I've only cried once...

[CherryAmes_RN]

Hey guys... So here I am, I don't think I've posted since I was trying to decide where to work. I've done a whole lot of creeping around without feeling like I have much to say that hasn't been said... Especially on the Geri/LTC Boards. But decided I'd give a little update & decided this was the most appropriate place to put it.

I graduated in June, passed NCLEX-RN in August and after submitting 300+ resumes to hospitals, I moved on to applying with LTC/SNF/Home Care, etc. in late September. I was promptly called for interviews & offered a couple positions. Mid-October, I accepted one at a SNF/Rehab near my home in Pittsburgh. I had worked LTC as an aide, with MH/MR individuals & knew it was somewhere I would feel comfortable... As comfortable as a brand new nurse can I suppose. Every other day, I feel like crying due to being overwhelmed, but miraculously haven't shed a tear.

I signed paperwork, peed in a cup & did my TB test. I started 2 days later... I was told I would have @ least 2 weeks of orientation. I had 4 days, on the floor. (Yes, I spoke up & I got no where. I'm over it now I guess. Moving on...) I didn't get an "office" orientation to go over P&P/paperwork. Many praises have been given to the amazing nurses I work with for explaining to me how to do such basic things as fax pharmacy... Also for going over ALL the steps in filing incident reports, transferring patients to the hospital, etc. I would have been completely lost without them. This means YOU, Allnurses! :loveya: I'm sure you've all had your fair share of new nurses... Thank you for helping us. And being nice to us. Also, Thanks to the CNA' s who know the patients better than anyone & actually care about them too.

We're a 200 bed facility, split into 8 units. They're all very different and I've been placed on all but 1 of them. I can kick orifice on some units, as long as it's a good night. Others, not so much. It's getting easier as I get to know the patients. I feel like I'm getting a routine going, and can actually stick to it the more familiar I am with the unit. It is getting easier, sort of. Some days completely suck & I feel very unprepared for certain situations. I feel- I KNOW that my care is above adequate. My charting is pretty good too. I now know that if a resident has a skin tear, you have to call the MD & call the family & write tx orders & fill out an incident report & redo a Braden assessment & initiate 72hr VS and anything else I forgot. I would not have known that without the nurses I work with. Again, thank you nurses who are much wiser than I.

By the way, most of our nurses are LPN's. They may not be able to push Diluadid in a PICC but they know their freaking jobs. I've noticed some other RN's having nasty attitudes about LPN's & it baffles me. The 4 days of orientation I had were following LPN's who were pretty much amazing. So when I say thanks to Allnurses, I mean ALL nurses.

My dream is Critical Care, but I dont think I want to be there now, starting off. I know I'm in the right place right now. I honestly don't see how it will truly impede my dream. I'd have to work my way up to that in a hospital right out of school, like I probably will have to when I make that transition. At least I'll have some amazing experience to offer. After all, that's what the hospitals seemed to want when they were passing over my resume (despite my award at graduation, ACLS certification & 5 years of experience as an aide... Grumble, grumble...) Thanks Skilled Nsg. for giving me a chance. A chance I'm happy I took.

I seriously love my old people. They're pretty much awesome & make me smile even on the worst days... I love my little old man who thinks I'm his sister & calls me "muckerfother" :icon_roll when hes agitated (because his mind won't let him form the word right)- no matter how much it makes my night more difficult that hes hitting walls, yelling at staff & taking other residents blankets off of their beds. I love my 90+ y/o lady who can't find her mother, and the 80+ y/o lady who thinks her sister died- every single day. They make me crazy & they make me laugh & they make me so sad I want to cry- but I seriously love them. When a patient told me I made them feel better after listening, holding her hand & talking with her about her husband... She let me know I made a difference (something I feel like I don't get enough time for)... That was the day I cried.

:heartbeat

[oramar]

You are doing great, I am impressed. The place you work for is very fortunate that the job market brought you to their door. I hear people talk about inadequate and absent orientation all the time. I honestly don't know how people manage but some of you do.

[kristinlpn]

LTC facilities need more nurses like YOU! I also, work in a SNF/ALF... I feel the same way about the residents as you do. Can't imagine when the day comes when one of my "favorites" expires! I can't imagine working in any other place right now....

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

By the way, most of our nurses are LPN's. They may not be able to push Diluadid in a PICC but they know their freaking jobs. I've noticed some other RN's having nasty attitudes about LPN's & it baffles me.

I don't get that either. I worked in a rehab hospital where we had a mix of RNs and LPNs on the floor. The LPNs were not allowed to touch anything concerning an IV by company policy. A couple of my RN colleagues were grousing about having to do all the LPNs' IVs. I finally got enough of hearing it and said, "The way I see it, we have two choices: We can do their IVs or split their patients between us." That pretty much ended the conversation. Most of the LPNs started coming to me for their IV stuff anyway because they knew I would just take care of it without giving them grief.

Talking about oldies and amusement...my first rotation in nursing school was six weeks in a nursing home. During that time I saw a fistfight between two ladies in wheelchairs (one of the funniest fights I have ever seen - no idea what kicked it off). Another day the residents were gathering in the dining room for dinner and this one lady was yelling "Ralph! Ralph! Where are you? It's time to eat!". One of the other ladies at her table turned to the woman sitting next to her and said "I wonder how long Ralph has been dead."