LPN LTC Workloads and too little time

Nurse Q · Sep 29, 2004

I have been an LPN working in LTC for almost a year now. I have worked in sales construction, and manufacturing. Nursing has been the toughest job of them all, and I have done some very labor intensive work before. My nursing schedule with Tx's, med passes, assesments, IV push meds, G-tube feedings, colostomy bags etc. (You know the drill) doesn't allow for much patient interaction time. I feel like I'm running on a hamster cage wheel everyday. And everyday requires 100% or more, no less! I have always had on my other jobs two 10 minute breaks, and at least a half hour lunch. What gives here? When did nurses give up the right to be treated fairly? Justly? Honestly? I'm curious about the workloads others are faced with. My employer flat out refuses to pay time and a half for overtime, and that is a state law. What is going on? No one ever told me this in nursing school.

Silverhawk......It sounds like you are doing a great job with your tasks and caring for your patients. I can understand your frustration with the heavy workload. May I say though, it is up to you to take your breaks and lunch. I know you want to get everything done, but unless someone is in urgent need of your attention, you need to take a break. I have oriented many, many LPN's in my hospital and the number one thing I tell them is to take care of themselves. No one wants a crabby nurse whose blood glucose is low because he/she hasn't eaten or who has to pee. You owe it to yourself and your patients to be at your best. As for your employer not paying time and a half.........get the h**# out of there. They need to treat their employees better. You sound like you have alot to offer any prospective employer. With your skills, have you ever thought of acute care? Good luck with your career!:)

Midwest4me · Sep 29, 2004

What is going on? No one ever told me this in nursing school.

I agree with Nurse Q: "get the H**# out of there!" I've been there, done that--the majority of my 19 yrs as an LPN was spent in LTC. The workload is only getting tougher and the more you show you can do in that 8hrs, the more you will be handed! It IS against the law to not pay you overtime! My last employer tried to pull the same thing, but it was worded this way: "You are to call the DNS or administrator prior to the end of your shift if you will be running late to get permission to stay; otherwise no overtime will be authorized." I didn't want to get lectured so sometimes I would punch out on the timeclock at the designated time and continue to work--sometimes giving that place 2 hrs or more of my own time---crazy, I know :uhoh3: --but every one of us nurses was putting in 10-11 hrs instead of the 8 hrs--management said we "need to manage time better"(this is NOT a time-management problem when ALL the nurses are getting out late!!!)

My advice is this: you've learned some fine "multi-tasking skills" there--now RUN with them. The place doesn't deserve you and you may get to the point where you feel your license is on the line--I felt that way and left the last place after 6 mos. Good luck---let us know what happens!

nightwatcher · Oct 1, 2004

:rolleyes: I do know exactly how you feel, as Im sure all LTC nurses do. I have worked in LTC for 5 years now, and I am a float nurse! It sure gets hairy! BUT what i have found really helps is this: first prioritize! I make sure that when i do my first med pass, i do my needed assessments with it, this saves backtracking. Always take your breaks and lunch! I dont care if your not done by time to punch out!! Anything after my 8 hours is overtime, and i have been asked by the Super, "why arent you done" and I welcome the opportunity to show them what is on my "plate" so-to-speak. Also, dont be afraid to ask for help. If you dont take your breaks, you will get burnout fast! Take 10 minutes off the unit, take a deep breath and mentally or write down what your next task needs to be. You will make it just fine. I really do know how you feel!

I have been an LPN working in LTC for almost a year now. I have worked in sales construction, and manufacturing. Nursing has been the toughest job of them all, and I have done some very labor intensive work before. My nursing schedule with Tx's, med passes, assesments, IV push meds, G-tube feedings, colostomy bags etc. (You know the drill) doesn't allow for much patient interaction time. I feel like I'm running on a hamster cage wheel everyday. And everyday requires 100% or more, no less! I have always had on my other jobs two 10 minute breaks, and at least a half hour lunch. What gives here? When did nurses give up the right to be treated fairly? Justly? Honestly? I'm curious about the workloads others are faced with. My employer flat out refuses to pay time and a half for overtime, and that is a state law. What is going on? No one ever told me this in nursing school.

nightwatcher · Oct 1, 2004

I do know exactly how you feel, as Im sure all LTC nurses do. I have worked in LTC for 5 years now, and I am a float nurse! It sure gets hairy! BUT what i have found really helps is this: first prioritize! I make sure that when i do my first med pass, i do my needed assessments with it, this saves backtracking. Always take your breaks and lunch! I dont care if your not done by time to punch out!! Anything after my 8 hours is overtime, and i have been asked by the Super, "why arent you done" and I welcome the opportunity to show them what is on my "plate" so-to-speak. Also, dont be afraid to ask for help. If you dont take your breaks, you will get burnout fast! Take 10 minutes off the unit, take a deep breath and mentally or write down what your next task needs to be. You will make it just fine. I really do know how you feel!

Also, if you are in PA, what do you mean "iv push meds" you as an LPN are not allowed to give IV push meds.

gloria kay · Oct 5, 2004

Also, if you are in PA, what do you mean "iv push meds" you as an LPN are not allowed to give IV push meds.

your allowed to give IV pushes?

virmm1, LPN · Oct 6, 2004

You're not getting paid for a 1/2 hr of your time. Take your breaks and leave the floor if possible for lunch. Families don't understand that nurses need breaks too. You have to take care of yourself to take care of others.

I work LTC and you're right its more than one nurse can do. I work in a relatively small facility with 40 patients on the floor and it has two nurses on 7-3 and 3-11 because one nurse can't get all the meds out, it's too many, 10 of the rooms are skilled care, It sounds like it would be a breeze but it isn't, I have also worked in a facility where there was one nurse,me for 60 non skilled rsd. I enjoy working with geriatric folks but aside from that LTC is a nurses nightmare.

Fiona59 · Oct 10, 2004

I worked LTC in Alberta for 3 years. The government funds by patients needs. So u have to chart ur heart out. Hows this for a six hour shift. Meds for 25, get 5 up with am care. A tube feed every hour, and one patient to bathe on two separate days.

NA's are supposed to assist, but snarl when u ask for some help with a transfer. Did I mention that 2 of my 5 were total care and medilifts.

The job bites. But when u apply to Active treatment they love LTC nurses, because we can organize our time and know a lot about our meds.

I finally started taking my breaks but the NA's complained. Said I couldn't be doing my job if I took breaks!?

The families were hell and thats being nice. An LPN could pass out from heat and thirst and they would say we were ignoring their family member...

Jo Dirt · Oct 14, 2004

You're not getting paid for a 1/2 hr of your time. Take your breaks and leave the floor if possible for lunch. Families don't understand that nurses need breaks too...snip

Boy is that an understatement. I learned to hide when I was on my lunchbreak. Nothing was more upsetting than to be sitting in the dining room having lunch and a family member comes to get you to do something for their mother, father, aunt, etc..

xmaxiex · Nov 4, 2004

Oh I feel your pain !! I am known as the "lazy " nurse on the floor because I insist on at least one break ! A lot of the nurses on my floor play the martyr roll and feel they are a better nurse because "oh I dont have time to take a break too much to do !" A break , how dare I ! LOL

anndoodle · Nov 4, 2004

Been there, done that....my answer is to get out while you still gave your sanity. May I ask how the staffing is? I was being left on 11-7 shift in LTC with 88 residents to care for...which is too many, therefore I quit because they kept putting me in that position no matter how I begged them not to. Even after I contacted the OLTC, they still told me they only had to have 1 lpn on nights with even up to 120 residents. BAH!!!! So I wrote my resignation and walked, and I couldn't be happier....:balloons:

VirgoNurse912 · Nov 7, 2004

Hi Quick,

I worked 12hour night shifts for 8 years in a nursing home. The work load was so unbearable, that an a non caring DON, I left this past June.

I could go on and on and on about all the terrible things that went on in that place. The sad part is I loved my residents and I truley miss them.

Day shift claimed nights did nothing. They added more and more responsibilities to nights in addition to our already hectic runarounds. I was tired from defending myself and all of night staff and tired of being tired.

I don't regret leaving because my sanity was more important. I was an asset and knew this by the large pay increase ( 25.50 an hour) but leaving was the best thing I ever did.

I am currently looking for work, this time around a doctors office would be nice.