HamBiscuit

I am an LPN and recently started working weekends at a LTCF. I'm still new, only finished 4 shifts so far. I have noticed that it always seems to be a struggle to keep the shifts staffed, and the day shift girls are forced to stay over and work 16 hour shifts to fill in the gaps for the ones that called in for the 3-11 shift. So far I haven't been "forced" to stay, because I'm the new girl, but I know my number will come up eventually. I have looked up TN BON statutes on patient abandonment, and know about "accepting the assignment and assuming patient responsibility". Let's say I worked the 7-3 shift, and no one shows up at 3 to relieve me on my particular hall. Since I "accepted the assignment" for the 7-3 shift, and they ask me to stay and I refuse, have I still "accepted the assignment" by default because I came in and worked my scheduled shift? There are still nurses on the floor, so it's not like I'm the only nurse around...just they will be working a nurse short. I am a new nurse, so I don't know the logistics, but I feel like this...I showed up when I was supposed to, I worked my shift according to what I was scheduled....I did my part, and I will not stay over by force, I have 2 small kids and a husband who needs to get to work himself. If the issue were to be pressed and I decided to quit after the end of my scheduled shift, would I be in jeopardy of repercussions (other than screwing up a future reference)?

I am a new LPN, and have been working for almost 2 months. I have to start IV's on our first patient of the morning, and the first patient after lunch. I have never taken a class, never received any formal training or had any type of experience with venipuncture. When I first started the job, my "training" was to start an IV on the nurse who was training me. I got her on the first stick, the first time. It helped that she had veins like earthworms! After that I was turned loose. My patients are coming in for colonoscopy's, and are dehydrated, so that doesn't make it much easier. I generally miss most of the time, and have to hang my head and go get my supervisor. The problem I am having is this...what do I say to the patient when I miss? I'll say things like "It must not be our lucky day" or "Let me go get the experts so I don't make you look like a pincushion"....i try to stay humorous all the while faking confidence. My supervisor comes in to do the IV and says things like "Oh, she's a great nurse and she's been doing this a long time (I haven't) or "She's not new at this, she's been at this a long time (I haven't)". It makes me wonder just what should I say when I miss? She makes me feel like I am telling the patient that i suck and am no good at it...I would rather a patient think I missed because I am still a little inexperienced than to think I have been at this a while and just suck at it....Any advice on how to effectively handle this type of situation? What do the seasoned nurses say when they miss (cause I know y'all do sometimes )

I spoke with the doctor about this, and he apologized and said he won't ask me again. He said he understood my stance, and was impressed because I was the first one to ever speak up about the issue. Thanks for all the advice!!!

I'm a new LPN, and got my first nursing job at an endoscopy center in the procedure room. There is one specific doctor that asks me to push the meds (Versed and Fentanyl) for him after he has begun the procedure because his hand is "contaminated". I'm new at this, and I do what the doctor says. I was told by the nurse that trained me to not ever mention that he lets the LPN's push meds for him. I'm wondering if my license would be on the line if this practice were to ever come to light. I feel that it is my job to do whatever the doctor tells me to, but I don't want to risk my license. Any advice on how to handle this situation?

I just took my NCLEX-PN and only had 85 questions.....I PASSED!!!