Is it me or just the nursing home I'm working in

[soon2begrad2010]

Ok, I have been working as a RN for officially a month this coming friday, when I was hired I was told a month of training ,the 1st week was ok, the 2nd week I was put on another wing of the ltc with a nurse who was definitely helping me get the grasp of some things. By the middle of the 2nd week I was working the med cart by myself.Now mind you this was okay with as I finally was getting to know the resident's and their schedules. But my problem is all the paperwork that is left over afterwards, no one seems to want to help me nor or they around when that time comes,I all know how to do so far is charting in the MAR/TAR and what we have called 24 hr report and care track plan, and I just recently got the hang of faxing over the doctor's orders about meds and skin tx,but other than that I feel I don't know crap and I have been so overwhelmed. I even told my unit manager but didn't get a reply,the nurse who was training me was always getting help from her buddy when it came to paperwork and would always mention the goal of clocking out by 4:00pm, the way I been getting most paperwork done is by asking the oncoming shift nurses questions and they would help as good as they can,I still don't understand how to call pharmacy for meds, do an admit or a discharge and a plethora of other paperwork,asked a nurse oncoming about a patient's prescription for eyeglasses and she stated she didn't know.I am really frustated and feel I'm not getting trained good enough, if it's me I'll tighten up as good I can,but is anyone with some experience know's if this is good or not please let me know,I was planning on talking to the DON next,but have a feeling I might not get anywhere with that either.

[LightRain_RN]

I think all LTC facilities are this way....I've been working where I'm at now for 3 months and when I was in orientation I was promised 5 days, but that ended after 2, I was cut loose why my "preceptor" run her mouth at the nurses station while I was trying to figure out the resident's I was supposed to give my meds too...I started the 9am med pass at 7:30 am and did not complete it till 11am, then time that was done, it was time for bs checks, then 1pm meds...I didn't get my lunch break because I didn't get through with my 1pm meds till 3pm. I cried my eyes out when I got home thinking I was screwed and not know what was what and hadn't even learned the paperwork, just the med pass. I know its a scary situation, but it's a spread your wings and fly type of thing, because if you don't ask and practically demand help, you won't make it. LTC is tough...I'm trying to complete my sentence of 6 months at least before flying the coop. I give it to a LTC nurse, you have to be tough to make it in that prison, the only sunshine I see is my resident's smiles, hugs and thank-you's, its the only thing that makes me feel like I made a difference and really helped someone because you don't get any thank-you mgt. because they are too busy calling you in because half of nurses laid out because of the unsurmountable nurse to resident ratio. Good luck!

[vanursegrad]

I have been a CNA, LPN, & RN In LTC. I have seen so many well intentioned nurses come and go because the management goes on and on about providing quality care and not taking short cuts and then give us 20 to 30 patients, expect us to go to 2 meals in the dining room, do all major treatments, chart Everything in nurses notes, MAR, TAR, clipboard, and some on the computer, not to mention meds, assessments, MDS mini assessments, creams on bottom. And if you forget 1 little thing they will write you up& complain behind your back about how you don't care.

[prinsessa]

I haven't been at my facility for long and it is a constant revolving door of people coming and going. We are constantly hiring new staff but no one sticks around. We keep telling management that we are overstressed and overworked but no one listens. I feel like my license is always at risk. It makes me mad because the residents are not receiving the care they deserve. I need a new job!

[Dalla]

A whole month of orientation? I got 4 days as a new grad, not even any CNA experience. Stick with it. It gets easier after about 4 months.

[debRN0417]

I don't understand why we make all this work for ourselves...I mean you take the vital signs, chart them on the MAR, chart them in the nurses notes, chart them on the 24 hour report, chart them on the vital signs sheet. Fingersticks- chart them in the MAR, chart them in the chart, chart them in the diabetic flow record, chart them on the 24 hour report sheet....skin checks- chart them in the chart, chart them on the skin care sheet, document it on the TAR, and the 24 hour report and the wound care sheets......why are nurses doing all this? It is crazy. No wonder nurses can't get anything done.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

I don't understand why we make all this work for ourselves...I mean you take the vital signs, chart them on the MAR, chart them in the nurses notes, chart them on the 24 hour report, chart them on the vital signs sheet. Fingersticks- chart them in the MAR, chart them in the chart, chart them in the diabetic flow record, chart them on the 24 hour report sheet....skin checks- chart them in the chart, chart them on the skin care sheet, document it on the TAR, and the 24 hour report and the wound care sheets......why are nurses doing all this? It is crazy. No wonder nurses can't get anything done.

I agree. It is crazy. But we don't make all this work for ourselves. Everytime an issue comes up with something.. its the powers that be make up a new sheet for us to document the same thing for the 6th or 7th time. They don't have a damn clue that their new ideas suck up time like a vaccuum cleaner.

[RN0310]

I am a new nurse in LTC and I feel the same way. Unlike you, I have been in orientation 2 mths and I am not ready to be on my own. I feel I can handle the load when everyone is baseline and nothing major is going on but if something hits the fan. Im going to be a little lost. Because it's a lot of things that I don't know when it comes to paperwork. Medications that Im not familar with some I am constantly looking up medication before I give it double checking myself.

In my opinion I think LTC is a set up for failure. We have 32 patients for each nurse and 2 CMA. Sometimes we work with no medicine aid so you have to do your regular treatment and pass out routine medication to all 32 of your patients on top of that you may have an admission. Talk about stress..It's just too much.

Thiers no real time to be a nurse.