Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!
It sounds like you made a smart decision to pass on that job, especially given the complexity of caring for 30 vent and trach patients without the support of RNs on the floor. Managing a ventilator-dependent population with such a heavy load is incredibly demanding, even with training. It's understandable to feel overwhelmed by the prospect, particularly when you haven't worked as an LPN for some years.
Ventilator and trach care require specialized skills and constant monitoring to ensure patient safety, which can be physically and emotionally exhausting in a setting with limited support. It's good that you considered the challenges and your comfort level before jumping in.
If you're still interested in working in long-term care or respiratory settings, maybe you could look for positions where there's more balanced staffing with RNs and more manageable patient loads, or perhaps a position that offers a gradual re-entry with more focused training and support. It's important to ease back in and feel confident in your skills before taking on such a high-risk role.
Best wishes,
Nurse Beth
Updated: Published
I'm a lpn haven't worked in several years I was offered a floor nurse job on a vent floor in a long term facility I asked if RN is there also no it was all lpns with 30 patient load all vents and trachs with of course training this seems overwhelming I didn't take the job
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