No Orientation for a Shift?

Hi, all!

So I just got called into work for a shift tomorrow that I've never had orientation for in a long term care facility and have accepted the shift. I'm a brand new nurse and I am also new to this facility. This shift is an 8 am to 12 pm shift. I will be working with another LPN who starts her shift at 7. Anyone have any advice they would like to share?? Thanks in advance!

Edited Apr 18, 2017 by Newgurl17

Wait, you're a new grad going into your first-ever shift as a nurse with 0 orientation, and are going to be working independently?

Yikes.

Have never worked LTC so no real advice (other than maybe look for a job that will at least give you a little orientation before letting you work independently) but I hope the shift goes reasonably well and you're not too overwhelmed. Good luck.

[Newgurl17, CNA, LPN]

Thanks! I've actually had orientation from this facility but not for this particular shift :/

Oh, whew! At least there's been some orientation rather than none. My first job didn't orient me to night shift so the first few times I floated or was called in, I had toooooooons of questions. I hope your shift went well. You could always ask for an orientation shift or a few, though they may not give it. Some places are pretty much trial by fire!

That's about right for all the LTCs I've ever worked. I did 7-3 shifts, and there was always a gap for 3-11. They would pull me and have me work 3-11 even though I had never been oriented to that shift.

I muddled along with the help of the other LPN. Work is the same, just in a different order :)

[Newgurl17, CNA, LPN]

Oh, whew! At least there's been some orientation rather than none. My first job didn't orient me to night shift so the first few times I floated or was called in, I had toooooooons of questions. I hope your shift went well. You could always ask for an orientation shift or a few, though they may not give it. Some places are pretty much trial by fire!

So today wasnt an actual shift, according to the clinical lead... I just got called in today to cover for an RN who would not be here. I dont think I'll get orientation for a shift like this, which sucks. This was the toughest shift i have had by far, so it didn't go well unfortunately. It was really overwhelming! Today the nurse I was working with happened to be orienting another nurse. I had to give my first ever IM injection, and the medication I had to draw up was thick. I hadnt practiced these injections since last year and had never practiced with medications that were as thick as the one I had to give today.

So today wasnt an actual shift, according to the clinical lead... I just got called in today to cover for an RN who would not be here. I dont think I'll get orientation for a shift like this, which sucks. This was the toughest shift i have had by far, so it didn't go well unfortunately. It was really overwhelming! Today the nurse I was working with happened to be orienting another nurse. I had to give my first ever IM injection, and the medication I had to draw up was thick. I hadnt practiced these injections since last year and had never practiced with medications that were as thick as the one I had to give today.

Aww I'm sorry. It can be rough when you're doing something new! It may not be an actual 8 or 12 hour shift but you were still there, on your own, covering for someone else. At least now you've had that experience, and at least it was only a few hours! Now do something fun or relaxing and don't beat yourself up over it. You survived! :)

[Newgurl17, CNA, LPN]

Yeah :) thank goodness i work with supportive nurses! I forgot to mention that i ended up staying until 3 pm today because the other nurse had to go to a meeting today

after being out of LTC for 3 years , I decided to go back part time. During orientation, the LPN seemed I was a bothered , in the way, oh God another one for me to train, . She was rude towards me but in front of others fake nice. I will NOT be returning. Sadly Karma will come back to her. shame I will NOT be there to see it.

[littlelimabean01, LPN]

I currently work in LTC and very unfortunately zero orientation to say a different "cart" is extremely common. Its pitiful and in my mind dangerous because you don't know base-line information like what someone's normal BP is or behaviors...My current job, the owner just decided to check out and lease the facility to a global management company. I am stuck on over-nights and after I work my assigned hall I have to go split a 4th cart with 2 other nurses! We all know and trust each other it's just like you are describing, being thrown into an environment with no knowledge/orientation to the people you are caring for. So sad how our elderly are treated. I really love the elderly.

You were asked to come in and cover a four hour time period. There will never bee an orientation for that.

When I worked hours like that it was more a "keep the place running and help out where needed" experience

[Newgurl17, CNA, LPN]

Although i never got orientation for this shift i did get orientation for a 4pm to 8pm on this unit, which WAS an actual shift. Apparently there used to be 2 LPNs working 8 hour shifts in the day and evening I think and i believe things are trying to get changed back to that. This unit is split up into 2 sides and is also a locked unit.