lavender rose

If you are getting in to the LVN program being a CNA or 6-month nursing assisstant is usually required in alot of schools. I have no Idea in all the schools. But all together it does help if you already are one, its like getting your foot in the door. YOu are already familiar with the nursing setting and know what CNA's do. So that way when you are the Charge nurse, you know what to expect from them. I hope that helped

thanks michelle that is great information and to discuss on the phone with family

I'd like to know from many of you: When a pt falls and you need to tell the family members, how are ways to tell them when you make that phone call. thanks.

there was a LVN student at 65 and graduated.

Hello, well my day starts at 0630, I take report then I go around with my CNA and we get people up in a w/c or situated in bed to eat like if they haven't been evaled by therapy and we are not sure of there transfer. Then depending on how many people are out there passing out trays I then compare my meds to the Kardex. I am not sure on your floor who passes out the meal trays. I imagine most everyone eats in bed but a boost up in bed always helps before trays come. When I am comparing my meds I can always look back at the chart in the doctors orders or the other mars sheets such as an antibiotic if they are taking it for 7 days and don't specify how many days I will look back on the order and then look back on the other mars and specify on my med sheet what day it is. Then can pass the meds according to the schedualed times. You have a hour window from the time it is schedualed. With me when it comes to seizure or parkinson meds I always give it the schedualed time exactly. When doing my mid morning pass I just carry around the V/S machine and take them so I have then on hand. I have a blank sheet of paper to write who has pain when what number and where so I can chart it when I do pick up a book. I ask everyone if they are having pain so I can give the med before it might get worse. I chart every chance I get I pick up the book. Do all you can while you are in the room with that patient so you won't have to keep coming back and it saves time. Always check your labs in the morning so you know where they are at. Like if they ask why am I taking these Pottassium pills all of a sudden. You have the answer after looking at the lab sheet. Just a few things that might help, some info

Well thats good it works out for you. At least you don't get worn out with that much of a load. Yeah, I found out at my work we use to be 8-9:1 4 years ago. Our rehab people can be alot of work but with other nurses to help out it really helps to have a good team. On admissions most nurses will get most work done if they come late to help the other shift. I prefer rehab to SNF. Their are some patients you just want to keep. But you know got to go. I work 12 hr shifts. I don't mind at all cause I have more days off to rest before the next days come on. So you just got off orientation? How is going for you?

Wow even 8-9 pts is still a whole lot to handle. Its hard to really keep an eye on everyone. What if one has an emergency and then you still have all the others left that need you and then if you have an admit too. Too bad they won't go down to 5:1.

In my orientation, The first couple of days I observed and helped out then day after day I'd pick up a patient till I reached 5 the whole group. I work rehab and the most we have is 5. Then if the'd tell me the 2nd day before orientation was to be over if I needed more time then no problem. They wanted me to be ready and comfortable being on my own. It worked out great.

When I went on my interview they asked me what an LVN does and what would I do in this situation, of course tell me about yourself, oh I can't rememver any more I kinda froze too. I do not like interviews. But there are nurses there that were in your place. I came out straight from clinical. Yes it can be scary cause we do not know a whole lot we may feel or everything. But who does. Even the doctors have to look things up they aren't sure of. But when in orientation get and ask all you can. I carry my own drug book cause I know I always have one available to look up a drug. Get as much orientation as you can. If you can get more than the first week and feel you could use TAKE MORE DAYS. Once you are off orientation, you won't be left alone there will still be nurses around to help you when needed. They should understand they were once in your shoes. Right!!!

Well I am an LVN and when I got off Orientation I had to organize my day. What do I do first and what comes next. But whenever I get a CHANCE i put my pen to the chart. Things will come up and you wish you would have spent those few extra minutes in those charts. We now have hourly logs by Jhaco and trying to make sure every hour was logged. Thats just extra that Im trying my best to get use to. Yeah we go in there often but to stop for a minute or two to jot things down is like oh no when you have other jillion things to do. Once my charting is done like my assessment then I know I can tackle things and my meds are done at a good time. I don't know how many patients you have. I have 5 but we have feed tubings and blood sugars. It seems alot. But good luck!

Its has been one year already since I started my first Lvn Job. It is going great. I have learned so much and great staff to work with. Boy has it been busy but grateful I have good days off. I never work 4 days in a row. Thank goodness with it being busy and all No Way.

So do we also have a SBAR for end of shift report. we use to give each others copies after our report but most nurses now don't and want to make their own report copies just for them. What ever works. But I like rehab you get to meet so many pts that come in and help them nursing and social wise which they also need. Cause many get board with no one to talk to. Someone that cares means the world to them. Don't ya think?

Usually when reading the screen for them and see that they have alzheimers or Dementia that's usually a light that tells me they need to be on a bed alarm. Due to their memory they won't always realize they are in a different place where they have to follow rules. IN their mind they'll think oh I can get up like they always been doing before they came. In notes i put due to Hx of Alzheimers (or dementia) call bell alarm put on patient for safety precautions (or fall precautions). If they try to get up after call bell is on then I will give them patient education to use the call light before attempting to get up on their own but will also consider too a safety lap belt. But depending how bad their memory is sometimes all that won't work and 1:1 supervision with Dr order is needed. Some input here of mine.

Hello you all I graduated in the fall of 06 and got my license the summer of 07. I started my LVN job in October. I work in a rehabilitaion hospital 12 hr shifts.

Im in a rehab setting and my usual patient ratio is 5-6. Occasionally it will go to 7 cause of a new admit. Maybe a feeding tube and an o2 person. But nothing compared to that. I believe the ration should be lower cause of the heavy workload. Too much patients with alot of workload involved could be a disruption in your concentration when you have brain overload trying to get things done.

I'd like some feedback here on organizing a 12hr day. I'm in a rehab setting with 5-6 pts. I know that does not seem much but alot happens during most days. But those of you out there who have 12 hr shifts tell me about your organizing skills. Thanks a bunch.

That is a great way to stay organized. Im a new LVN been on my own for bout a week now counting working days only. I work 12 hour shifts. I know what needs to be done each hour but getting a good organized scheduale helps like when it comes to charting things too so that I won't have to have it all at the end of the shift.

:balloons::balloons: CONGRATS CONGRATS! Being positive payed out. Now your off to a good job and bringing home good $$$. Glad we all could be here for you.

still have a great chance at passing. People still pass at 205. So keep positive heads up. If worse gets to worse and you don't pass then do not give up. Rest your mind a couple days then start applying again and setting up a test date and we are all her to help you and give you advice cause there are lots of us who have taking it again. Me! I know what it is to do that, def. Yeah, it was dissapointing to find out I did not pass the first time. But cooled off a couple or so days to get things straightend up and then go at it again. Then before you know it you are taking it again. But for now chin and head up for the best. Take care!

here's one advice- study those labs and know if you where to be asked a priority question keep in mind what would that be. You might have shift change questions where who would you check on first. Best of luck to you

hello graduatenurse in response to your question. I am a good candidate for this question. I took NCLEX first time and failed:o at 85 and then took it the second time and got 85 and passed. Went out to get a job and got it within a week and 1/2. But yes I could tell I was having some easy questions the first time I took it . The second time there were hard questions and 5 or 6 select all that apply.

Yes, I'd like to know for anyone out there that's a first time LVN. How many orientation days did you have when first starting out in your job? My DON said that if I needed more time in orientation that I could have more time. I've been on 4 then off 3. This week a total of 5 days with 2 days off in between. So its true the more orientation days the better???

Yes, I agree. Get out of that job! You need a place where you will be respected for the person you are and the job that you do. No one should have to put up with that. Especially getting up everday too and having to look forward to that. You do not want anything pinned on you that you had no part of. Such as you were saying there were things there that had not been touched. You have got to protect yourself and your license. Start looking around and putting in apps. Look up the job on the net too, to find out additional info about it ( the ones that you want to apply at). Good luck! You have a good head on your shoulders I have read there. Keep that up!

Hello there! I'll share my story. I got my license and went to another city to obtain the temporary one instead of waiting by mail to get it. Then went to obtain an application the next day. I faxed it off cause in the paper it said a fax number and a mailing address. Bout 3 business days later they called me for an interview to be a week later. I practiced interview questions. That did not seem to help. As soon as I got in their with the two ladies I flipped. I did not know what to say the very first question. My mind went blank. I smiled big at the both of them for a few seconds and gave them an answer some. I could feel my interview could have went better. But I showed them my personality and attitude. Just like everyone says first impressions. Greet with a smile and a handshake and call the person by the name that they tell you. I did mention to them the qualities that I have. I was very sincere. The way that you are in the interview tells alot on how you can bring yourself to the job and present yourself to the patients as well. They were going to call my refrences and do a background check as well. When got home, I grabbed one of my thank-you cards and thanked the both of them for the interview and added on what I wanted to bring to the job and what was important in the job. A little something more added. Here was my opportunity to mention something else. I mailed it. Ive never done a thank-you card but thought it was about time. To grab their attention think how well do I want the job. Got the job a few days later. By the way what helped to was the background check was all good.

Thank you all for posting. Was a great help. I start 7-3 tomorrow. My regular day shift hours won't start up till another week and 1/2. I will pay close attention during orientation. I'll bring a pad too. Thanks. Keep posting anybody else here. Any other advice is appreciated here. Always up for learning more and refreshing skills. Im glad there are other nurses around to learn from too.