LTC in California for New Grads

racs09_RN · Mar 9, 2012

Feedbacks pls

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2012

I'm still not sure if I wanna quit my first job as an RN. I only got 2 days of orientation then sent out on my own. I asked for more orientation, and said it was not possible. I'm a charge nurse who is on call so I'm rotated to the other stations which I didn't even get oriented with 30-40patients.
So yesterday I got another call, it was for an RN Supervisor at another LTC. So I was kinda shocked to be offered that position since I'm a new grad. But I did not accept it. I felt that how can I know how to supervise if I don't know what to do. They wanted me to orient 1 day on paperwork and 2 days on the floor which had 60 patients.
So I laughed, cause I couldn't really see how a New Grad would be able to learn from these short orientations. I feel like they don't care about my license.
So my question is to the LTC nurses in CA, how many days of orientation did you get? Is it like this no matter where I go in California? I just don't feel it's right. Would I be able to find another place that would better support me as a new grad and would actually care about my license? If I quit my first job would it ruin my employment history and make me look like a job hopper? I want to be able to protect my license, but most importantly my patients and I don't feel like I'm ready. I feel that the management just cares about themselves
So I would really like to know from LTC Nurses in California:
How many days of orientation did you get?
What is your Nurse Patient Ratio?

I got 3 days orientation (1 day paperwork and general tour, 2 days on the floor) and 45 patients. Trial by fire. I look back now and wonder how I ever survived. We have new hire LVNs orienting now and they are given 2 weeks and whatever they feel necessary to feel comfortable on their own. I came at the wrong time... XD Lol.

EDIT to add: "Would I be able to find another place that would better support me as a new grad and would actually care about my license? "

If you're lucky. New grads are a dime a dozen so facilities aren't exactly bending over backwards to accomodate them. Within the same facility, I as a new grad got 3 days while the new hires I'm orienting now have all the time they need. Of course this came after a drastic change in management and administration... But I guess that's why they needed to change management =P

racs09_RN · Mar 13, 2012

Where do you work?

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2012

I live and work in the greater Los Angeles area... I don't really want to expose my identity more than that XD But if you were hoping for a job lead, my facility is done hiring. We have our new hires and are now just putting them through orientation.

angie1368 · Mar 17, 2012

i've been with my employer for over a month now. I want to quit soo bad but i need the money. I got 3 days of training. Honestly, i didn't learn much. I have about 60 residents. I can't handle the stress and physical effects of this job. I am currently applying at other places but still no response. I am also a new grad trying to find an appropriate job for a new grad.

buytheshoes11, MSN, RN · Mar 22, 2012

I got about 20 days of orientation (I was hired as a new grad working NOC shift). I got lucky in this sense that my orientation was longer...some other nurses who started on the PM and AM shifts got about three days of orientation. On NOC shift my patient load could be anywhere from 35 up to 41 residents. I am now on evenings and my patient load is a maximum of 25. LTC is hard, but the people I work with make it worth sticking it out for a while longer. Best of luck to you - it does get easier as you get the routine down! Don't forget to ask questions and speak up if you feel uncomfortable in any situation.

Sunglitz56 · Jan 11, 2013

Hey Buytheshoes11, can I ask are you in Southern California? I was hoping you could PM me and tell me more about your LTC experience as a new grad. I will be graduating this May 2013 with my ADN and I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I will be working in a SNF or LTC setting. Just wanted to get some advice. Thanks.

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2013

Hey Buytheshoes11 can I ask are you in Southern California? I was hoping you could PM me and tell me more about your LTC experience as a new grad. I will be graduating this May 2013 with my ADN and I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I will be working in a SNF or LTC setting. Just wanted to get some advice. Thanks.[/quote']
If the poster does happen to respond, given this is an older thread, keep in mind that 20 days of orientation is unusual in LTC/SNFs, so the poster's experience as a new grad may not reflect the situations you are likely to face when working in LTC/skilled nursing. I've worked at three different facilities and I've only received 3 days orientation at each one, even when I was a new grad. Good luck to you in whatever you do though. Hopefully you'll get lucky like that poster.

Sunglitz56 · Jan 11, 2013

Squishy, yeah I know it's so scary that a new grad nurse is only getting 3 days orientation and being thrown on the floor when these new grad residency programs are 18-22 weeks in length. I would kill for a spot in an RN Residency program regardless of where it is, but with only having an ADN i feel like I'm at a disadvantage, even thought I've been volunteering and I'm in the process of getting my CNA license. It's just so discouraging.