New Grad Nurse -LTC Blues

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I just graduated over the summer at a two year RN program - and I am currently enrolled in classes full time for my BSN. This is my first career, and I'm only two years out of high school. I was hired in a LTC facility for night shift - and I absolutely hate it. I have 40 patients and while most of the night is quit - the last two hours are the absolute worst. I can never finish my med pass on time and feel like everything I do is wrong. I absolutely hate night shift - I wake up during the day in a sweat and feel so depressed.

I think I might quit - I feel like I'm in way over my head, everyone else is so much older than me, all the aides talk about me behind my back that I'm so young and new - how can I be in charge of a whole floor with 40 patients.

Not only that but I think I made the wrong career choice. I hate this job it gives me the worst anxiety and I can not take it. I don't think its worth sticking out for if I'm losing my sanity. Is it just the facility and the night shift? Or is nursing just not for everyone? Because to be honest I've never had so much anxiety and tension just waking up and trying to make it through one shift.

Sorry I had to vent..but does anyone have any advice???

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Welcome to allnurses! Sorry about your stress. How long have you been at this job? Is there any chance you can go to days? I wouldn't quit without finding a new job, but that's just me. One of the greatest things about nursing is the diversity of the profession. Don't give up on your career before you really get started. Look around for other areas of nursing that might interest you.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I was in a similar situation as a new nurse in a LTC facility. After 18 months of anxiety, I realized that I needed to find a new job. Once I began checking out other employment opportunities, just looking around to see what might be available, my stress level plummeted. I went to 2 interviews and received offers from both facilities. I turned in my 2 week notice at the nursing home and something amazing happened... I actually felt happy, and excited about my future as a nurse! Nursing is a fantastic profession and you will find your niche. Take care of yourself and start looking for employment elsewhere.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

I am so sorry that you are working in a place that expects you to be in charge of 40 patients. At your age, should be having fun, not stressed out and depressed. Please look for other employment such as a daycare or Headstart program while you go to college. Be a nanny, or anything else that you can think of.

The guidance counselor at your college can give you an aptitude test. You may be better suited to another path in life, and that is okay. You deserve to be happy.

"If you enjoy your job, you will never work a day in your life" - Confucious

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LTC is, unfortunately for our elderly, a kind of pit place to work no matter what :( It's not YOU, or that you have a bad fit in nursing. These jobs are particularly difficult, so give yourself a break before you blame yourself too much.

In psych, I'd have med passes for 30 something patients. I'd prepare for the med passes LONG before the med pass. Unless the med was a narc I'd remove them from the PYXIS and into the patient's med cup, so when the pts came by I'd simply peel the med open and down the hatch.

To get meds down 40 something patients all by yourself? I'd start passing meds two hours early, to heck with timing.

Some meds, naturally you wouldn't do this with. But many once a day meds can be given a bit early, a bit late. If meds go down Gtubes, I'd even peel them open, keep the wrappers, and have the powdered meds 'ready'. You simply don't have enough time! "Pouring" meds (opening packets) long before you give them is a no no. But so is passing 40 something meds by yourself. Both you and the patient have to 'survive' the shift :D . Part of nursing is adapting and accommodating insufficient environments. If administration expects you to complete a med pass like this, well then you have a right to be creative. I already know you won't do anything ridiculous so I'm not going to qualify my 'creative' advice.

And I'm saying to try this if you haven't WHILE you look for another position.

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I was in a bad job, 40 hours on nights, too. All you need to do is apply to a bunch of other jobs and leave ASAP. I did that and I had 3 job offers. I did the bad thing and quit my previous job. If you switch to days it will make a world of difference. Secondly, I would go after a different career path. I am personally thinking about medicine or physical therapy but I need time to think and decide.

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I think you might consider a day shift position or try a different area in nursing before you give up on nursing all together. There are so many different options.

I worked night shift right out of college. I eventually had to leave that position because I could no longer sleep well during the day.

Personally, I couldn't imagine working LTC or rehab. I think that's a tough place to be.

Please don't be so hard on yourself!

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

My situation was almost identical to yours, except I worked 3-11pm shift. As a brand new nurse, I was placed in charge of 43 patients and 3 CNAs, all of whom were in their forties and fifties and laughed at me (I was 23 at the time) because I was "young and dumb." I felt swamped every minute of my shift. Many nights, I wouldn't get my med pass wrapped up until after 10pm. I also found dealing with family members to be difficult sometimes. Any emergency, such as sending a patient out to the ER, would put me behind. I rarely clocked out before 12:30am. Eventually, I realized that I could, and should, look around for a job that wouldn't make me feel downtrodden and anxious. I encourage you to check out other nursing opportunities in your area.

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Look for another nursing job ASAP. I'm sure there is something you love about nursing or you wouldn't have made it through nursing school. That said, if you still feel that way after a year or two in the field, maybe it isn't for you. It's never too late to try something new. Life is too short to be unhappy. Good luck!!

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Nursing is not for everyone. Many of us dislike our jobs. At only two weeks in, it might be too soon to tell, though.

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It's not you, it's not nursing, it's your work place. The reason many nurses don't want to work in LTC is the unsafe nurse to patient ratios, plus you're dealing with an unsupportive learning environment. Apply to other jobs. You may or may not be able to get into a hospital, but it's worth a try. You can also try home care, hospice or maybe psyc. I work in a hospital and only have 4-5 patients. Good places are out there, but you just haven't found a good job yet. I pray you don't leave the profession because of a bad first job.

A lot of us wish we had the foresight to go into nursing right out of high school. Bravo to you! You're going to be a seasoned nurse before half your peers have figured out what they want to do with their life. You'll be much more financially stable too. You'll do fine in nursing.

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I work in psych and I'm a new grad. I also work nights which I do like because it's so much slower and each nurse only has 8-10 pts and only a couple of meds to give and any PRN as needed.

I prefer nights as a nurse in the psych environment. Plus the drive to work is easier. The only part I have been unable to adjust to is sleeping. For health reasons I may have to go days if I can't get myself to sleep at least 6 hrs straight during the day. But I don't like the busyness of days.

I could not handle a patient load like yours. I think its bad with 10 pts and an admission.

Keep looking.. In the hospital setting the nurse/patient ratio is much lower.

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