Just started in a skilled nursing, need advise!!

[newcalvn]

Hi Everybody,

I am in CA. I started a job as an LVN at a skilled nursing facility. I knew going in that this was not the type of environment I wanted to work in, but I was offered this opportunity to learn skills and not have to hunt for a job. I was told by my preceptors that they do not allow for overtime either, which I was not so happy with, but never saw the nurses stay more than 1 hr over there time. So I decided to at least give it a try, besides, its so hard to land a job as a new grad nowadays. Guess what? I have landed in a a hell hole! I trained for about 12 days and now I am on my own. I have worked for 6 days and I am exhausted During the days I worked I had 26 patients, 6 are GTs with bolus meds and 1 bolus feeding. These patients are mostly psychotic, yelling throught the day . During these days, I never received my 1 hour lunch, no break, and never even went to the bathroom. I ate my food for 5-8 minutes and came back on the floor. I passed meds from 7am to 3pm on all days. When I had to endorse to the next shift, they had to take on a lot of the things I did not do the rest of the day. During the med passes, I was called many times to answer phone calls, there were labs coming in, doctors coming in, change of conditions happening throughout the days. Sometimes, I wasted so much time just trying to find something such as a medication for a patient or a blood pressure cuff. After I endorsed, I tried to complete paperwork, I lost my mind pretty much everyday. I had to pick up my kids by 5pm, I was barely getting thru the paperwork for 1 change of condition for 1 patient (throughout the day, there were apprx. 2-3). Everyday this week, I came in after I took care of my family (I have 4 kids and a husband), and I spent 3 hours of my own time charting and trying to complete other paperwork. So, I told the DON that I would like to try the treatment nurse role instead. I hope that this will work out better for me, I see the tx nurses sometimes just trying to look busy, or they help out with paperwork, they even go home on time!! I have learned that its just this facility thats really crazy. I dont know if I should waste anymore time here...I have tried to find other places, but I have not had any luck. I would like to work in a clinic, but most of the time, they require 6 months to 1 year experience.

I just wanted to know if anybody has had an experience like this? What did you do? Any advise on what I should do? The easiest thing would be to just resign, but I don't want to just do that. I tell myself that it will be better as I learn everything, or at least try to be the treatment nurse and see what happens??

[Plagueis]

I know how hard it is to get everything done on time. I'm a newer LPN, with 32 residents to pass meds to, do treatments on, take off orders, answer the phone, do admissions or readmissions, as there is no charge or treatment nurse in the facility, and there is no nursing supervisor or even a unit clerk. I'm always clocking out late. Also, I know it's hard in this economy to find work, but that shouldn't mean that I have to work for an employer who expects me to chart on my own time.

The "shortcuts" that I mentioned in a previous post are things that should not be done to save time (not legal), but I've had plenty of more experienced nurses tell me that they have to do those things in order to get everything done on time, due to the high number of patients/residents they have.

[vslpn04]

i worked ltc for 4 years after graduating, what you describe was the same at the facilities i worked at. my unit also had 32 residents. it took me at least 4 to 5 months to adjust to my work routine, it is crazy and hetic, but it does work. i believe an unit with that many residents should be handled with 2 nurses or at least a med tech, but in reality that rarely happens. we were written up for o/t, but you have to finish your work there are some things you just can't push off to the next shift. i stayed and finished no matter what. some times that meant a 12 hour shift. i would never work off the clock i know nurses who did to avoid write ups. the facility i last worked at was a horrible place. i always felt my licence were at stake and the administration did not back you up or support you. i now work as a pm manager at an assisted living. a whole new ball game and so much nicer.. only down fall is being on- call.