Is this normal?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

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Hey everyone. I just need to vent to my fellow nurses. I am a new graduate nurse. I just started working at a LTC facility a couple of weeks ago. I work the 11p-7a shift on a very busy unit with multiple tube feedings, breathing treatments, and a trach resident that requires a lot of care. I understand that while I'm new, I won't know everything, but I only had 3 days of orientation and I feel like there is a lot of things I don't know at all, and at times it feels like there isn't enough support. So far I have been feeling overwhelmed some days, or I feel tired from doing the same routine everyday. I don't know if I should give it a chance or start looking for another job. Is this normal to feel like this?

Oh, I forgot the staffing issues.....I am called constantly to come in early, stay late, work another shift....all for STRAIGHT time, they will offset your overtime by having you work half your regular shift on a day when it is convenient for them before the pay period ends in order to avoid paying you overtime and they can not for the life of them understand why nobody answers their phone, Lol

Sounds like we are living parallel lives, Lol

The second time they did this to me, would be when I also learned not to answer my phone. OT is OT. Giving me off half a shift to make up for legally earned OT is not going to make me into a content employee.

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I NEVER answer my phone anymore, ringer off permanently, I am not a good person to call in an emergency, lol

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THREE DAYS? I've heard of hospitals going as low as three months, but THREE DAYS. That scares me.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

My LTC orientation was 3 days of videos and

paperwork, then 2-1/2 days on the unit.

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My first nursing job was at a SNF on the subacute unit working 3-11. I had a week of classroom orientation and a day of unit training. I was promised 4 weeks but "due to staffing issues out of our control" they were unable to provide me with that. My second day ever as a nurse I was alone with 20 residents. It was horrible! I stayed 3 months and cried nearly every night when I got home. Luckily the other nurses there were helpful but It was still bad and very unsafe.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

My experience was two months of orientation; corporate orientation was a week.

Find another facility that has longer orientation; they are out there.

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This is my life right now too! New RN grad and my first job is on a skilled unit with up to 22 residents. It's a nightmare some days. I only got a couple days "training", consistently have to stay over to get everything done, and the staffing shortage...ugh. I feel like they are sucking the life out of me some days. I've been at it for almost four months and am trying to stick it out until I complete my RN to BSN next autumn.

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I've been in sub-acute for over six months. It's not for everyone, and it seems a common thread for nurses to leave simply because of issues with the facility itself. This is my first nursing position, but I get the feeling that nurses in other fields of nursing don't leave because of staffing issues, or horrible management.... I could be wrong. The issues already discussed on this page do push many nurses away, so don't feel like you're doing something wrong. Just know that if you're having a lot of issues with the facility itself, these problems probably won't get better any time soon....

Kind regards, luck.

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