new graduate with very hard orientation.should I quit my job?

Nurses New Nurse

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OMG! I am a new lpn graduate.I got hired last week for the midnight shift (I preferred afternoons but no opening yet for that shift).I just had my first 3 days of orientation and it was so hard.FYI, in our unit,we only have 1 nurse for the midnight shift and 57 patients(the manager already asked me if I'm ok being on my own with 50+ patients). I just had my first 2 days of my 1 month of orientation and I feel very overwhelmed with everything.

My first 2 days I had to learn skills.it was ok until I got to learning to do the paperwork.I got confused with learning how to do nursing audits,med reconciliation,charting doctor's orders.None of my nurse orientors had enough time to teach me those with 50+ patients.

Worse of all,on my 3rd day,I had 1 seasoned nurse train me.She already knew I just graduated but still she just told me since I already got my license,I can pass meds on my own,made me do the narcotic count even if I NEVER knew how to count the narcotics and do the treatments.No wonder there's the saying nurses eat their young.She did not even tell me where the meds are in the med cart,so I had to try to manually find those meds.She just threw me cluluess on the floor.As a result,I was left still passing meds when my shift ended at 7:30.I apologized to the oncoming day nurse that it took me time because it's only my 3rd day being a nurse and my nurse orientor threw me on the floor without teaching me how to do anything.Then the oncoming nurse even had the nerve to say I better hurry up next time, knowing I'm a new graduate.

I feel so stupid and incompetent and very slow.But what can I do? It was my first time passing meds on my own.Then my orientor later said she threw me to the wolves in purpose so I will know how hard it is on my unit and she even said "I hope you won't leave this job". IS that even legal to make a new graduate nurse orientee pass meds on her own and even count narcs without knowing how to do them?? I thought orientation was supposed to be a time to learn and not to be thrown on the floor until I get done with orientation.It was only my 3rd day.Its either this nurse is too lazy to teach me or she wants to put my hard-earned license at risk.I shouldnt be thrown on the floor to pass meds on my own until I'm done with orientation right?

I dont wanna lose my job because it really pays me good.I spent 8 years of my life trying to get this license.But OMG! How can they expect a new graduate be on her own with 57 patients.I dont feel it is safe.What if I have questions or if I have an emergency and I dont have any other nurse to help me? I prefer the afternoon shift coz at least they have 2 nurses.So I can ask another nurse if I dont know how to do something.But there's no opening.I wanna report this to my manager so bad,how I really feel unsafe if I'm left on my own and that my nurse orientors aren't teaching me properly,but I dont wanna be unemployed again.Should I insist on just going to the afternoon shift and if the manager still says there's no opening,just find another job?But at this economy,it is very hard to find another job.I wish all seasoned nurses could just remember and never forget that they were once new graduates too who didnt know much so they know how scared and intimated we,new nurse graduates, feel.I'm very confused now.Should I keep this job risking my license?Do you think my manager might fire me if I really tell her how I feel about my orientation?or should I leave this job if there's no open afternoon shift?Any advice from all nurses I would really appreciate.Thanks

Specializes in Acute Spine, Neuro, Thoracic's, LTC.

I have moved a lot around the country in my 3 years of being an LPN so I have had the unfortunate opportunity of being the "new nurse" and going through orientation several times at several different facilities.

One thing I have learned is that there are definitely a lot of nurses out there who use orientating someone as a chance to give themselves a break and make you do their work. Sounds like she might be doing this. Anyway another thing I have learnt is that this is your orientation and your opportunity to learn. If she through you at the med cart alone the first time and you felt uncomfortable you should have just said to her " I would prefer if maybe we could do the meds together for the first time and will do it alone next time" or something like that. Also ask as many questions as you need to and don't worry if you feel they are getting irritated with it. This is what orientation is for and you may not get much opportunity to ask questions working alone on the night shift.

My first job as an LPN was also in a LTC facility on night shift. I had 122 residents and 3 care aides. I only stayed long enough to find another job. Looking back this was a nightmare of a situation for a new grad to be in. I had nobody to go to with questions etc. I am much more equipped now to go into a situation like this however no matter how much experience you have it is an unsafe situation.

If you don't feel safe you need to say something to your DON or manager and if no one will listen contact your state board of nursing. Don't let something bad happen and then say "I only had three days of orientation, I don't feel competent." If you waiy for something to happen it saying the above will look like a "cop out." Pt safety is first.

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

This is nuts. You need to get out of there NOW while you still have your license. Otherwise you may very well lose it. Your job is not your license. I pity the poor residents, though.

The OP here stated that she was caring for 50+ patients on the shift. Another poster recalled caring for 65 patients.

Are patient loads like this normal for night shifts? How can one person possibly pass meds and handle all the charting for 65 or even 50 patients? Those kind of patient numbers seem far to high, even for night shifts.

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