New LPN starting LTC job in Alzheimers unit

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Specializes in LTC, rehab, medical review.

Hi! I am a new LPN, fresh out of school, and I just landed myself a full-time 7-3 job in an Alzheimer's unit in a LTC. I know it is going to be hard, I worked in an Alzheimer's unit as a CNA during school, but I am still nervous. I was very intent on getting a job, and I just got one today, but now I am thinking..."I am going to be an official nurse now!" It makes me very nervous that I am going to be out really doing what I went to school to do. I start on the 9th of November. My husband is very excited. He is going to stay home with the kids more while I work. My youngest is 3 1/2 months old, so I am nervous about leaving him too! I havent worked full-time since my 5 year old was a baby. Any advice for the newbie nurse...about preparing for the job and maybe for the job/homelife balance?

~Missy

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Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.

Congrats on your new career!! I, too, started on an Alzheimer's unit in LTC 4 days after graduating LPN school!!! I worked 3-11 so it was a bit quieter than 7-3. I was able to work as a nurse tech until I took and passed my boards-about 1 month. Learn all you can from the nurses on your hall and others. Don't be afraid to ask questions and jump in and participate!! The night I found out I passed the NCLEX the DON let me fly on my own- nervous but prepared and ready to do so. As far as your DH and kids , they will be fine!! The house may be a little untidy and the kids may be full of sugar but they will survive!!! Just let them know they're loved and appreciated!! You'll do GREAT b/c of them!!:wink2:

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I to also want to congratulate you and really hope you will enjoy your job. I have worked off and on in LTC since the beginning of my career. I even works as an assistant activity director before nursing playing bingo after school while in high school years ago. I graduated at 19 had no children and was not married at that time and I remember thinking wow they trust me to take care of these people I really need to take this seriously. And I did and I have tried a lot of different specialities in nursing but guess what I am back in LTC lol. Doing MDS's and feel like I am becoming more and more anal everyday for the almighty dollar. Alzheimer's Units can be so great if you guys have a good system down. It can be very sad at times too for the residents and the families and you know all that being a nurse aide before and that will make you an even better nurse. I also teach nurse aides in our facility through our state program. Which I dearly love and on top of that have started back to work on my RN I have a few more modules to complete. I will get there.

Balancing the children thing, well I have 2 boys 5 and 2 and the youngest has downs syndrome. I love them to pieces and I try to set time aside for each one. The older one bless his heart had to deal with me at work all the time when he was a little thing I was ADON and practically lived at the nursing home but this year I have learned to take time for myself and my family with going back to school and planning family things. And I am 40 years old doing all this lol. Been a nurse 20 years and just now going back to school. I wish you the best of luck in your new job and hug those babies every chance you get !!

OH and dont forget it is ok if you say no sometimes to extra shifts so you can see your kids. ( I learned that too late lol)

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Specializes in LTC, rehab, medical review.
I to also want to congratulate you and really hope you will enjoy your job. I have worked off and on in LTC since the beginning of my career. I even works as an assistant activity director before nursing playing bingo after school while in high school years ago. I graduated at 19 had no children and was not married at that time and I remember thinking wow they trust me to take care of these people I really need to take this seriously. And I did and I have tried a lot of different specialities in nursing but guess what I am back in LTC lol. Doing MDS's and feel like I am becoming more and more anal everyday for the almighty dollar. Alzheimer's Units can be so great if you guys have a good system down. It can be very sad at times too for the residents and the families and you know all that being a nurse aide before and that will make you an even better nurse. I also teach nurse aides in our facility through our state program. Which I dearly love and on top of that have started back to work on my RN I have a few more modules to complete. I will get there.

Balancing the children thing, well I have 2 boys 5 and 2 and the youngest has downs syndrome. I love them to pieces and I try to set time aside for each one. The older one bless his heart had to deal with me at work all the time when he was a little thing I was ADON and practically lived at the nursing home but this year I have learned to take time for myself and my family with going back to school and planning family things. And I am 40 years old doing all this lol. Been a nurse 20 years and just now going back to school. I wish you the best of luck in your new job and hug those babies every chance you get !!

OH and dont forget it is ok if you say no sometimes to extra shifts so you can see your kids. ( I learned that too late lol)

Thanks so much for your story. I will definitly make sure to say no sometimes. My kids are little and I dont want to miss out. It sound like you have your hands full! i give you a lot of credit for balancing it all. I am going to have to learn. It was hard in nursing school for me...I was pregnant with my baby and had my three older ones to care for along with school, but I managed a 3.5 GPA, so it is possible. Thanks again!

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Specializes in LTC, rehab, medical review.
Congrats on your new career!! I, too, started on an Alzheimer's unit in LTC 4 days after graduating LPN school!!! I worked 3-11 so it was a bit quieter than 7-3. I was able to work as a nurse tech until I took and passed my boards-about 1 month. Learn all you can from the nurses on your hall and others. Don't be afraid to ask questions and jump in and participate!! The night I found out I passed the NCLEX the DON let me fly on my own- nervous but prepared and ready to do so. As far as your DH and kids , they will be fine!! The house may be a little untidy and the kids may be full of sugar but they will survive!!! Just let them know they're loved and appreciated!! You'll do GREAT b/c of them!!:wink2:

thanks so much for your advice!

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm a new LPN and I work at a facility only for those with alzheimers. I love, love my residents. Each day its something new and I just really adore them. I must say you must have lots of patience working with this group of people. They wander, forget, some have behavioral issues, and etc. You must literally live in their world, trying to reorient them will only cause fustration to you and the resident. I can go on and on but you will really love this population... I know I do.

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Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.
I'm a new LPN and I work at a facility only for those with alzheimers. I love, love my residents. Each day its something new and I just really adore them. I must say you must have lots of patience working with this group of people. They wander, forget, some have behavioral issues, and etc. You must literally live in their world, trying to reorient them will only cause fustration to you and the resident. I can go on and on but you will really love this population... I know I do.

:yeahthat:ITA with above poster-I did love, love, love my residents and knew that I was called to work at that facility at that time. My heart went out to them esp the ones whose families did not visit-I went that extra mile for them.:redpinkhe

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Specializes in certified med tech and Lpn.

You do learn how to balance. It's hard but not impossible. I work for a community for just Alzheimer's and I love it. Sometimes the residents understand things more than the management. I work 3-11 shift so I have to find the balance between work and home life and you do learn how to say no. I wish luck and be creative when redirecting.

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