New grad rn, first job in rehab!

[heronurse]

I finally got a job in a rehab facility as my first job! Any advice? Wish me luck!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

What type of rehab facility...is it a skilled nursing facility with a subacute rehab wing, or is it acute rehab at a hospital? The answer to this question will dictate what you need to know.

[heronurse]

sorry for that, its a skilled nursing facility with subacute rehab

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Here is a copy of a post I made regarding SNF rehab and how I used to organize my shifts in that setting. Good luck to you.

I am an extremely task-oriented person, so when I used to work in SNF rehab, I always wrote my tasks on a to-do list and crossed them off as I completed them. After all, rehab/SNF nursing entails a huge workload of tasks that must be completed.

I worked on a rehab unit at a large rehab/SNF several years ago and here is how I used to organize for the day. I worked 16 hour weekend double shifts from 6am to 10pm.

I normally had about 15 patients to care for. At the beginning of the shift I would look through the MARs and TARs and, as I went, I jotted down the tasks that needed to be done in my notebook. My to-do list in my notebook was how I organized my shift, and as a result, I wouldn't forget to do anything.

Here is how an old notebook page from 2007 appeared (names have been changed due to HIPAA):

9-23-2007

DIABETICS, FINGER STICKS: Agnes (BID), Norma (AC & HS), Bill (AC & HS), Pauline (AC & HS), Rex (BID), Jack (BID), Ethel (AC & HS), Marjorie (0600, 1200, 1800, 2400)

NEBULIZERS: Marjorie, Ethel, Bill, Jack, Pauline

DRESSING CHANGES: Pauline, Bill, John, Jack, Lillian, Rose, Lucille

IV THERAPY: Pauline (Vancomycin), Agnes (Flagyl), Rex (ProcAlamine)

COUMADIN: Agnes, Rose, John, Lucille

INJECTIONS: Agnes (lovenox), Lillian (arixtra), Rex (heparin), Bill (70/30 insulin), Ethel (lantus), Mary (vitamin B12 shot)

ANTIBIOTICS: Pauline (wound infection), Rose (UTI), Rex (pneumonia),

1200, 1300, 1400 meds: Marjorie, Lillian, Rose, John, Jane, Jack

1600, 1700, 1800 meds: Rose, John, Rex, Lucille, Lillian, Laura, Louise

REMINDERS: assessments due on Agatha, Jill, and Louise; restock the cart; fill all holes in the MAR; follow up on Norma's recent fall, fax all labs to Dr. Smith before I leave, order a CBC on Rex...

[Nurse Lynxx]

Here is a copy of a post I made regarding SNF rehab and how I used to organize my shifts in that setting. Good luck to you.

Thanks for this tip. I'll be working in an inpatient rehab center soon in texas.