I knew nursing would not be easy, but I never imagined it would be this hard. I just started a new LTC job, had orientation for 7 days, and I just finished up my 3rd night shift on my own. I am a charge nurse for around 26 patients. I do work along side other LPNs, plus a supervisor on nights and they have all been helpful. I am trying to be optimistic, but this job is so tough. It took me 4 1/2 hours last night to do my 9p med pass!! I didnt stop all night. Between treatments (3 G-tubes and 2 trachs), I didnt stop. I still couldnt get 2 straight caths done for culture and had to pass them on to 1st shift.
I feel like I cannot do anything right, everything takes me twice as long as the seasoned nurses. Everyone else seems to be taking their time, hanging out at the nurses station socializing, and meanwhile I am walking my legs off, rushing to get everything done on time. There are treatments that I just cant get done, and nevermind the fact I cannot possibly keep an eye on 26 patients at a time.
Sometimes I have moments when I wonder what I have gotten myself into. I will get cussed out by a patient, or a supervisor says I did something wrong (already have had a error). They have all been more than patient with me, but I wonder when their patience will run out. Everyone keeps telling me it will get better, but I just dont see how from my perspective.
Am I being too whiny and impatient? Does anyone have any tips on time management? I appreciate any advice you can give.
It's been almost 6 months since I got my LPN and noone will hire me. I don't know what to do. I get calls all the time but then theres the one questions that end the conversation..how much experience do you have?...... I swear I wanted to be a nurse to help people, but no one will give me a chance.... Is there anywhere in NY hiring????????
It's been almost 6 months since I got my LPN and noone will hire me. I don't know what to do. I get calls all the time but then theres the one questions that end the conversation..how much experience do you have?...... I swear I wanted to be a nurse to help people, but no one will give me a chance.... Is there anywhere in NY hiring????????
I can totally relate to this thread. I'm a new RN, graduated back in Dec. 09 and I tell you that I've been working in a LTC for a month now. There has been many a night now that I have felt like the biggest dummy in the facility. I forget things or I take too long and some residents are use to speedy nurse J and then I get cussed at b/c I took too long at med pass and the residents need their smoke breaks. Can't miss or wait on the smoke breaks. Yay me! /sarcasm.
But I've had good nights too. It's taking it in stride and learning from my mistakes of what not to do the next time and learning to trust myself. I would have loved to have had more training but I didn't. I would have loved to have only 1 nurse training me but it was different ones. I feel like I have been told to do one thing several different ways and it can all be confusing. Then it's learning to deal with the residents and the coworkers. And all the ins and outs of charting, what words are no-nos, procedures that wasn't taught in class, etc.
Do I worry if the other nurses think that I am not trying. Yeah, I do. Do I know that I am not up to par with them. Yeah, I know that I am not but I'm trying. It will take time for it to improve. I know this but I still feel inadequate. But I just keep thinking in a year from now I will be kicking butt. I have to build up my skills just like I had to do in my old job.
It took me 6 months of looking to land a job as a brand new LPN. It took me 8 months to land a job as a brand new RN. Seems to me that is the norm in these parts. However, each time the economy takes a hit, so does nursing employment.
OMG... if i could just give you a big hug right now!!!!
i just want to say that you are not alone... i've been crying my eyes out everytime i drive home from work... don't get me wrong... i work with wonderful people at work that mentors me as much as they can, and i think that's what pressures me more - i hate to disappoint them. i try to tell my peers, and they encourage me as much as they can but seeing this post, tells me that i'm not going thru this alone. thanks.
everybody tells me it's gonna get better... it's been a month now and so far, i still try a different technique everyday, which works best and the fastest. please keep trying, as i will. please let us know & update us...
OMG... if i could just give you a big hug right now!!!!
i just want to say that you are not alone... i've been crying my eyes out everytime i drive home from work... don't get me wrong... i work with wonderful people at work that mentors me as much as they can, and i think that's what pressures me more - i hate to disappoint them. i try to tell my peers, and they encourage me as much as they can but seeing this post, tells me that i'm not going thru this alone. thanks.
everybody tells me it's gonna get better... it's been a month now and so far, i still try a different technique everyday, which works best and the fastest. please keep trying, as i will. please let us know & update us...
again, thanks!
I learned to leave my worries at work. I never cried on the way home *Knock on wood*. but I have sat and dwelled on something for awhile.
The nurses I work with are super (on all shifts!) and they told me that it will get better.. and it did get better. My first month on my own I was running around like a chicken with no head. I have been at my job for 4 months. and I can finish my assignment in my shift and not have a freak out(most nights).
The technique you feel comfortable with while passing meds is the one you use. It may not be the way they taught you in nursing school. But do it that way for awhile, until you learn to trust yourself.
I know how you feel! I have been so stressed out at work. I am finally starting to get to know the residents but I still don't know their routines. I got 6 days of orientation but I don't feel like that was enough. I was scared to ask for more because I needed the job so badly. Luckily most of the nurses I work with are very helpful. Many of them are new nurses so they understand how difficult the job can be. (((HUGS))) You are not alone!
One person mentioned seeing some of the other nurses prepour/pass... but nobody mentioned another little secret of many LPNs with heavy med passes, what I call the "skip and sign". There's evidence of it everywhere, if you know where to look. For instance... look at some of the dates of some of your meds (assuming they're dated when opened), calculate the doses available, and then how long they should last assuming they're given as ordered... Things like eye gtts, inhalers, etc. I'm guessing you'll find they're lasting a bit longer than they should. I've seen evidence of this at multiple facilities, and unfortunately, one of the unintended consequences is that the nurses who are seen as "organized and timely" are the ones who are skipping treatments, eye gtts, and nutrition supplements. The nurses who are trying their hardest to work "by the book" are labeled "slow" or worse. It isn't right, but it happens... be easy on yourself and do your best, and stay calm. Do what you can do to feel good about yourself when you go home at night. God bless.
I agree with that pistolchick. I think some of the nurses are skipping meds or treatments. Some of the residents mentioned that they never get their eye drops. If it was one resident I would probably write it off as confusion but if 5 different residents say the same thing? And some nurses just pass all the meds at the same time. If it is a multivitamin I'm not too stressed about when I pass it but certain meds need to be passed at certain times.
Hey! I worked as a CNA for 2 years before becoming an LPN. I've been an LPN for 6 years now. I've always worked at the same place. Even working there for two years before, knowing all my coworkers, knowing all the residents, I still was soooo slow when I first started. I felt exactly the same way you felt! Here's a secret....everyone does at first!!!! You'll be fine. Take your time, do it right, get your own schedule down. Ask for help when you need it. Double check to make sure you've completed everything at the end of the night so you aren't worried at home. I used to make lists I carried with me in my pocket and would check them off as I got them done. If I work another shift or unit I still do the same thing. The nice thing about LTC is that it tends to be repetitive. That's why all those nurses seem to be getting their work done so quickly. They probably have the whole damn thing memorized or near memorized. At one point, a couple of years ago, I was picking up both afternoon and midnights shifts, working both units, both teams. I had the whole med pass/tx memorized for both floors both shifts. BUT ALWAYS CHECK YOUR WORK!!!! I noticed for me and other nurses it's when you start getting comfortable and you want to be like the nurses who are finished faster that you miss a new med or forget a tx.
I have one more semester til I'm an RN and I'm gonna try to get out of LTC and I'm sure I'll be going through all that new nurse stuff over again. EVERYONE goes through that! Just keep your own pace and you'll be fine. Give it a few weeks. Oh and we only get 10 days of orientation as well. I think that's pretty average.
Shellyanne
4 Posts
It's been almost 6 months since I got my LPN and noone will hire me. I don't know what to do. I get calls all the time but then theres the one questions that end the conversation..how much experience do you have?...... I swear I wanted to be a nurse to help people, but no one will give me a chance.... Is there anywhere in NY hiring????????