starletRN

It's so easy to slip into that habit. I think the biggest contributor to that is the time crunch. Having to get so much done in a certain period of time. The paper work comes to mind the most. Some nights I feel that's all I do is paperwork.

To me it's not about whether someone is a LPN or RN. It's about the intelligence and work ethic of the individual. I've seen slackers in both groups and I've seen some great nurses in both as well. I have noticed that hospitals in my area are hiring...

I'm used to charting on computer and just recently took a position at a hospital that still uses paper. Is there anyone out there who had to do this and how did it go for you? Also, do you like one better than the other? To me, it just seemed like pa...

I work nights now so I don't have to deal with family like I used to. I do see them sometimes between 7p-8:30p and I just tell them what I tell the patient. "Use your call bell if you need anything." That seems to cut down on the visits to the nursi...

Also keep everything within reach. Patients who have zero safety awareness try to walk across the room for their water cup, phone, snack etc. then they fall.

I could be wrong but is it unreasonable for my supervisor to expect me to orient someone on a night when I have 55 residents? I have only been working at this LTC for 4 months. I started out on one unit and they moved me to another 3 nights ago. Norm...

I didn't know I was orienting until the night I came to work. I was off for a couple of days and the daily schedule for all staff is only posted a day or 2 ahead of time. So you don't always know who you're working with until you show up. I come in a...

I think the assumption even at our facility is that our residents sleep all night. Most of them do but there are quite a few that have their days and nights mixed up. There are also several bolus feedings at night, labs, trach patients, treatments...

Exactly. I have been in LTC for 4 months and my DON told me that I needed to work on my time management. Like you said, you have to have the time to manage it. I work nights and I'm the only nurse with 35 residents. I spend 1 1/2 to 2 hours doing cha...

ICAM I started a couple of months ago at a LTC. Had to move so I had to quit my med-surg job. At the hospital we helped each other out and I didn't hear nurses bad mouthing another because something had to be passed on to the next shift. At the LTC w...

Thank you very much. That means a lot to me. I'm going to save this post so that when I'm feeling like I haven't done enough I can go back and read it. Thanks again!

Also, I wanted to add that as a nurse with less than 1 year under my belt, I put a lot of pressure on myself to get things done at work. It's nice to know that what I'm doing now is considered a heavy load. It makes me feel like less of a failure.

We had two nurses when I was first hired and then he left and we had more CNAs too. It seems like right after I was hired we had less staffing. Go figure. I hear they have a high turnover rate.

41 residents; 1 RN and 2 CNAs I have only been there a month and am having a really hard time getting it all done.

ITA I'm really enjoying the night shift (I work 11-7), but if they started doing 12s at this LTC I would jump at the chance. I worked 12 hour days on a med-surg floor before this and even though I hated the craziness of the job, I loved having those ...

I just started LTC and I'm feeling the same way. It was a shock after being in med/surg for a year and improving my assessment skills to come to LTC where assessments seem to only be done on the sick folks and new admissions. Also, it would be great ...

That's why we had to have English Comp as a prereq for the nursing program. They recognized that it's an excellent idea for nurses to know how to write well. I know that one English class is not going to make the perfect writer but it sure helps. Bu...

Thanks for the advice. It is much appreciated. :)

Unfortunately, all facilities are trying to save a buck and it just keeps getting worse with the economy. I was on med-surg at a hospital and they were always calling off our PCTs and we only had 2 for a 29 bed floor. This floor is heavy with total c...

What I'm getting from the posts is that it's better to work nights on 3 12 hour shifts than to work the 8 hr shifts? I'm just getting ready to start working LTC nights from 11p-7a and I'm a little apprehensive. My last job was med/surg days but I did...

First to dianepslh62--50 years! That is amazing. I have the utmost respect for you and anyone who is in a profession for 50 years! Bravo! Now, as for LPNs who are told they're not real nurses. That is complete hogwash. I have worked with LPNs on my u...

Have you tried SRMC in Petersburg? I was just mentioning in another thread that they hire new grads. There are some positions open there now. The only positions they won't hire new grads for are L&D and ICU. It's easy to get to as well. Just stra...

Not sure where some of you are from in Central VA but SRMC in Petersburg is hiring. They are really good about hiring new grads and the shift differentials are better than some of the Richmond hospitals. The only positions that require experience are...

Thank you for the advice. I'll do that.

It's funny how I keep finding these discussions that relate to what I'm going through. I just gave my 2 weeks notice which is stated in my employee handbook as required. After giving notice, I was told that the policy changed to a required 1 month no...