New Grad...1st Job...Nursing Home=HELP

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2010

I am an LPN in LTC. It is by no means easy. I am going to be 21 in a little over and month and yes I have CNA's working under me who have been in the profession longer than I have been alive.

I am not charge nurse on my shift but when I work 11-7 I am. I haven't had a problem with CNA's yet *crosses fingers*. They know what they have to do and they do it. Live and let live.

BackfromRetirement · Jul 21, 2010

Gator, horror stories will be heard where-ever you go. Respect is different from being liked. That will come in time. Ask your DON or ADON to tell you what they expect from you and problems they want addressed. Coordinating often means making sure you have coverage for your shift. There are too many things to go into here. There is a thread under specialty's for long term care/geriatrics. Many of your questions can be answered there.

NotFlo · Jul 21, 2010

What job did you accept? Are you going to be a supervisor, a unit manager, a floor nurse, or what?

If you're a nurse on the floor (and some facilities call this position "charge nurse" while some call the unit manager role "charge nurse" so it gets confusing) you will be coordinating the CNAs but the LPNs in the facility will be working probably doing exactly what you're doing. If they need an RN to assess a pt. that fell, for instance, they will call the appropriate manager/supervisor.

magg1107 · Jul 21, 2010

Howdy

I know exactly what you are going through. I gratuated nursing school 5 years ago and got my first job in a ltc facility. It can be rough. I got a babtism by fire. I had 3... 3 days of orientation and off I was. I had 22 - 25 patients. So here is some advice from a nurse who was in Ltc for 3 years.... one time managment is something you need to master asap. have a plan of attack... for example....

report, then quick rounds ( make sure the patients are alive and safe ) map out your meds that you need to do... map out your assesments and treatments.. start everything early, meds can be given 1 hour before and after there sceduled time, meds due at 10 start at 9. do whatever nurses notes you need to do, have boxes to check thigs off as they are done so you don't end up doing things twice.

Time Managment, patience, and a good sense of humor will help you on you way... good luck

GatorRN2010 · Jul 21, 2010

Thank you for the advice. I have looked at the other threads related to the role of an RN in a LTC but they seemed to go on a unrelated tangent and never really answered the questions. The tips are noted and very much appreciated

smarti15 · Jul 21, 2010

I graduated in May as an RN and started working in a LTC facility. I only had 5 days of training. I didn't have any experience in nursing at all. Now, only three months later, my CNA's love me, my residents love me, and I have grown more than I thought a person could grow in three months. I grew because I was unafraid of performing new skills and making judgement calls (always on the side of caution, of course). My residents love me because I give them as much time as I can (sometimes not much at all and never as much as I wish I could) and I always smile at them. I gained the respect of my CNAs (many are waaaay more experienced than me) by listening to them when they give their recommendations, tell me about people I should assess, or just vent about the previous shift (all with a kind heart) and I act upon the issues they bring to my attention.

I manage those that need managing, learn from those that have knowledge to give, and most of all....I think to myself that I could be out there flipping burgers for minimum wage.

Always keep in mind that this is what you went to school, all those arduous months or years, to do. Have confidence but be willing to ask for help when you need it.

Good luck!!!! :yeah:

Giggles55 · Aug 5, 2010

I understand exactly where you are coming from. I have been working at a LTC facillity for the past 3 months as a Charge Nurse and this is my first job out of school. Like you, I was concerned because I was being thrown into a leadership role with minimal orientation and having to coordinate the assignments for LPNs and CNAs that are much older than me and many who have been with the facility since it opened. I can say that you need not worry. Go to work with confidence, but accept that you are a new grad and still have plenty to learn and you will gain immediate respect from your coworkers. I have developed a great relationship with all the LPNs and CNAs I have worked with and despite the fact that many of them are old enough to be my mothers (I'm only 24) there has never been an issue in which they did not take my directives or gave me a hard time simply because I am new or young. If you gain a good rapport with your staff early on you will realize that they will be your greatest assets. Quick example...in my facility there are 2 nurses on the unit. Either 1 RN & 1 LPN or 2 RNs to up to 40 residents. One weekend the LPN scheduled to work with me called out. As a result I was left to pass the meds, do the Txs and manage the floor all on my own. At first I felt panicked because I am still new and this was my first experience having to do everything by myself. The day went more smoothly than I could have ever imagined. My CNAs all pulled together and helped me to the fullest. At the end of the day when I expressed to my supervisor how surprised I was that the day went so smoothly he specifically said "That's because you have a good relationship with your CNAs and they wanted to help you out."

Don't worry! Simply because you are young and new does not mean that your staff will not cooperate. You will be surprised how smoothly the transition may even go. I know I was pleasantly surprised.

Oh and one last piece of advice...always wear a smile! I find that it works wonders =D

Leelee2 · Aug 10, 2010

GatorRN,

Just wondering how it's been going for you so far?