LPN Preceptor

[Rainscape]

I just finished my clinicals and started my LPN preceptorship in a LTC facility. My question is.... In clinicals we unfortunately had just one patient to care for and write all about their drugs on drug cards. Now, on my third day with a preceptor I have 22 patients that I am supposed to be able to recite the 5 rights, and all drugs on all of the patients and distribute the meds. If my clinical instructor stops by and I don't know all these drugs I will be in alot of trouble. I haven't even had time to write down all the drugs these patients are on! I am totally overwhelmed by this. Is this the way it is supposed to go? I thought that we students would work up to doing ALL the patients more towards the end of the 14 weeks course. I know that in the real world it will be busy but I while I am in school I want to use this opportunity to learn all I can, not just to be so busy and unsure of myself.

Please advise

[queenjean]

You are going to have to bust your butt for a while, huh?

However, I think you will soon find that 90%+ of the meds are the same.

Off the top of my head I can think of Lasix, Digoxin, Toprolol, HCTZ, Coreg, Namenda, Plavix, ASA, Lisinopril, Flomax, Clonazepam, neurotin, lipitor, lexapro, prevacid/nexium, levodopa, synthroid, colace as drugs that all seem to be commonly seen in LTC residents. Get to know the 15-20 most common drugs (maybe take the time to keep notes on which drugs seem to recur most often?) and know those drugs inside and out. Then you will only have to look up those few that don't fall into your list.

Hope that helps.