Need Pep Talk, Please...

[Duflinkka]

I just recently graduated from an LPN program and am working on my RN this year. I have been working for an agency as a CNA this past year, and they were happy to start assigning me as an LPN as soon as I passed my boards and became licensed a few weeks ago.

I wasn't sure how it would work out for me as an LPN for an agency since I had no experience. Even though I thought it would be terrifying, I thought I would give it a try anyway. My first night they assigned me to a place I had worked at as a CNA a few times several months ago. The other nurse left at 5:30 - that's when her shift ended (they have odd schedules in this facility). So my first night ever as an LPN was spent passing dinner and HS meds at this facility alone. Census was about 45. Thank God the CNAs were excellent, drama free, and very helpful. Thank goodness there were no incidents, new admits, or anything else of that nature. It was still very frightening and frustrating.

As you can imagine, I called my agency the next day screaming. I had already accepted two more assignments from them for the same facility, and they assured me another nurse would be on duty with me for these shifts. I went, they were fine. In the the meantime, I was hired at a LTC facility in town. The DON promised 10 days of orientation with preceptors so I would feel more comfortable in this position.

You guessed it - day three and she scheduled me on a hall I've never worked or or been trained on. I pitched a fit and at least got to work a hall I had been oriented on for 2 days. She has no idea how to schedule or what's going on - at one point on the assignment sheet she has me scheduled to work 2 days on a hall by myself, then have someone train me on it the 3rd day. It makes no sense. This job is a nightmare. The CNAs are rude and disrespectful. The facility is a hole.

Please... I need a pep talk. I knew LTC was difficult, but this is horrible. I was going to stay in LTC because the state I live in will reimburse a huge portion of my student loans to stay here for 4 years in LTC. Now I'm just trying to figure out how I'll get through the next year.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Find another facility. As you have seen, the first was wonderful, the second, Hell.

[fultzymom]

There are good LTC places out there to work at. Please go find one of them. You will enjoy it a lot better.

[Duflinkka]

Thank you. I have a day off tomorrow and I'll be pushing apps.

[star2nite2000]

It is hard to find a good facility, but it usually mellows out after about 1 to 2 weeks, if you can stick with it that long. Alot of the problem is trying to get thru the orientation aspect of it so that you can then 'do things your way'. That was the most frustrating to me was having to do a routine someone else's way and made me so exhausted!

Hang in there, most usually it will get better and LTC believe it or not, is rewarding....I've been doing LTC for 15+ years and wouldn't work in another aspect of nursing no matter what they paid me.