New Grad RN- Drowning in overloaded LTC setting- LOW STAFFING!

[Jaimie.RN]

I just got hired into a LTC/REHAB/SNF and I HATE IT. I want a hospital job but no one wants new grads. SO I took this job, got basically no orientation at it, and get thrown out on a floor with 33 patients all by myself. No other nurses on to help (afternoon, evening) and have to pass at least 3 upwards of 15 meds to each one. How can anyone do this? It was a 4 hour shift but they wanted me to do 8 so I said no. I had less than 8 minutes per patient. That includes all charting, all med passing, crushing, feeding the slow ones, waking people up, taking vitals, doing blood sugars, drawing up insulin, EVERYTHING. How can anyone do this? It's so not safe! I was prepared to get like 10 patients leaving school but 33!? I don't know what to do. I have an interview at a hospital and orient for a PRN position soon at another SNF. I want to just quit this place. Their turnover is ridiculous and they're never properly staffed. I got no orientation and there's always meds that don't come from the pharmacy, not enough supplies, patients getting admitted without rx's or continuity. I wanna cry every day at work. I have nightmares about getting new admissions. What can I do? What should I do? I am worried my license is in danger working here because it's too much work for any one person to do and especially me, greener than grass! How do I quit? What do I say to the DON? I feel like the worst nurse in the world.

[linsmirn]

Like I said in my first post she might let you go on the spot or let you finish your shift. They have a long list of applications like McDonalds and dont need our two week notices but its professional of us to do so. Good for you and good luck on your next position.

[skyapple]

Just say "thank you" and move on...

[qca1746]

I , too, am a new nurse who took a job at an LTC with 26 skilled care patients. I always heard that it was challenging but I like to be busy and I do love the elderly. I only got 2.5 days of training and asked for 2 more to learn how to do treatments and paperwork, but on the extra days so many things went wrong I did not get any extra training. I am a night owl and was happy to get on the 7pm-7:30 am shift, but quickly became overwhelmed by my med passes running into each other, many needy pts frequently calling out for the nurse (only a few actually go to sleep before at least 3AM) . learning how to do treatments on my own along with new orders, charting, restocking, finding supplies on the other side of the facility or trying to figure out what to do with faulty equipment. The DON would pass me in the morning w/o saying a word, once someone told me she was the DON I introduced myself to her, and she barely acknowledged me. I was determined to make this work, even though I was on my feet the whole 12.5+ hrs w/ no lunch or breaks. The other 2 nurses (each w/ as many pts) would help me when they could and continue to encourage me, telling me it would take 3-6 mos to get up to speed. Last week, after working 14 hrs but determined to finish my charting, a new face appeared, and began to criticize an assessment I did. (I'm still not sure of her role, she didn't introduce herself either. Someone said she is the DON's right arm) She then told me that my charting was inadequate. When I explained that I was new and all the nurses said it would take me at least 3-6 mos to get up to speed, she told me that was unacceptable, I had been there a month and the state was coming soon. I needed to be up to speed NOW. She told me to go home and come up with a list of all the reasons I was not up to speed. She also told me they are probably not willing to pay me overtime for the work I should be getting finished in 12 hrs.

I gave 2 weeks notice the next morning, even w/o another job lined up. I know I cannot come up to speed that quickly and practice safe nursing. I do not need a warm and fuzzy DON, but just a little support might have been more encouraging.

[Keepswimming92]

Hi there, this is long overdue but am a new grad lpn and got hired recently at a snf/ltc job that is an absolute nightmare. I have a total of 40 patients, am on my feet for 7 hours straight and only sit down to finish paperwork out of an 8 hour shift, was "trained" for 3 days..it's the worst thing right now. Am terrified of messing up, am constantly online looking for jobs, i can't sleep at all from stress, it has made me rethink nursing and i wanna go back to school and just switch careers all together, literally sat in my car and cried a few times before and after work. I've heard it's tough but never expected to have this many people. I wanna quit so badly but i need the experience. Not having any luck with the job search, idk what to do right now and i HATE HATE HATE ltc/snf because of this. I hope you found a better place to work.