New LVN...am i too slow???

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Hi! I am a brand new LVN w/ no medical experience at all and just started working in LTC for the last 2 days w/ 30 pts. and I am so overwhelmed w/ how i handle my job since i could not give the meds on time to the point of not being able to give it at all for some pt's since a lot of things happened during my shift (md's calling, family asking too much questions, etc...) and not to mention i also do treatments for my pt's... is this a normal thing for a new grad or is it just me being the worst on the floor??? do you guys have any tips or technique that can speed up my work?i wish i can give the meds on time but i know that is something impossible since i only not do med pass but also do treatment and every now and then somebody pulls me to check on a pt... pls. help!!!

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How many patients?

You have an hour on either side. Start an hour early.

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I would start the med pass early and come up with a way to organize things to cut down on time. Write out a list of your duties and come up with ways to streamline all of them. Write down a cheat sheet of steps to take for tasks. For example, you get a new order, what are the steps to follow, where do you need to chart or annotate the new order? If you have a list of steps, you can cut down on asking another or sitting there trying to remember everything. One thing to help with your med pass is to clean up and organize the med cart if it is currently a mess. Put the meds in some kind of order. If you are doing days, or PMs, mark the cards with a "days" or "PMs" color. Taking extra time to do this, as well as other little organizing tasks will go a long way to cut a minute here and a minute there. After about a year, those minutes will have added up to you getting most of your work done on time.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

What shift do you work? Definetly start your med pass 1-1 1/2 hours early. Also ask to be on a permenant hall. You are gonna be slow in the beginning so expect that until you learn the meds and times. I worked 3-11pm and I started my med pass at 3:30pm. During that time I passed out all the 3pm-5pm meds. The people who got 6pm meds, I did them last. When I got my own hall, I passed my meds based on patient needs. If I was on the cart and saw my patient wheel by, I would stop them and give them their meds in the hall. In the afternoon at least 5-6 of my patients sat in the hallway so I would give them their meds at that time. My CNA's were the best. I had aleast 4 rowdy residents that wanted to go home at 4pm so twhen they became agitated, the CNA would bring them to my cart so I could medicate them. Even after all that, I still was on the cart for 2 hr in the afternoon and 2 hours at night passing meds to 30 patients. You will find a rountine that will work for you but remember in LTC, each day is different in regards to behavior. Good Luck and you will get there.

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Hey, I'm a new LPN as well, working in longterm/rehab care. I just started about two weeks ago, had four days orientation before they threw me on my own. I think I just have about 18 patients though, but girl...trust me... the first two days I don't think I got to ANY treatments... the meds took me forever because I had to really check them 'cause I was new and just getting to know the patients. You slowly start to remember what you're pulling though so you can just kinda glance at the MAR, check for new orders, you remember how each patient takes their meds... once you get to know the patients and if you get a good report, that's HALF the work in my opinion. Now I get everything done usually on time!

You'll get there! Ask whatever questions you need to ask of your coworkers, even if you may be bugging them a little. They were in your position once, and you're doing NO wrong asking for help or advice, it's in yours and your patients' best interests! Just remember that this is what you want and you'll go to whatever reaches you need to do finally get pro at your job ^^. That's where I'm at right now... whatever it takes, I wanna be the best nurse I can!

Good luck! If you ever wanna chat, I don't mind at all!

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thank you all for the advice and i know as a brand new nurse i am expected to be slow but i just feel that i am the slowest of them all:( anyway, i will try to find a way to organize things and get to know my pt's though i get to work on diff. wings every now and then but i am just looking forward to be able to get better with my craft...i just felt so bad that i wasnt able to pass meds to some of my pt's yesterday and i hope that on my next duty i can get to adapt a new strategy in order to be a good nurse! there are times that i felt i am just about to give up but by the time i get home and get rested i still have that urge in me to be better the next day:)

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Do you have a in house supervisor? Its not good that some patients didn't get their meds. I am surprised that you were able to get away with that. Next time pass ALL your meds no matter what time it is. Alot of the patients are usually on heart meds, antipsychotics and sleep meds. I am suprised that they have not said anything. When I was working in LTC my patients focused on three things. Their Bowels, Medications and Bingo. Again, your DON will call you in the office real quick if she finds out that you did not give the patients their meds. Ask for help if your struggling.

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Specializes in LTC.

I sincerely doubt you are the slowest nurse, you're just new. Focus on building a routine and keep in mind that being faster will take time and practice. Set a goal for yourself each day to shave a few minutes off each med pass and before long you'll discover that you're much faster (and more accurate and safe!) than you were just a few weeks before. You can do this! Good luck!!

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