new overwhelmed LPN

passredskins1 · Mar 17, 2010

I am currently working in a LTC facility and it is always stressful..even when i come in and starrt my work at 3pm....i STILL leave 2 hours late...and i have been working for 4 years...no matter how i organize myself....its just that way buddy.... LTC is stressful

i take care of 20-25 patients...GT...falls...Fingerstick...wounds....calling/taking off orders,, incident reports...wound assessments..and sometimes..if there is no medicine aide...i have to pass meds and supervise aides....thats nursing for you....

management complains about overtime to employees..but the work is too much which is what i tell them///

LesMonsterRN, ADN, RN · Mar 17, 2010

Well, that's LTC, anyway. When I first saw your post I thought you were going to say that you only got a few days of orientation, so that you got 2 weeks was okay. Not great for a brand new nurse, but unfortunately less orientation tends to be a more frequent scenario.

We as nurses tend to wear a lot of hats concurrently and in no where will you see this more obviously than in long term care. The "charge" nurse is chief cook and bottle washer all at one time - meds, wound care, charting, order transcription, etc. And to top it all off, supervision of the CNAs assigned to you. No wonder we're tired at the end of a shift! LTC is truly a challenge to one's organizational skills and sometimes sanity.

Speaking of organizational skills, please don't be discouraged. It will come. No one expects you to be breezing through after only 2 weeks off of orientation. Four or six months from now, sure, but for now, cut yourself some slack.

Don't give up. As I said, it will come. You'll find a routine that works for you and you'll know the residents better, too, which will help.

Hang in there.

garyg · Mar 18, 2010

Thanks for the encouragement, I certainly am not afraid of hard work, but am still a little overwhelmed at everything that is expected. I think my long term goal will be to get my RN and go into home health/hospice nursing. thanks again garyg

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Mar 18, 2010

We are in the same shoes. I am a new LPN too on 3-11 shift. Its busy busy busy. It was dreadful at first. But each day I learn something new, a new way to get things done quicker and I do have to say even though it is a very challenging job, it is getting easier.

I had 10 shifts orientation. I have been flying solo for 6 shifts now and I love it. I learn so much more when I am doing things on my own. There is another nurse on the unit with me who does all the things at the desk and cna assignments and treatments.

Its so hard to believe I only worked 16 shifts. I've learned so much in a month and a half in this tiny LTC facility than I did in 11 months of nursing school lol

As for the overtime. I leave when I leave. I like to get done what I have to get done. If they dont pay me overtime. Whatever. I like to get my job done even it takes me until 1am to do it. (it hasnt) . (yet) (knock on wood)

TonyaM73, ASN, RN · Mar 18, 2010

It will get better. I started my LTC facility as a brand new RN and only got 3 shifts of orientation and then was handed 20-30 patients with no med tech. The nurse has all of the meds, wounds, assessments, Dr. orders, care plans and CNA supervision. It really sucked for a few months just trying to get it all down, but once you get a routine down you will be able to manage a lot better. I found that every shift I worked, there was something new that I learned. Different scenarios, different meds, different treatments, etc...... I have now been there 5 months and have moved up to evening supervisor and feel like I am going through the same thing all over again. It is stressful, but take your time and think of everything as a learning experience and don't expect yourself to be an expert for a while.