Reese17

I am working in an LTC Facility, but I know nothing about MDS.

Hello, I'm an LPN and I would like to become an MDS Coordinator for an LTC facility. Where do I start? I went on the AANAC website and I dont know if I should go to a seminar or just take an online course. Anyone have any suggestions as to where I should start? What should the first course be that I take? Thanks in advance.

Congrats on getting a job in this crazy economy!!! I am also a new LPN working in a LTC facility....I've been on the floor for almost 3 months with only 3 days orientation (crazy I know!!). In the beginning I would keep a clipboard with my schedule of to-dos attached and notes. Also, watch how the others nurses go about their day. Dont be afraid to ask questions, very important...Along with my report sheet, I keep an extra blank sheet on my cart for reminders, if a cna comes and reports that a pt needs something but im in with another pt I have them write it on the sheet. Every day I find new ways of going about my day and everyday it gets a little easier. Stay focused, positive and patient. Good Luck to you...keep us informed on how you are doing!

I am in the same boat as you, I'm a new nurse and have been working for a month...I go home and constantly review my day in my head, I feel guilty about having to pass on my work to the oncoming nurse, at times. I think we need to learn to just let it go at the door. Do you have hobbies that you enjoy doing? With time and experience I'm sure we will learn to let go off all the frustrations at work. Good luck to u.

Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you for everyones advice...like one post said, at the end of my shift I do feel better and I often think "wow, I cant believe I got through it!" I think I will try to establish a routine of calmness before my shift starts, the IPOD idea might work.

I need some advice, I am a new nurse and have been working at an LTC facility for a month now. Some days I find it very difficult to go into work, my nerves get the better of me. I feel nauseous, my head is spinning and I find it hard to breath..its not that anything bad has happened its just the anticipation of working a new job, not knowing what to expect when I get in to work..How do I get past this feeling? Im getting ready for work now and am seriously considering quitting because this feeling is so overwhelming..thanks in advance.

I also feel the same way...Ive been working LTC for 3 weeks and I swear it feels like Ive been there for months..LTC is very overwhelming! Like the previous post wrote, maybe its not for you. But I would say this, give it a little while longer to make sure its not just new nurse nerves and if you still feel this same then look for another specialty. Good luck!

First of all congratulations on graduating and getting a job! Im also a new nurse working LTC...what I do is I keep a small notepad in my pocket to jot down notes, also I have a census sheet w me on my cart so when a doc, DON, or CNA tells me something about my residents I write it down next to their room number on my census sheet along with the time they gave me this info just in case I need to chart. I also keep a clipboard at the nurses desk w a timeframe of what needs to be done....its challenging in the beginning but eventually you will find what works for you and learn to prioritize, just remember your ABC's, pain, cardiac, diabetics come first everything else can wait...Good Luck!

Im in the same boat, Im going on my 3rd week and work the 2nd shift at an LTC facility. I only received 3 days training as a new grad. Its only been 3 weeks but it feels like I have been there for 3 months!!!! The stress is unreal !!! There are some nights where I stay over 2-3 hours. Some nights I dont take a break at all! Everyone I work with are really nice and supportive, some more than others. What makes it even worse is I dont have a regular set, they float me from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor different units so I'm not able to become familiar enough with the residents. There are sooo many frustrating things about working in an LTC facility, but like the other posts have mentioned we must hang in there. It will get better!:) I have some days where I feel like I did an ok job...also what I have found that helps me is I have a clipboard that I keep at the nurses station and on it I have a schedule written out, for example (2-3:15 get report, count narcs, load cart, get labs and pull charts, do rounds 3:15-5 do bgms and pass meds, etc)...this schedule has allowed me to stay on track and do more than just pass meds, such as call doctors and fax to pharmacy. In the beginning all I had time to do was pass meds, when I would finish my 4pm's it was time to do the 8's but with my schedule it keeps me focused. Maybe you could give something like this a try...I think we have to find something that is going to work for us or we will drive ourselves into an early grave. Good Luck and keep us posted!

Thanks everyone for their advice! Glad to know I'm not alone in all this pain.

I just started a thread about my 1st week on the job....reality shock for me was how painful nursing is...at the end of my shift my feet hurt like crazy...clinicals and the real world are totally different. There is this intense pressure when you get on the floor....trying to do everything within an alotted timeframe leads to so much stress as a new grad...residents who are so accustomed to having their meds given at a certain time even if its not at the right time and they become so upset with you....you are lucky if you get a break....the paperwork! I come from a corporate setting and paperwork was organized and labelled, at my facility there are no manuals that inform you what paperwork goes with what! i'm sure things will get easier once i become more comfortable and familiar with things....good luck.

Well, I just finished my 1st week at my very 1st nursing job in an LTC facility....nursing skool had me fooled! No one told me my feet would HURT soooo bad!!!! I'm fine when I'm on the floor but the minute I get home and lay down, I'm in agony....no one told me how angry residents will get if u dont give them their medicine when they want it just because the other nurse does this and pre-pours their meds & give them meds early or late....What are some things that surprised you about your first time?

I graduated in July, took NCLEX in October and passed..in December I got 3 job offers! I accepted one and worked there for 2 weeks, had a emergency family situation and had to quit, now I'm looking for another job and not having any luck...I think I got lucky the first time around. I know of several classmates that did have luck finding jobs right away...Good Luck!

I am having a hard time finding a job...I got my license in October. I was just wondering for the nurses that got hired within 3 months of getting their license, how did u get your job? Did you fill out an application online, did you go in and ask to speak with the DON, did a nursing recruiter contact you? I've tried those tactics and others. I keep wondering what am I doing wrong?

SSC in South Holland is a good program. They do have an entrance exam. As far as understanding teachers, for the most part the teachers in the nursing program are great. The class size is not that big and in the end you begin to feel like family. Good Luck to your mom!

Latinadream, I graduated from SSC in July from their LPN program, I was in the RN program but failed a class and was given the choice to go into the LPN program or take a extra classes to raise my GPA then apply for RN program. SSC overall is a good school. I started out working in an office downtown making more than an LPN starting salary but it was always my dream to be a nurse and being a nurse offers more job security than the position I was in. Both programs are very rigorous, I worked full time in the beginning but towards the end I was working maybe 2 days a week. If your current position will allow u to work at night then u might be able to work full time and go to school but it will be hard. Nursing school is going to be the hardest thing you will ever do in life! Its not just the classes, but u will have clinicals that u have to show up for @ 6:30 am 2x's a week (NO EXCUSES). I say go for it because if u dont try how will u know what you can accomplish. If u have any questions send me a PM. Good Luck!

I'm in the same boat..i graduated in July, got my license in October and was offered a job in December but it was so overwhelming and it was nights where I would have 50 residents (OMG!) so I quit, I took some time off for the holidays and now I am searching again but no one is calling me back. I am starting to feel so bad for quitting that job. I feel like such a loser! My dh works @ a nursing home and says he can get me in at his facility but honestly I really dont want to work there but I am starting to get desperate...its nice to know I 'm not in this rocky boat alone. I hope this dry spell ends soon. Good luck to everyone...

spongebob...my biggest worry is I will be trained for 2 weeks then expected to be on my own after that. I have no experience at all and although I will be trained but then who knows how long after that I will work again. I might consider it if there were more support on the floor but being alone frightens me. I think I'm going to turn it down.

VM85, thanks for the advice! last night I weighed my pros vs cons and chose to accept the position. I have orientation 12/2..i'm so nervous and excited at the same time .

I am a new grad and I have been offered a part time position in a LTC facility but its only every other weekend, at least for now with a chance that I may get more hours at the end of orientation (but its not guaranteed)...my dilemma is.... although it will be great experience, the money is not what I was hoping for and I wonder if it will be too much, I would have about 19-20 residents. Is that too much for a new grad? Also what if something full time comes up in another facility during my training, what should I do? I need to let them know by tomorrow. I forgot to mention that this is a large, reputable company and a place I always wanted to work at. Any advice will be appreciated.

I need some advice...I am a recent LPN graduate and recently found out about a PRN position at an LTC facility. My concern is how are you trained when you work PRN? Do I get training when I accept the shift or do I come in for training but not get paid for it? What are the pros and cons of working PRN? I need some advice...

First..what city r u in where there are so many available jobs for new grads? Second...why did u go thru school if u dont want to work as an LPN? Relax and take a few deep breaths...u have to start somewhere. I think once u get on the floor and start working u will be fine. Everyone is nervous at first. Good Luck...

Our school required we take the HESI and pass w/ an 800 or else we couldnt take the NCLEX. For me, the HESI was more difficult..I had to take it twice. But the NCLEX-PN I only had to take once and passed. Soooo does the HESI really determine how well u will do on the NCLEX? hmmmm..food for thought. Also at my school they didnt prepare us to take the HESI, they just told us the time and date to be there whereas the NCLEX there are a ton of practice books and exams online. My advice for taking the NCLEX is u know what u know, I would definitely do as many practice questions as possible, I used KAPLAN 2010 and did a ton of questions online, also study your notes from class. Good Luck!

Congratulations!!!!

Thanks, NurseThis21! I'm in the process of writing my resume...its been over 10 years since I've been on a job interview and so I let my friend take a look at my old resume and she laughed saying it looked like it was in time warp! lol....