Well, this is my issue. I just started as a LPN in a LTC facility on May 8. I had 7 days total orientation on 5 different teams. Not enough time to remember who the residents are, especially if most of them don't have their identity bracelets on and their pictures in the MAR are either not there or to old to recognize.
I started this past Saturday on my own caring for an average of 22 patients. I am suppose to pass meds, chart, call doctors, write orders, do my own admissions/discharges(when they arise) and do my own treatments.
I kind of feel that this place is not organized, supplies for the treatments and other things are usually not in their rightful place/not stocked.
The days that I was on my own I came home, elevated MY feet and went to sleep:zzzzz .
I feel so rushed when I go to work. I am so focused on getting my meds passed that I start around 7:30AM and have been getting finished with that first round around 10:00-10:30. Then it's time for me to get ready for the second round. I'm on my feet from the time I get there to the time I leave just about, except for my 30 minute break.
I think you feel in LTC that you have to hold everything up and it is easy to forget that there are other RNs and LPNs who are also there on the next shift/s to carry things through. Don't forget that you are part of a whole team. Good luck - it sounds like you are doing just fine!
I have done that, but I don't like to. That's just my personal preference.
DG5,
You are exactly right, but it seems in my facility that alot of things end up getting passed along so much. I've heard that it's been times where two weeks had passed and something had not been done.
Also, just from what I observe, it seems some of the nurses feel that whatever you initiate, you finish. I really just wish there was more comradery in the nursing profession.
I still have a incident report to put in the computer from 5/28, no one has had time to show me how to do it and the day I was going to ask someone about it, I totally forgot about it, it was my second day working on my own and I was so concentrated on getting meds passed and charting done.
Gosh! For a short moment I was hiding under my computer table! I thought you were working for me....
Hang in there, I too am new to LTC and I am a Senior of 30 yeays of Hospital Nursing and specialized in OB and TRAUMA ER. Just a different kind of trauma here in LTC!
I brought life into the world and now i get to see life leave this world!
We have to remember nurses are special and we have to all stick together!
You know the rule See one, Teach one, and DO ONE! Well in LTC i think it means Left to Cry! Cause when you see 20 t0 30 residents to pass meds tooo and someone gives you a 5 minute breifing and then you never see them the rest of the day what else could you possible do but CRY!
Specializes in LTC and Critical/Acute Care/Homehealth.
After reading your letter and the replys, I too say, Welcome to LTC. I recently left my job at a nursing home d/t the management stocking the beds with whoever because of the money. I mean, when the residents follow you around because they are terrified of the new resident, who belongs on a psych lock down ward, you have a problem. When I first started there, I was so excited because it was a small town nursing home. So sad that greed got in the way and common sense flew out the window. Also I had to furnish my own stuff, just to do my job. I was really afraid that state was going to walk in and close down the facility, and my licence was at stake. As for the CNA's. once they realised that I was not afraid to pitch in and help, things got better.
Anyway, stick in there. I am now looking for a new place to work. And yes, I am going back to LTC
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
Yep, LTC!
As far as the name tags when I started out, well...that is when I would use the other staff to identify the resident. Yes it took forever, but I need to give the right med to the right resident! I got to know them all pretty quick, but it does take time and frazzled nerves! LOL!
You will get your routine down, it also will take time. Each person is different...but I did like talking to others and finding out what little tricks they did to ease things along! I also always carry my clipboard and have little notes on it for finding things or important info...and in addition my schedule so I can look down and know...oh wow I need to step it up...med pass in 15minutes! That helped my organization!
Also being in good standings with your charge nurse can help. I have spent a few times after my shift with the charge nurse asking for help or ways to do things better, and asking others for assistance. Knowing your limitations is as important as knowing what you are doing!
Good luck, hope you enjoy LTC once you are in the swing of it. I enjoyed my time doing it, but alas...they cut hours and I lost...so I went agency and I am back at hospital which I never thought I would love..and I LOVE IT!
Thank you all so much for your replies, they have really helped me. I see myself catching on little by little and I feel good about. What I don't feel so good about is the facility that I work at, I feel like I'm am working on the edge of my license working there:uhoh3: and I drive kind of far to work. I feel like if I have to deal with what I deal with I may as well do it at a facility closer to home, so I applied at another facility.
I know that there isn't a facility that does everything 100%, but I'm just disappointed with the state of nursing home healthcare.
LTC (unfortunately) can be a harsh place. It is especially so when everybody is struggling to get their work done and done right and wondering if it's going to be finished on time. I know we are supposed to help one another. Sometimes that works out and sometimes it doesn't. You have people who constantly demand help and want to give nothing in return. My workload used to be a challenge and a half but lately it's been more civilized...The way it should be. I don't know how long it will stay like that but I appreciate it right now...
Gosh! For a short moment I was hiding under my computer table! I thought you were working for me....
Hang in there, I too am new to LTC and I am a Senior of 30 yeays of Hospital Nursing and specialized in OB and TRAUMA ER. Just a different kind of trauma here in LTC!
I brought life into the world and now i get to see life leave this world!
We have to remember nurses are special and we have to all stick together!
You know the rule See one, Teach one, and DO ONE! Well in LTC i think it means Left to Cry! Cause when you see 20 t0 30 residents to pass meds tooo and someone gives you a 5 minute breifing and then you never see them the rest of the day what else could you possible do but CRY!
Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.
All through nursing school, I thought I would never work in a LTC. Well, I did not enjoy the hospital environment, and tried this. I have 30 patients tops. So far I have learned so much! Sure I have made mistakes, but you know a nurse there said, "98% of the time you learn from your mistakes." Plus, you will get to know the patients and you will end up going faster. Good luck... :balloons:
Sweetie yo ask and you ask until you have it...that's the only way to learn..if someone doesn't want to help you then stay away from them b/c their info isn't what you want...go to the DON or ADON b/c their word is gold and they know if you are asking then they feel more secure with you as a team member...the paper work is a nightmare,but itgets better once you have the steps down pat...find your niche in how you can do the job fast and accurate for yourself...what works for one doesn't always work for another...go to the in serice meetings and bring up as much as you can until you get an answer that makes you comfortable...you never quit asking... maybe when you retire
sounds like you and I work at the same exact place!! What I do, is when I work days, I wait until they take most of my pts to the dining room, then I park the cart outside, and one by one they get their meds, I am able to get about 15 of them done that way. The other 18 I go room to room, or as they stroll by me, I grab them and give them their meds then. It took me a while to get my groove, but you will. As you become more familiar with your pts you will be able to tell who is who even if their back is to you!! Hang in there, it will get easier.
Hang in there, no matter how many days you were oriented at your facility everyone learns and does things different, you have to find what works out best for you and that is the way you do things, I worked as a Med Tech at my long term care facility for 3 years and did alot of the things that nurses do as far as Dr. orders, admissions, meds, ect......... After my training it just took me doing it a few times to learn my way of doing things and it was smooth sailing from there.
So just don't give up, you will find your groove soon, it just takes time,
mcdonaldgirl
53 Posts
why not ask the cna's to help identify the residents? i have worked agency in many ltc facilities, and found that this works quite well.
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