New LPN Grad, Charge nurse and 60 pts.??? Help!

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I am a new LPN grad. I just started a new job, at a LTC Facility. This wasn't my first choice, but there is not much else out there. I am fine with working LTC, for the experience, but im feeling a lil nervous and overwhelmed by my situation. I am on the night shift with about 50-60 pts on my own and only one other LPN in the building with me( shes on her own unit). I am responsible for all pt. care during this time two med passes and glucose checks, insulin, breathing treatments, etc. I am, like i said, just out of school and feel like this may be too much of a work load for a new grad. Am I wrong? Most of this stuff I can't start doing until they start to wake people up and I dont see how Im supposed to get it all done by 7 am. Also, does anyone have any advise on keeping some sort of regular schedule while working nights? :confused:

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Specializes in Hospice and Pedi Hem-Onc Nursing.

Yea, that's a bit much! I complain about 40 residents on the evening shift but 60?!?! Run for ur life girl, that is so not safe! Go back to school n get that RN cuz ur gonna b stuck in this forever! This is about all LPN's can do these days, unless ur interested in Home Care!

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Is it two nurses for 60 residents? Or 120 residents and two nurses?

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Specializes in LTC.

I was in ur shoes 6 months ago, however I stood up to management. I was charge nurse for 60 res. New grad and all. I REFUSED to pass meds for 60 res. Its unsafe. If you don't feel comfortable with an assigment you have a right to refuse and assigment you feel will be unsafe.

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Specializes in Long term care.

As far as a regular schedule, I would recommend trying to get to sleep at the same time everyday and avoid caffeine, if you get 7-8 hrs. of sleep you should be able to function without the stimulants. I never cared for the night shift (worked in a machine shop at the time) but was able to get along by keeping a regular schedule. Good Luck and remember your first job will most likely not be your last. garyg

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

From one LPN to another, get out of Dodge. I don't care what other posters may tell you, how they took care of 100 patients alone, don't listen. The powers that be in LTC, will continue this unrealistic staffing as long as we allow it. It's not safe, and it's certainly not nurturing for a New LPN grad. I would decline this position and keep looking. You are not required to just work in LTC. There are many other positions. And this is to your DON, at this facility, you out to be ashamed of yourself, where did you get the idea that LPN's are to be used and abused? How about you take care of 60 patients on the night shift? I bet you couldn't do it, so why ask her to? This has got to stop, LPN's are not disposible, nor are our hard earned licenses, get a clue, don't ask someone to do something that you can't do safely.:devil:

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Its not safe for you or the residents, and I have been there with no help with 60 patients and I left because I valued my license, I went into the home health field, better pay and you are better respected as a nurse and no nights, also will working home care went back to school and got my RN and still continue to work in the home care field and love it. You work to hard to get your license don't let that facility take advantage of you because there are laws with nurse patient ratio, and one mistake giving the patient wrong meds when you are trying to hurry due to the rules of the facility could simple kill your patient and take your license away, that facility will be not be standing beside you when you have to appear in court.

Good luck,

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Well, depends.

How many aides on with you?

And how heavy is the med pass? Will they allow you to time it so you have three hours instead of two? Does every resident get 6 am meds? If they just get a Prilosec and Synthroid you're good. If they're getting multiple meds each pass run, don't walk.

I couldn't get into home health without a year of experience. I tried.

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

Sorry Sue, I usually agree with you, but not this time. This is not a safe situation at all, especially for a new LPN on nights. Nope, like I said, any RN DON, ought to be ashamed of themselves for even suggesting one nurse be responsible for 60 residents. This outrageous staffing in LTC, has to stop, and from now on when I see this, I am going to tell the LPN to refuse the job. It's about time that LTC facilities, like this one, started valuing and respecting LPN's. We are not disposible.

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.
sorry sue, i usually agree with you, but not this time. this is not a safe situation at all, especially for a new lpn on nights. nope, like i said, any rn don, ought to be ashamed of themselves for even suggesting one nurse be responsible for 60 residents. this outrageous staffing in ltc, has to stop, and from now on when i see this, i am going to tell the lpn to refuse the job. it's about time that ltc facilities, like this one, started valuing and respecting lpn's. we are not disposible.

i agree with you. blueyedlpn: you need to run from there! i've been in similar boats as you have--but with 40 pts(and that was nearly impossible) not 60. you just started the job and your gut instinct is right; it's too much! with that kind of pt load, all that's needed to destroy the shift is an admission--i've been there, done that--you have to have help from another license with those responsibilities. add to that some patient falls or skin tears that require tons of paperwork and phone calls and the whole shift is a mess. i know the economy is bad, but you worked hard for that license--don't let that ltc take it from you; put it to work in a md's office, dialysis or home care. best of luck to you!

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Hey, I didn't give it a blanket go-ahead, I asked what it would actually entail.

I started on NOCs as an LPN with 40, 2 aides. It was fine because I had a very easy 6 am med pass. Really a no-sweat deal. If hers were the same she'd be oaky.

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Well, depends.

'How many aides on with you?

And how heavy is the med pass? Will they allow you to time it so you have three hours instead of two? Does every resident get 6 am meds? If they just get a Prilosec and Synthroid you're good. If they're getting multiple meds each pass run, don't walk.

I couldn't get into home health without a year of experience. I tried.

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would love to see ANY of you, experienced or not, to give prilosec/synthroid (1/2-1hr before other meds) on 60 pts. what if even 2pts werent feeling well.... aides are busy with other toileting/fall risk pts?? bs's need to be taken before brkfst, adl's etc etc. not only is this not safe, but...it causes extreme burnout.

its disgusting that some "experienced" nurses say its "do-able", yet, i have NEVER seen these experienced nurses modeling the way for us newbies. well...there's been 1 or 2:lol2:

be honest, anyone can "run" to get a med pass done, but...how many can actually keep up this unreasonable pace day in and day out?????

yeah, i have seen and worked with some lazy nurses who could do more, but, the ones who never sit and get the job done are few and far between. We all know it is 10% of the people who do 90% of the work, why do we have to burn out that 10%???:rolleyes:

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