Just Got Hired But Already Feel Like Quitting

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Specializes in LTC.

I recently got hired at another long term care facility on December 20th. I wanted to work at this facility because I was hoping for a change. I didn't like my facility for a number of different reasons.

At this new facility I have more residents under my care but their cognition is better. We definately have more work to do as well.

When I was on my orientation, my impression was that the facility was short staffed all the time. I came in apparently when there were changes in management, which explained why the facility was short staffed apparently. AND I AM NOT EVEN JOKING WHEN I AM SAYING THAT THIS FACILITY IS REALLY REALLY SHORTSTAFFED. They're so desperate that they will ask you to go to work... Even when you're sick!!! There are a few on call nurses who are on LOA and they recently only hired 2 nurses, including myself... Then they scheduled a nurse to work when it says on the staff sheet she was on LOA and of course she didn't show up so my co-RN was there from probably 0700 to 2300! One time, our DON even had to stay late because there were no other nurses to work the rest of the shift!

I work longer hours at this new facility (10.5 hours). In addition to our nursing responsibilities, if we receive a phone call of a staff member calling in, we have to phone around to try and replace them. Also if someone works overtime, we have to send an email to the administrator. I've never really had to make calls to try to replace people and the schedule seems like a mess.

Once the nurse leaves at 1830, the 1500 to 2300 nurse is alone with all the residents (about 66, i think)?

I just feel WAY more stupid at this facility than at the other facility I am working. I,ve only been working since March of last year. I also feel like I am in a toxic work environment... Although I feel like the nurses are a bit more supportive, they're also just so gossipy! Apparently the DON was having trouble with the staff because they don't listen to him but I don't know... I'm not liking my experience so far with this facility. It's just a lot of residents and I just got hired. Also, their EMAR and computers are just TERRIBLE. So slow to use! We're using a barcode scanner for our EMAR.

Should I just quit at this facility or what? I don't particularly enjoy working at this facility. Just feeling discouraged

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Specializes in LTC.

Also, at my other job, on my first orientation day I was already given my hand scanner information but at this new job i dont even have that yet because the administrator isn't there very much so now I still have to talk to another person about this. And the meds??? I feel like i'm just passing them by memory and I've read a thread on here about that and it was suggested that the nurse avoids passing meds by memory. Our emar isnt pointclickcare so we can't view all residents and the meds they get for the shift. My orientation nurse said she forgets lax a day ALL THE TIME.

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I have worked in many nursing homes. I had thought that I could just keep trying out different nursing home jobs until I could find a really "good nursing home". I was never able to find a "good nursing home" After many years of "job hopping" I finally had the realization that all of the nursing homes were pretty much the same. Never enough staff. Staff that loves to gossip, always a "toxic work environment" etc etc etc. I finally left nursing homes for good because I couldn't handle the constant stress, constant overtime and toxic work environments anymore.

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Specializes in LTC.
I have worked in many nursing homes. I had thought that I could just keep trying out different nursing home jobs until I could find a really "good nursing home". I was never able to find a "good nursing home" After many years of "job hopping" I finally had the realization that all of the nursing homes were pretty much the same. Never enough staff. Staff that loves to gossip, always a "toxic work environment" etc etc etc. I finally left nursing homes for good because I couldn't handle the constant stress, constant overtime and toxic work environments anymore.

I'm not sure if I want to apply to another nursing home after this one. After working in a nursing home for almost a year, I thought that it was just weird for me going into resident's rooms while they were in bed and that I'd feel better maybe taking care of kids instead... It's a lot of pressure working in long term care, trying to be the leader of many cnas when you don't have a lot of knowledge or experience. Plus it's a lot of residents to look after...

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If you leave, you should be going to your next job, otherwise you may be sitting at home for quite some time until you accept a position at another LTC facility. Excellent nursing homes are hard to find. It is easier for you to become accustomed to how they operate than to expect to find one to your liking.

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Specializes in LTC.
If you leave, you should be going to your next job, otherwise you may be sitting at home for quite some time until you accept a position at another LTC facility. Excellent nursing homes are hard to find. It is easier for you to become accustomed to how they operate than to expect to find one to your liking.

Thankfully I also have my other ltc facility job that I've been at for nearly a year now. I'm hoping that my manager approves of me getting orientation to another unit so I can get more hours!

The facility I was at on my preceptorship was really good but it's quite far from where I live, unfortunately.

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