly 3 1/2 days of orientation! On my 4th day the nurse that was orienting me was fired after the morning med pass, the DON came and told me she was told I was doing good and that I'd be on my own the rest of the shift! Then I was going to orient to NOC's this past week so I could fill in this summer for vacations and the nurse that was going to orient me called in sick, so I was completely alone the only nurse in the building with 3 cna's and 50 residents pretty scary. Thank god nothing happened but it sure seems to be a common occurence with LTC!
Peg tube's are directly into the stomach, ng tubes need to be checked for placement with air. The tube may slip out a way and be in the mouth or throat, or maybe in the lungs, if it is in the lungs you can feel air comming out of the end in rhythm with the persons respirations. Just what do you think you would hear with a misplaced peg tube while checking with an air bolus? Take my word for it you would hear the same thing you would hear if it were in the right place. You should be able to aspirate green fluid if no feeding is infusing. But, if there is tube feeding going, the only thing that will tell you the tube is misplaced is a fever, and a ridgid abdomen. This comes from personal experience. How can a facility judge you on misinformation?
LTC med passes take a while to master. You did nothing wrong!! pull up those boot straps and look for a new job. You might consider nights for a while to get the hang of it then move to eve then days. That's how I learned. and it helped by the time I was on days i got my med pass done so quickly I was accused of not giving out my meds. I had some one follow to verify. you need to get to know the residents too(who won't take meds until they eat.. etc.. Relax
I was working for 10 different agencies which sent me to 47 different nursing homes. It was hard to go to so many strange places. However, I gained a lot of experience by working with so many different people. Some taught me the short cuts, some did not. But I gained the experiences from both of them, and find a way that was best for me.
Believe me...one week...or only 5 days....is not enough. It is unfortunately that this happened to you, however, you will get another one soon.
actually not, the preceptors i had were showing me their shortcuts of giving out meds, primarily because they wanted to get it over with, even though they were orienting me, the 2nd one was nice, but she was complaining about her work load, even to me. one of the reasons i was let go is cause during a peg med adminisration i checked placement with water instead of air, but thats how the preceptor showed me how to do it! she also let me go cause she said the surveyor is coming, guess she doesn't want to take chances.
if the peg tube is not in the right place, wouldn't you get water in the lungs and cause a serious problem? sounds dangerous to me. i was always taught to use air.
I am an Rn and to me a one week orientation to a unit is just not acceptable. Make sure that when you go out on interviews you ask potential employers about their orientation program. How long it lasts and if they have written job expectations they expect you to follow
i'm a new grad, started 1 wk orientation at ltc last week. this is how it went and why i was asked to consider somewhere else:
1. the 1st preceptor i had came down on me alittle hard when i was giving out meds for the 1st time. she also got annoyed with me asking questions.
2. changed preceptors and asked for more time.
3 got more time and my 2nd preceptor wondered why i asked for more orientation time because i was giving out meds so well
4. had to do a med pass today, where someone other than the preceptor watches u give out meds - failed it, here's why:
-i put my meds on a tray and set it down on a chair next to the resident, to give it- according to the person giving the med pass this is not allowed
- she says i didnt wash my hands long enough- even though i was counting as i washed my hands, and 1 or 2 little not drastic mistakes were made- i was nervous, she said these were the problems not giving out meds themselves.
this is annoying and discouraging seeing that it took me 5 mo to find this job, cause here in nyc everyone wants pn with experience. what do you guys think, and what should i do!:trout:
i posted earlier on how i was ''let go'' on my new job. anyway, do you all think 1 week of orientation is enough for a new grad (pn) working in a nrsg home with 40 residents.
You were told to check a PEG placement with water? That is called a flush before you give a med, which is usual procedure. You check an NG placement with air, but not a PEG or a J-Tube. I would do some serious talking with the DON at this place, sounds like your preceptors need a bit of orientating here.
justrissy
69 Posts
No I agree that 1 week isn't long enough but that is just they way it is in LTC I guess. I am a new LPN in Feb. when I started a new job I got exactly 3 1/2 days of orientation! On my 4th day the nurse that was orienting me was fired after the morning med pass, the DON came and told me she was told I was doing good and that I'd be on my own the rest of the shift! Then I was going to orient to NOC's this past week so I could fill in this summer for vacations and the nurse that was going to orient me called in sick, so I was completely alone the only nurse in the building with 3 cna's and 50 residents pretty scary. Thank god nothing happened but it sure seems to be a common occurence with LTC!