New grad nurse in Alzheimer's facility - Scared to lose my license!

[ILNurse728]

Hi guys!

I'm a new grad nurse with my BSN and working at an assisted living facility for residents with Alzheimer's. I've been working here for the past two summers as a caregiver.

But anyways, I'm on my 2nd day of orientation and have only 2 more days left before I am on my own & I don't feel like I can do this job!! I feel extremely overwhelmed.

Once I am supposed to be on my own, I'll be the only nurse (3-11pm) for 50 residents! We have a LOT of meds to pass and it's been taking me extra longer, since they have Alzheimer's.

I want to talk to my boss later today and tell her how I feel. Ultimately, I want to work at a hospital as soon as possible, and she knows about that. However, I thought I would be able to handle this job in the meantime - but these orientation days have been hectic for me :\ I don't feel 100% confident that I can work here alone as a new grad and not make a mistake that can harm a resident, which terrifies me!!

Also, I felt like my orientation has been VERY rushed and disorganized. They're frantically looking for a new night nurse, so I know they are desperate to keep me around.

My biggest fear is that once I'm on my own next week I'm going to be overwhelmed and make mistakes I just have a bad feeling about this job and want to leave while I can. The thing that worries me is that it's going to hinder my job hunt. I've only worked at this place as a healthcare-related job, so my boss will probably give me a bad reference to employers. Weighing the options, though, I'd rather do that versus unintentionally harm a resident and lose my license...

What do you guys think? Do you think I'm making the right decision?

[ArkansasLPN]

4 days of orientation for 50 geropsych patients? That doesn't sound safe to me either. If your worried about a bad reference, don't list them on your next job application. I personally wouldn't even accept this type of nursing assignment. When a major accident happens this employer will likely hang you out to dry.

[crashcartqueen, BSN, RN]

Unfortunately this is a common situation new grads find themselves in at LTC workplaces. I myself was there a few months ago! I had four days of orientation and was left to do meds and treatments along with ridiculous amounts of paperwork for 26 residents of varying acuity and mental state each with 10+ meds on day shift (nightmare). Oh, and I was suppose to supervise others (laugh) and make sure they were doing their job too (laugh again, as I could barely do my own). I knew very quickly that this was not what I wanted to do and moved on. In my interview at the ER I was still working PRN at the SNF so I was upfront about the situation during the interview and explained that I wanted to be a safe competent nurse and did not feel I would have the learning environment I needed at the SNF.

Do yourself a favor and protect your license. It is not fair of them or anyone to put a new grad in that situation... and if something happens you will be the one to suffer from it not them. Do not worry about finding another job after only spending a short time there... if the nurse manager interviewing you knows anything about SNF's or ALF's they will understand and respect your decision!

[bellabee32]

My advice is to do the best you can, but if it isn't working, quit. Don't wait to look for another job. Just get out to avoid any serious issues putting your license at risk.

Good luck!