lost my first LPN job

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hi all, I need some advice, I am a new grad and passed my boards (sept 07) I had trouble finding a LPN position, everybody wanted a years experience. I finally got a LPN job in a nursing home but was asked to resign with good references, I was two weeks short of my 3 month review. I agreed to resign. the problem they say is that I was too slow in passing meds, and I just could not keep up with multi-tasking and all the paperwork. I got real confused over the way I was trained. Management wanted it done by the book and on the floor it was all about cutting corners. I felt unsafe to cut corners I felt like if I did this I would loose my license. My work load was heavy with 23 patients. Most had dementia and most had to have their meds crushed and several were somewhat violent and others refused meds, or trying to get out of wheelchairs or trying to leave the facility. I was switched to three different areas and everyone did things differently.

With that being said and awfully depressed that I failed at this job, how do I explain my resignation at an interview? Im applying for jobs and getting no responses mostly because I dont have a years experience. Since Im new to all this how do you handle your work load and do you cut corners. where else can I find employment with little experience? I thought there was a shortage of nurses?

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Gee that's tough and I'm sorry :redbeathe

23 patients may be a light load for a experienced nurse but not for a new nurse. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Be proud that you did do your job by the books. Remember you did not get fired. You were asked to resign before your probationary period was over.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

It sounds like a very heavy load for a new grad and likely too short of an orientation period. In my short time, I found that some residents would refuse meds until they saw you more often or they would refuse one minute and take their meds an hour later. Other things that helped me were to only use one spoonful of apple sauce when crushing only a few meds at once so that the med could be delivered in one spoonful. It also helped to to do things like when a several residents are sitting by your cart, do all of their meds while they are there. You can also make notes on each resident in a notebook so that you have all the little things about each resident at hand like who resists, who the diabetics are, who has psych issues etc. Best of luck in your next job and you will find one, it may take a few months but just keep going. Some of my classmates went through five jobs and took two years to find the right place for them.

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Hi all, I need some advice, I am a new grad and passed my boards (sept 07) I had trouble finding a LPN position, everybody wanted a years experience. I finally got a LPN job in a nursing home but was asked to resign with good references, I was two weeks short of my 3 month review. I agreed to resign. the problem they say is that I was too slow in passing meds, and I just could not keep up with multi-tasking and all the paperwork. I got real confused over the way I was trained. Management wanted it done by the book and on the floor it was all about cutting corners. I felt unsafe to cut corners I felt like if I did this I would loose my license. My work load was heavy with 23 patients. Most had dementia and most had to have their meds crushed and several were somewhat violent and others refused meds, or trying to get out of wheelchairs or trying to leave the facility. I was switched to three different areas and everyone did things differently.

With that being said and awfully depressed that I failed at this job, how do I explain my resignation at an interview? Im applying for jobs and getting no responses mostly because I dont have a years experience. Since Im new to all this how do you handle your work load and do you cut corners. where else can I find employment with little experience? I thought there was a shortage of nurses?

Maybe you should try pool

what state is this?

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

I would love to have 23 patients! Unfortunately it may not be the same at another facility. You may have 30+. The only problem I see is that if your slow with passing meds you may want to try 3-11pm. That is the shift that I work and I really like it. Its very busy but different. Don't go sign up for an agency. That is worse because you don't even know the patients that your passing meds to. It will be like the first day your were turned loose to pass meds at your old job.(Hectic and confusing). I would try a doctors office or clinic. I wish they would have worked with you a little longer. I'm sure you would have gotten better. The harsh reality in nursing is, its a fast pace, multitasking job. Good Luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

I would also suggest 3rd shift. I got my license Nov. 27/2007. There are 2 other girls I graduated with who work 2nds in the same LTC as I do. There are both stuggling with their workloads, but I have found 3rds to be a great place to develop a "system" to getting all of my work completed. Even on "slow" nights, I try to complete my tasks as quickly as possible so that I can one day be able to keep up with day shift. Don't give up hope. You'll make it!!!

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Hi all, I need some advice, I am a new grad and passed my boards (sept 07) I had trouble finding a LPN position, everybody wanted a years experience. I finally got a LPN job in a nursing home but was asked to resign with good references, I was two weeks short of my 3 month review. I agreed to resign. the problem they say is that I was too slow in passing meds, and I just could not keep up with multi-tasking and all the paperwork. I got real confused over the way I was trained. Management wanted it done by the book and on the floor it was all about cutting corners. I felt unsafe to cut corners I felt like if I did this I would loose my license. My work load was heavy with 23 patients. Most had dementia and most had to have their meds crushed and several were somewhat violent and others refused meds, or trying to get out of wheelchairs or trying to leave the facility. I was switched to three different areas and everyone did things differently.

With that being said and awfully depressed that I failed at this job, how do I explain my resignation at an interview? Im applying for jobs and getting no responses mostly because I dont have a years experience. Since Im new to all this how do you handle your work load and do you cut corners. where else can I find employment with little experience? I thought there was a shortage of nurses?

Tell them at another agency you wanted to try a different area of nursing to make you a well rounded nurse, this has worked for me, try home health and hospice, dr. office too, i work home health and hospice pay is really good where i am at and work is easy, ltc is very hard for new nurses, also try assisted living, personal care homes, easier work, good pay, you can also try group homes, the ones here have around 10 patients per nurse plus u have a couple cnas to help you and my friend does it makes great money and loves her work, also try night time to get the hang of nursing and then move to days, hope this helps, sorry about the job,:hugs:

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I hear that 23 patients are a light load. But what kind of patients make for a light load?

out of the 23 patients only 5 took meds by mouth and were cooperative. The rest were on thickened liquids, the meds had to be crushed, and given by spoon, everynight at least 2 patients spat out the meds or refused altogether. I had at times 5 patients with g-tubes, 6 patients with insulin injections, Others were trying to escape and setting off the alarm. 7 needed wound treatments, 5 had to have their vitals monitored. plus I had to drop everything to take phone orders, doctor orders, incident reports, setting up lab, x-rays, consults. I did my best with time management and multi-tasking but everyday there were so many interuptions I could not keep up.

Now Im unemployed, I checked with all agencies and they just say they want a years experience. assisted living facilities also want a years experience. monster and careerbuilder got no responses I feel so down don't know who to talk to.

honey how many months experience do you have? try a doctors office, well let me tell you this hope it makes you feel better, i worked ltc for 3 weeks days and i quit, got hired at a doctors office and loved it, now i work home health f/t and hospice p/t. i've worked assisted living and loved it, md offices and loved it, just send resumes out to everyone, say at the interview i would really make a great asset to your office if you give me the opportunity, take the interview questions on moster, do a mach interview on monster and remember it well, know it, and you will get a job i believe! its your personality that gets you hired, not your experience! what state are you in?

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I would love to have 23 patients! Unfortunately it may not be the same at another facility. You may have 30+. The only problem I see is that if your slow with passing meds you may want to try 3-11pm. That is the shift that I work and I really like it. Its very busy but different. Don't go sign up for an agency. That is worse because you don't even know the patients that your passing meds to. It will be like the first day your were turned loose to pass meds at your old job.(Hectic and confusing). I would try a doctors office or clinic. I wish they would have worked with you a little longer. I'm sure you would have gotten better. The harsh reality in nursing is, its a fast pace, multitasking job. Good Luck!

u suggested workng in a dr's clinic. Don't they require at least 1 yr experience? And can u tell me what it is like? I heard that there is less pts and less choas. thank u. :caduceus::):):):nurse:

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u suggested workng in a dr's clinic. Don't they require at least 1 yr experience? And can u tell me what it is like? I heard that there is less pts and less choas. thank u. :caduceus::):):):nurse:

Well sometimes they pay less, some may not, just depends and no not in my state you don't have to have a years experience just go in with a great attitude, personality, confidence, well you call patients back to their rooms, do their vital signs, chart all information for the doctor and then the doctor comes in and sees them while you are putting more patients in rooms, and the doctor comes out and tells you orders like need injection, or set up for test, or samples of medications, and you do as he ask, then you d/c the patient from the rooms, you may assist with certain procedures, its not that bad and they usually train well, well the offices i worked in did. Good Luck! have good confidence and carry your resume, dress nice, and smile alot, i think you'll do fine! what state are you in hun?

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Please don't give up. Going to night shift might be an option for you. There are a lot less meds given at night, although you will still be busy. Time management is the key to your success, and having someone else you can go to if you have any questions.

It depends. The largest med pass of the day is the 0600 pass where I work. 60 pts, approx 800 meds.

Check the noc MAR or computer to see how heavy the pass is before considering the switch.

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Specializes in My first yr. as a LVN!.

what about when you were in school, where did you do your clinicals? I was able to build up my speed primarily by doing my 12 + hours a week x 10mths at my clinical site. And yes I seen corners cut all of the time ..but as a new nurse I would def. not do it!!! I seen a lot of nurses leave meds. in rooms to those pts. who easily could take the meds themselves, the pts were very coooperative, but STILL do not leave the meds!! I was shocked.. but I know in time these nurses did their thing.. do yours how you are most comfortable!!! My best advice ... is I am exceelent at multi tasking.. and basically what it comes down to is knowing your pts. if you were there 3mths. some of them are there long term so those you get to know, the short term of course come and go... but the tube feedings I would try to leave last as they were the most time consuming...after a while you just knew what meds they took...anyway, check out where you did your clinicals, Im sure theyd be more willing to work with you. I do know though time is a HUGE factor in nursing ---period. I worked up from a CMA and Im a super perfectionist so I was SLOWWWWW my last job as a CMA I had such a workload that I was determined to work on that area and I worked there almost 3 yr and I am 100% at speed plus having everything done correctly ... so maybe even per diem work? Just know thats your weakness and start working with it.. it will take time but you will get there.... good luck!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
u suggested workng in a dr's clinic. Don't they require at least 1 yr experience? And can u tell me what it is like? I heard that there is less pts and less choas. thank u. :caduceus::):):):nurse:

I guess it depends on where you live. You do have three months of experience. Just because it says X amount of years to apply doesn't mean that you should not apply for the job. The key is to sell yourself and be unique in your interview. I interview well because I am use to talking to groups of people. Work on perfecting your resume and interviewing skills. I have never worked in a Dr. office but depending on certain practices, it can be very busy.You have to work on organization and time management. I think in your situation it will get better with time. Your new to the profession. Everyone was has to cross this bridge in order to become successful.

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