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I will be starting 1st job in LTC. Orientation is about a week. Im a newbie ;) What should I know, bring?

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I actually JUST started LTC tom. is my 4th day of orientation I'm still new but so far bring pens a little notebook to write things down that u wouldn't remember (I literally write down EVERYTHING) ur lunch stethoscope sharpie highlighter nursing scissors l

Idk I'm still super new myself but that's what I've been bringing so far

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Bring a paper and pen, take as many notes as you can. Try to learn the residents, write down if they are crushed, whole, like their meds a certain way, or a certain time. On my hall sheet where it lists all the rooms and patients I always write down how they take their medicines, accu check times, who needs what vitals, if they are skilled or not, any special notes on the patient to help me take better care of them, and what kind of assist they are. I just ask the nurse orientating me or going off shift before me about each patient down the list and what I should know about them. This has always saved me a lot of time when I start a new assignment and I feel more in control of how things will go through the shift. Just ask as many questions as you can while your still on orientation, you wont regeret it later. I always find out about where the facilities put patients code status, on call md's number, and the address because when your new to a job and have an emergency its easy to forget the exact numbers of the building for squad to come.

I bring steth, bp cuff ( i dont like the nurse on a stick bp machines all LTC seem to have now), pens/highlighters/sharpies for writing dates on wound changes, med book, lpn quick notes (I have been an LPN now for almost 3 years and I still find mysel referencing that thing at times), gum, water bottle, energy bar since I never really get lunch and prefer not to take one for 8 hour shifts, chap stick, and scrap paper. And very very good hand lotion, my hands will burn after a shift from washing them so much. Good luck, I am sure you will do terrific!

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Wow...thank you guys for the great advice :)

I'm super nervous but know it will be ok; just take some time to get used to

Guess I'm going to do a lot of writing hehe

CYoungLPN good luck! How many patients do u have? How do u like it so far?

HippyDippyLPN-how long did it take u to get oriented with the floor and ur residents?

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My first job ever I would say I felt completely comfortable with my residents and hall about 6-8 weeks in but I was really green! I didn't feel like I had all the paperwork etc down till almost 3-4 months in. It takes awhile to get what works for you down pat. Now since I have some experience I can catch on a lot quicker b/c even though I may have different residents I have the same organizational system as I did before,

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Wow...thank you guys for the great advice :)

I'm super nervous but know it will be ok; just take some time to get used to

Guess I'm going to do a lot of writing hehe

CYoungLPN good luck! How many patients do u have? How do u like it so far?

HippyDippyLPN-how long did it take u to get oriented with the floor and ur residents?

Yea it isn't nearly as intimidating as I thought it would be..but again I'm still super new today was my 4th day we have like 40 pt on the northside of the hall and there are 2 nurses (me and another nurse) & like 8 CNAs we split the halls up one nurse gets like 20 pt & 4 CNAs & the other the same I mean it doesn't seem undoable I can tell ALOT of it is repetition once u get to know the patients and do the paperwork continuously I know ill get it down its just my 4th day & I already could get the wheels turning from repetition from the prior days of training

I will say one thing...it's NOTHING like Nx school NOTHING like idk what school was lol it's nothing like real life in school they should train us on paperwork lol

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So I will be having orientation (1 week) than afterwards I will be working by myself-40 pts plus 2-4 CNAs. I'm in charge of new admits, wound care, meds, etc...

Ummm kinda scary lol

I guess with time everything will come

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So I will be having orientation (1 week) than afterwards I will be working by myself-40 pts plus 2-4 CNAs. I'm in charge of new admits, wound care, meds, etc...

Ummm kinda scary lol

I guess with time everything will come

Idk what I'd do if I had to take care of the wounds on my own with 20-30 we have treatment nurses at our facility I'm thankful for that!

Today was my 5th day I actually came home and made myself a brain sheet I hated the one they provided it wasn't enough space for me but I designed one especially for my newbie needs on Word I wish I knew how to upload it on here but I have to have things laid out a certain way for me to pick up on it I can tell its all about organization

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Idk what I'd do if I had to take care of the wounds on my own with 20-30 we have treatment nurses at our facility I'm thankful for that!

Today was my 5th day I actually came home and made myself a brain sheet I hated the one they provided it wasn't enough space for me but I designed one especially for my newbie needs on Word I wish I knew how to upload it on here but I have to have things laid out a certain way for me to pick up on it I can tell its all about organization

Yay 5th day :)

May I ask how you organized your brain sheet? I know it varies but just an example. I'm thinking of doing one. I have 100+ patients to learn bc I will be working 3 nursing stations. So I definitely need to stay on top and organized

I am the same way as in need things laid out a certain way to start getting it

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Organization will make you or break you. Every day, you really can find another way to save time and effort.

Get a one inch binder, and 50-100 clear sheet protectors.

Ask your medical records person to print you a patient census/roster as often as possible- ask her to include name, room/bed, allergies, and anything else to streamline your giving and receiving report. You really don't have to make your own cheatsheets, and would be amazed at what the company software can print out.

Keep your current report/census/roster sheet in front of your notebook. Use this one paper for everything- ongoing report, things that need done/orders to obtain/VS/incidents/misc. notes, and stuff to report to the next shift. Try very hard not to write the same thing down on more than one paper. (For incidents, you may have to fill out several different forms- if yes, make 'packets' of those). Handy to carry your notebook when you make rounds, also, to write down observations/requests. Since it's in a binder, you won't make the mistake of leaving confidential information laying around, losing your report sheet, etc.

Then, get a copy of phone numbers for everything imaginable- doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, management/staff, etc.

Then, get a copy of any policy you will need to refer to often- med errors, incident reporting.

Then? Fill your book with blank forms- orders, nurse notes, flowsheets/medsheets/tx sheets/VS, etc- so when you need to get and order, chart, whatnot- you'll have everything you need. Nine times in ten, if you have to transcribe an order, the med/tx sheet will have no blank spaces on them!

As you become seasoned, you'll fill that notebook up with so much stuff, it'll save you hours of hassle every day.

Carry it everywhere- rounds, on med cart, on tx cart, etc. Just don't...LOSE it!

As for BP- last place I worked, we all used battery powered wrist BP/pulse monitors- they are very accurate, and save countless hours. It may be a policy issue though, so ask.

Also, after you get report, scan your carts to check on supplies, and get everything you need right then.

Knock on every door, whether it's closed or open, every time you enter, and always wait to be invited in, if the resident is capable. It will become ingrained in your habits after a while.

Finally, every encounter you make with a resident- vitals, meds, passing trays- make it your habit to check nameband/ID/whatever your place uses, and leave a note for MR if it needs replaced/updated.

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