New Grad RN as Charge Nurse in SNF w/5 days orientation

[Little_Mouse]

I definitely need some advice.

I recently got hired at an SNF in SoCal. Considering how difficult it is for a new grad to get hired pretty much anywhere around this location, I do feel very lucky. But am I in over my head?

Here's the DL: I'm a new grad. I will be assigned 30-40 pts. The pts on one side of the SNF are LTC and the other side are "Express Recovery" (aka rehab, post op, etc.). I've been given only 5 days of orientation and tomorrow will be my 4th day. I feel completely lost. I've been following LVNs and an RN (a couple of them charge nurses) around the past few days of orientation, but frankly, they haven't been good on explaining or even showing me a systematic method they follow (although I'm sure they do have one). So all in all, it's been very confusing. I've just been shown (and have done a few) bits and pieces of different tasks I'm suppossed to do. And the roles of LVNs and RNs sort of mesh together, it's hard to see the difference.

It's just so overwhelming, I don't know how I'll be able to handle it once I'm on my own.

Does anyone here have any advice on what to do? On ways to be organized in SNF? What are important points to note? Anything...?

[elliottRN]

Hi, :)

I don't have any advice about how to organize your time, etc, as I am also a new grad going through orientation in the hospital setting, but I wanted to encourage you to talk with your manager and express these feelings. Also, tell him/her you need MORE ORIENTATION. I am going to be working a med/surg unit and I am getting 6 weeks of orientation, which doesn't even feel like enough to me -- I have several friends who have had 3 months of orientation before being on their own -- so, you are not being unreasonable and I would strongly encourage you to bring it up -- you need to protect your patients AND your license. :) Good luck!

[aleena23]

i dont know what it really means, i got interview today and because of hiring freeze i accept the offer , they really need an experience nurse but because im a new grad RN no experience and have no idea about SNF because i graduated from the philippines. they offered me for the meantime on call 2 days orientation, 3wks training. offered 28/hr. what should i expect and need to do some help please. they sent me to physical exam. and background check am i really hired? and after the training they will see what happen next.

[JenniferSews]

I was interviewed for a similar position a few days ago. After talking to a few other new grads in LTC here I can tell you this sounds normal. The only advice I got was to hang in there and cope as best I can. It's hard and stressful but gets more manageable with time, and may be the only opportunity you get. The orientation you get in LTC will be nothing like hospital orientation. Hang in there, and good luck!

[nurse441]

my friend got hired to be a nurse supervisor in LTC as a new grad. she however got 1 month of training. she said it was very overwhelming at first, but she got used to it. now she's interviewing at hospitals and managers are wowed by her nurse supervisor title and began offering her hospital jobs.

[princhet4]

@little mouse--just wanna ask,how is everything working out for u now? I just got a charge nurse position 2 weeks ago!and i am supposed to get a 2 week orientation but the thing is NO ONE IS ORIENTING ME!...i mean..is it called orientation when no one is orienting u? im so ****** about that..the 1st 2 days someone taught me about all the forms they use..the second day i was following a lpn..and then after that im on my own!!worst of all is that people are taking advantage of me now,bc im the "CHARGE NURSE."lwith my 2 weeks experience there, everyone that i met is saying something negative about this facility. they dont have a system at all!..its crazy..i need some advice please...