HeatherLPN

I graduated from there in 2005. I think it's a good program. The main instructor when I was there was a little, um, too intense on the things she specialized in, but I guess you have to kind of expect that. She was really tough on us, but in the long run, that's to your benefit. mpauley, have you looked for jobs in Fostoria or Findlay? From my experience, Tiffin didn't have alot to offer in way of LPN jobs, and it seems hard to get into the hospital there.

I became a nurse b/c after working with MR/DD I decided I wanted to go further with it. That, and I like people--like comforting them, like taking care of them. I'm one of those nurses that isn't afraid to hold someone's hand, doesn't flinch when a family member hugs me after a death, and likes to take a few minutes to joke around with my residents and do the little extras for them when I can. I just like to make people feel good I guess. But what i get back out of it is tenfold.

I got a write up when I worked at the group home. Totally bogus accusation--I worked the floor there for 5 years and knew client rights, ect. Basically a new staff, who is a major suck up and will step on anyone to make herself look good to the bosses, went to management with a claim about something that happened, and blew it way out of proportion. Had a client not wanting to take some meds that were very important for her at the time. After asking her twice, I made the comment that to floor staff that she really ought to take the meds, she needed them. It was reported I said she HAS to take them and had staff hold her arms back so I could try to shove them in her mouth. Um, yeah. Management knew better, so it wasn't filed as an abuse thing (there was no abuse anyways), they were just supposed to do some education on the behavior programs. Funny, b/c I had asked if she had one for meds that night and was told no. And the best part of it? That floor staff got the monthly award--for HONESTY. Go figure. I did write out a big long statement to be filed with it, about what really happened, and made copies for myself too.

It wasn't hard at all. My first day off of orientation, I was alone and the somewhat hateful nurses from dayshift when in for the kill and ganged up on me over things that weren't my responsibility (I didn't do some of their AM things like the other night nurse was doing--I barely had time to do my own stuff!). I left in tears, cried all the way home and made up my mind I wasn't going back. I'm not one to not give notice, not my style, but if I had to work another day in that place....... They can't keep nurses there, and the dayshift nurses are alot of the reason why. I found another job within 2 weeks, love it there. It's so different--the other nurses are supportive, friendly, and management will work with you on things. And now I'm not driving 1/2 hour to work and am making $3 more/hour. So it worked out for the best. Good luck to you!

I see your point there. Luckily, at my facility I have wonderful aides, so they understand that I have my own stuff to do and just appreciate any help they get. I guess alot of that depends on your aides?

What irritates me is the ones that are "too good" for "aide" work. If you are inserting a suppository and their brief is wet, change them, don't make them wait while you get an aide to do it. STNA's work hard and you can help them out by changing ONE brief, so get over yourself. It aggravates me when nurses come in and treat the aides like they are second-class. Yes, you may have more education and responsibility, but those aides deserve as much respect as you do. They have their job, you have yours, but you need each other to be able to take the best care of your residents, the very people who are the reason you have a job in the first place.

Staffing ratios--do they staff at or above state standards, what area are they hiring for (Alzheimer's, rehab, ect) or will you be trained/moved form hall to hall, find out exactly what the med tech is responsible for. You can also go online and find out what their ratings are on pressure ulcers, safety violations, ect are from their state visits. If they are way above state averages, run the other way.

You know we have to verify admission orders with you, not your nurse. If you don't want to take the time, especially since our admission that YOU discharged late from the hospital is after your 11-11:30am window that we are supposed to call you in, then get out of healthcare. Calling me stupid and telling me how unacceptable it is to page you after hours is NOT benefitting your patient that would like a pain med. I'm just doing my job, so help me to help your pt. and do yours.

You need to get to know their quirks--what sets them off, what calms them down, ect. They get confused with time, so if they want coffee at 2 am, it doesn't hurt to get it for them. If someone is restless and your aides have time (we are well staffed), let them have shower in the middle of the night. Don't argue with them, b/c they can become VERY combative. If you have a few minutes, get to know them by having a cup of tea with them if they are up late. Get to know their families so that you can discuss grandkids, pictures, ect with the residents. And if necessary, don't be afraid to use your PRN's.

I work LTC on the locked Alzheimer's/behavior unit. Love it. Get to use alot of skills, also get a lot of Hospice patients b/c we can give more one on one care on my unit. I've worked skilled at another place, with vents, trachs, ect., but 36 residents, 3 vents, 9 feeding tubes with flushes, and 2-2 hour medpasses on an 8 hour shift was just too dangerous to my license for me. I swore I'd never work LTC, but I don't know that I'd ever work anything else.

We go by shifts--nights give prune juice, days tries MOM, then nights give suppositories. We start at the 2 day mark.

My first nursing job, AKA Hell on Earth was like that. I got a talking to on my SECOND day for supposedly some things I had done such as eye rolling when being shown something. That is so not me. I had to work some dayshift hours for training and those nurses were nasty nasty women. My nightshift preceptor had no complaints about me, but when I asked if they had talked with her, they said no. WTH? I lasted a month. Shifts overlapped and the first day I was on my own, those dayshift nurses went in for the kill. I never went back. It took me a few weeks to get another job, but the environment was SO much better. I'm still there. The nurses and other staff have been wonderful, and I've even been employee of the month once, with 4 different months of nominations. I AM a good nurse, I just needed a positive environment with supportive nurses. Keep looking til you find that environment and you will thrive as a nurse. Good luck.

I work LTC, which I like, but my passion is MR/DD. Quit my part time job at the group home d/t med safety concerns and a conflict with my "boss" (and I use the term boss VERY lightly), but hope to get back into MR soon.

I too, had a horrible experience at my first nursing job. Forcing myself to go in, crying all the way home. Hated it. Walked out after a month, got a new job and really like where I'm at now. I still have frustrating days, but I had that in a factory, in fast food, ect, for a lot less money.

I'm in the Findlay area and work LTC.