SunbabiLPN

Don't be so quick to turn it over to the DON. You will have to learn how to deal with this at some point in your career so why not now?! One thing I have always liked to do to get a "difficult" CNA to cooperate is to let them see me on the floor helping, going above and beyond my duties shows them I don't think I'm better than them and teaches them teamwork by example. Once they start respecting you they will do everything for you from giving a extra shower to buying you a pop when your thirsty and broke. Seriously they will. There is usually one CNA who is riling up everyone else....this is the one I write up so the others will see this and know that I'm serious. After I write the one CNA up I am still friendly and professional with her to show her we are putting this behind us and moving on. It's all about respect and showing them you are not above doing what you are asking them to do. Good Luck!

You could have the nurse take out your narcotics for you so that you would not be in the narc drawer at all. It's all about communicating with the nurse your working with. Im sure she doesn't feel comfortable with the situation either but between the two a plan can be worked out.

I think to supervise anyone you have to be familiar with their job duties which is really hard to know unless you have lived the daily LTC life for awhile. There are many shortcuts that we have to take to get everything done in a timely manner and I've found that supervisors who don't know the routine hinder us more than they help us.

Many agencies are now offering full benefits. I have always made more than the staff nurse, in fact, one of the downsides of working agency is you are more than likely going to get the hardest assignment that nobody else wants because you make more and don't technically work there (your an outsider ). The agency you work for calls you and tells you if they have a shift available that fits the schedule you say you can work. You can also call them to "remind" them that you are available. If a certain facility likes your work they may ask you if you want more hours which you would then tell your agency so they can pay you for the work. Most agencies require 1 year experience. I was already working as a CNA through my agency when I became a nurse so I was able to just transition straight to the nurse role without waiting the year. I have had some great experiences as a agency nurse. It has made me a very strong, patient, flexible nurse who is quick in any situation. Also one more good part is many places are paying daily and weekly now. You work a day shift and go pick up your check right after! I love that part lol!

I've been a LPN for 9 years and my favorite place to be is among the elderly. Usually my full time job is in a long term care or short term rehab facility but I also keep a variety of part time or PRN jobs that give me more experience in case I ever decide I want to try something new one day. I'd recommend at least PRN at a hospital to get acute care experience under your belt. I've found that no matter how much I love my job with the elderly experience in other fields is priceless.

Congratulations!!!:monkeydance:

You can also look into agencies in your area that do PRN work for correctional institutions. This way you can get your feet wet and see how you like it before jumping into a permanent position. I did this in Indiana and ended up just staying agency until the birth of my baby 8 months later. I really liked the easy work, weekly pay and making my own schedule. I also went through the same training that regular employees have so I was fully prepared when I hit the floor.

Don't quote me but I'd say yes you got the job! Congrats!

Congrats! Does this mean they will accept distance learning programs now?

It depends on how I feel and how my night went. If I am exhausted and I just cant do one more thing I will tell the oncoming nurse. If I still have energy left I will do them. If it's something important I will also do them.

I remember all too well what it was like to be a new nurse in LTC. I was also an agency nurse so I always was assigned the worst halls. It takes time to learn how to manage your time efficiently it doesnt happen overnight. Doing things by the book does bring great satisfaction as you said when the noc nurse commented on all your patients resting soundly. There are shortcuts that you will learn along the way but it is never safe to alter med times. Soon you will be able to do a million things at once and you will be done with your work, charting and treatments on time. Until that day comes just breathe in peace and breathe out stress. Your day will come trust me.

I keep to myself and only form bonds with others that are like myself. I stay so busy that I am away from the nurses station where everyone is congregating to talk about others. If someone is talking about me and I find out I politely inform them that if they have a issue with me it is ok to discuss it with me. That usually shuts them down as they were not expecting me to say anything to them.

Let's say the patient is a alzheimer patient and she will only take her meds disguised in food. Then you cant come in and give them at 9pm because she wont take them. Another example is when a patient goes to bed at 7pm and refuses to get up to take their meds at 9pm. These patients are missing vital doses of their meds due to time frames. The legal way to go about correcting these problems is to identify the issue then call the doctor and explain it to him. He will then change the times these meds are given so they will take them and your license wont be at risk. I dont know why some nurses dont just call the doctor for issues like this instead of taking it upon themselves to make their own plan. Giving meds early because of your own convienence is never ok. You need to do some charting throughout the shift instead of waiting until the end when it is all piled up. This is also helpful if something goes wrong towards the end of the shift to throw your time frame off then you already have half of your charting done.

I applied yesterday too!!! I know what your feeling believe me haha! I'm excited but confused at the same time. They are evaluating my transcripts now and say it will take up to 2 weeks. So now I wait!

The work we do is priceless. I am happy with what I get paid but realistically who wouldnt want more!