Nursing Home Nightmare

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new LPN started first nursing home job. I have only recieved 8 days of training and was left in 40 bed facility for whole shift with 1 TMA myself and 3 aides is this normal. oh my god should I get out of this isn't that a huge liability on myself if something goes wrong I barely remember where the bathroom is much less what ethel so and so's issues are and what to do in a emergencey. please help:angryfire

40 is pretty normal...the facility I work in now is small, but I've worked in places that are a lot bigger with pretty similar ratios. The place I worked at straight out of school had 100 residents, 1 RN, 1 LPN, and 4 CNAs on the evening shift. Another facility in town has 70 residents, 2 LPNs, and 3 CNAs on the evening shift. It is not unusual in most LTCs...

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40 residents to 1 lpn is normal? With 8 days training. At the hospital new lpn's have mandatory 6 weeks training before on their own

Yep...it is very typical...most nursing programs don't do a good job of preparing you for the real world...especially long term care...

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should I mention it is union and i am only paid 14.42

should I get my own even though there is a union?

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should I mention it is union and i am only paid 14.42

should I get my own liability insurance even though there is a union?

Very, very typical...

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well I guess I will have to see how tonight goes I know I will be the only LPN on again with just the one medication aide, it just doesn't seem safe to me knowing most of my skills have been done on manicans and not real people. Thanks for the replies I can tell I will be using this site often thank you

Aerin

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.

Sounds typical. I am in a 80 bed facility with days 1RN, 2LPN's 1 CMA and 4 CNA's. On nights it is 1RN, 1LPN, and 4CNA's. And yes it is always wise to carry your own insurance. When it comes down to it, the through the facility is there to cover the facilities butt not necesarily yours. You have to look out for number one!

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this is not much different from a lot of other facilities but a new graduate needs more time to adjust to the situation

get the tma and a cna to go with youto help with the identification , take a lot of notes so that when you go to chart you won't be trying to remember which resident you are thinking about..talk one on one with the resdients to fix them in your mind

these are real world situatuions and if you can pull this off you will have confidence in yourself that can't be bought

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Specializes in PCU.

I must of had it good! For 60 residents on the first floor we have for both 7-3 and 3-11--- 1 RN, 2 LPN, 2 Medicine aides, and 5-6 GNAs

Second floor and about anoher 60 residents--- 4 LPNs 1-2 medicine aides and 6-7 GNAs!

Something is fishy....

Maryland has Staff to Resident laws

But 40 to yourself? My coworkers would laugh!

Call them 301-***-**** Ask for the charge nurse!

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thank you Dale, it is true each thing I do for real makes me think hey I can give a real person a injection and it is not much different from the skin bag in school. I know it will take time to adjust I need to have confidence in my ability to figure it out, my instructors always told me that your only as good as your closest resource . you should see the med cart when I am working I swear I have every book I own at work with me. I just keep thinking of "what if this happens, What if that happens" it 's scary out there in the world of nursing , you never realize it till your out there on your own. Maybe this will build character. thank you guys

Aerin

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I must of had it good! For 60 residents on the first floor we have for both 7-3 and 3-11--- 1 RN, 2 LPN, 2 Medicine aides, and 5-6 GNAs

Second floor and about anoher 60 residents--- 4 LPNs 1-2 medicine aides and 6-7 GNAs!

Something is fishy....

Maryland has Staff to Resident laws

But 40 to yourself? My coworkers would laugh!

Call them 301-***-**** Ask for the charge nurse!

Wow...Wow. I'm moving to Maryland!

I thought I had it good. 48 pts, 1RN, 1LPN and 4 cnas for 3-11!

I also have a prn job. 50 pts 2 nurses per unit (1 RN super for the 200 bed facility) and 3-4 cnas.

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so I guess I just need to toughen up and face the fire, get through what I can and manage the best I can with what is unfamiliar, I think I will be applying at the hospital in the mean time. I think the 6 weeks of training would be an experience of real life nursing where you can actually ask questions and learn.

where is the best place to get

aerin

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Specializes in PCU.

I just want to add a resource so you can better assess your situation. This is the Federal government link to data of all nursing homes in the U.S.. It's nice because you can compare your nursing home to others in your area. Learn to navigate it and when you get to "staffing" and RN and LPN "contact hours" look at how your facility fares...

http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchCriteria.asp?version=default&browser=Firefox%7C1%2E5%7CWinXP&language=English&defaultstatus=0&pagelist=Home&CookiesEnabledStatus=True

That's it.... done beating a dead horse... :deadhorse

BTW Typical new grad pay in Maryland for LPN base pay ranges $19 to $25.55 (Citizens Nursing Home, City run) to start. Granted its apples and oranges due to cost of living and location....

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