Is working in nursing home harder then working in hospital for new RN?

[RomanRN]

I just had my first day of orientation in local nursing home. I’m overwhelmed by amount of work and responsibilities per one nurse on the floor, I have 2 days of orientation left and then I will be there all alone, but there are so much information, charts and equipment left uncovered by the orientation. I feel not ready yet to be alone on the floor.

Is working in nursing home harder then working in hospital for new RN?

What would you recommend?

Thank you.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I haven't worked in a LTC so I can't say for sure. But from reading posts about busy med surg floors with large ratios and LTC I wouldn't say one is harder then the other, but it's a completely different type of hard. If that makes sense.

[TransplantRN3]

I, too, have never worked in LTC. As a new grad though, if you do not feel ready to be off orientation and on your own (and with only three days of orientation, I don't blame you if you're not!) you can ask the manager for more time on orientation. Make sure YOU feel comfortable, because once you're on you're own you are working with your license and are responsible for your actions. :)

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

I would ask for more time, I am in a SNF with a vent unit and I had been on my own on the LTC side but when they wanted to move to the skilled and vent units I asked for more orientation. Passing stools softners to little old ladies is one thing adding vents and GT is another.

Advocate for yourself and ask for more time

[TransplantRN3]

I, too, have never worked in LTC. As a new grad though, if you do not feel ready to be off orientation and on your own (and with only three days of orientation, I don't blame you if you're not!) you can ask the manager for more time on orientation. Make sure YOU feel comfortable, because once you're on you're own you are working with your license and are responsible for your actions. :)

It's making me crazy that I can't edit my second "you're" to "your.." thats what night shift does to you! oops! :)

[surfnbeagle]

Ask for more orientation! Its harder to compare as to if one setting is harder than the other. However, as in all situations, remember communication is very important. Contacting families is very important...contacting the MD with the information at hand...labs, blood sugars, vs, etc...Follow-up on labs, double check your PT/INRs....good luck! I remember being there, if I can help in anyway feel free to contact me.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

3 days of orientation for a brand new nurse? Insanity.

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

I would say its easier at the acute level only because of the orientation. I got 6 weeks. 3 days is insane. how can you learn the policies, protocols and such. We have a ltc side to our facility and we also give new hires over there 6 weeks but mostly because we need them to be 'able ' to come to the acute side if necessary so we do a small acute care training as well.

[beachmom]

I got a month orientation at the hospital. Our CNA's get more orientation than three days. If I were you, I would insist on more days. It's just not safe.

A friend of mine was a new nurse in LTC around the time I was a new nurse at the hospital. In comparing her experience with mine, she worked a lot harder than I did. She had lots more patients, and many were recent discharges from the hospital - making them only one day less acute than my pts. She loved it and never wanted to work at the hospital. She liked that it was more homey and she got to know her patients as people.

Hope all goes well for you.

[surfnbeagle]

Have you approached the staff development nurse? They are usually eager to teach. Please insist on a longer orientation. Longterm care can be wonderful, but I have seen so many people run because they were given a very short orientation.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I work LTC and most of our residents are high acuity. It IS hard at the beginning, especially for a new nurse, and one RN at that. It takes at least 3 months to develop a routine, and the key is knowing your residents. Once you have that down (behaviours, family, meds) your shifts will become much easier. The meds take a LONG time at first, but you will get faster as time goes on.

[Himal]

I am also on the same situation like you RomanRN. Can you give me some advice how you come up with it? I would appreciate for your suggestion.