New graduate and just got a Job in LTC facility

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Specializes in LTC.

I am a new grad and just got a job in a Skilled and Rehabilitation LTC facility. On my floor We have 2 nurses for 47 patients. I have not started the meds yet, but I did treatments and vitals which took me forever. I was all over the floor looking for the residents, which half them I could not find. I was thinking about how can I manage to give meds, treatments, and all of the other stuff I have to do in couple of hours? Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Raquel:uhoh3:

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

You might benefit from reading posts on the LTC forum. Many new grads have similar concerns (and rightfully so).

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

I assume you and the other nurse are sharing these 47 pts so you have 24 pts or so? No med aide? If no med aide, then get those meds done asap. If time permits at start of shift, peruse the tx book, get a feel for how many txs you have and get those started after the meds are done. Unfortunately time management will come WITH time and learning your patients. Congrats on your first job and good luck!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
I am a new grad and just got a job in a Skilled and Rehabilitation LTC facility. On my floor We have 2 nurses for 47 patients. I have not started the meds yet, but I did treatments and vitals which took me forever. I was all over the floor looking for the residents, which half them I could not find. I was thinking about how can I manage to give meds, treatments, and all of the other stuff I have to do in couple of hours? Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Raquel:uhoh3:

I'm a new grad of 4 months.This is totally doable. I have 30 pt by myself and I get it done. Its tough and everyday is different. You should have no problems once you learn the patients and routine. Good Luck!

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Even only 23 patients with HIGH acuity is too much.Some acuity levels are as high as in a hospital. On a Dementia unit with lower acuity, it is doable, BUT nowadays LTC acuity is rising ,as it pays more to the corporations.Once again, greed affects safe staffing levels.

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I always made a 'cheat sheet'. I wrote down the treatments and the times and who they were for, what time the med pass was etc....then I went home and organized it all. Sure there are situtations that will pop up that will make it difficult to follow the schedule but it will help you get a routine going. The most difficult thing for me was learing who the resident's were by name. There are always those that you will learn who they are from day one! (The cursers, yellers, and strippers!)

Good luck! I have worked LTC/SNF for the past 15 years (working nights no less) and I love it.

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hi..im also a new grad.. and ill be starting my nursing career at LTC facility too.. do you think a ratio of 1RN,1CNA,1LVN:10 patients is ok?

patients have vents,tube feeding and the likes...

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Devise your cheat sheet and use it every day. When you leave work that evening go over in your mind about how the day went and try to think of some ways to streamline your work. Maybe give J, K, and L their meds first because they always leave their rooms. Then start the rest of the rounds. There is nothing that says that you can't take the meds for J, K, and L from the cart, lock the cart, and go to them directly to save the time of pushing the entire cart around. Or find which side of the hallway is easiest and start there. Or break up your treatments into different parts of the shift. Anything is worth trying to get down a system that works for you.

Don't forget to ask your co-workers what works for them. You might get some good advice that will work for you also. Good luck on your first job.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

It takes time to learn the resident's routines. After a few weeks you learn their routines and where they tend to hang out during the day and you adjust your schedule to fit their meds and treatments into it accordingly. What you end up doing is giving them their meds or doing their treatments before they go running off to their activities. But it does take a little time to get to learn the patients and their individual routines. Hang in there. Those of us who have worked in LTC have all had to go through this period of adjustment and learning.

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Specializes in LTC.
hi..im also a new grad.. and ill be starting my nursing career at LTC facility too.. do you think a ratio of 1RN,1CNA,1LVN:10 patients is ok?

patients have vents,tube feeding and the likes...

I want a job at your place!!

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
I want a job at your place!!

Me too. I just got my first nursing job at a LTC facility. RN ratio 30:1, CNA 7:1 and I will have 30 patients.

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Don't get discouraged. It does take some time to develope a routine and things will be alot smoother once you are familiar with all the residents and their Dx.

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