JessLPN001

Worked as a CNA for almos 3 yrs on night shift. and the last year as LPN on night shift.I'm not gonna pretend that I know every thing, or that I've got some great advice for you but here are some facts I've picked up on in the last 4yrs. Nights are no easy task. Some say it all in the person (for instance I've never been much of a morning person, but more of a night owl even in Elementary school) some say its all in routine (keep the same sleep pattern even on your off days) of course when your in class this can be difficult. Personally I believe both theories are acurate. But even when you have both on your side night shift still takes a hard toll on your body, and its just one of those things where you have to figure out : 1 if it will work for you. & 2. how to make it work for you. Unfortunately as a vampire (this is my term for ppl who work @ night just go with it here) you get a double whammy. First like you have already experienced it sucks being tied half the time, missin your family and friends, missing events b/c you either have to work or just got off a 12 hr shift and have to go back for another in a few hrs. Second Everyone believes that night shift doesnt do anything b/c "the pts are asleep all night" (OH PLEASE!) so they find extra things for the vampires to do b/c "they have the spare time to do it". As for the day/night shift war YOU WILL SEE THAT WHEREVER YOU WORK. Days thinks nights dont do anything b/c (as stated above) "the pts sleep all night (again, OH PLEASE!!) Nights get tired of hearing how they dont do anything, and having to pickup where day shift left off and catching up on their slack. Remember its your life and its up to you what you do with it.

Actually they did when I worked as a CNA i had quite a fewnurses take me under their wing and thank God, but when we changed DON, ADON, and Administrater, alot of nurses (good and not so good) either got fired or quit sending my nurses to dayshift. So even though I do still have those ppl its not quite the same since I don't really work w/ them on the same shift its kinda hard to go to them. I mean I still have them, and stil ask them.

I honestly don't feel that I had an "attitude" with them or with my job. As far as the change in ADON goes they went to a sister facility that was having problems at corprates "request" I do understand the importance and seriouseness of my job believe me. I even think i'm getting an ulcer from worrying about doing my job right and taking care of my patients. I understand the seriousness of the BM protocol and even though this really was my first offense in this area I guess they did have a point.

O.K. I'm a new nurse but I've worked for the same company for 2 1/2 yrs as a CNA. After orientation I felt that they hurried me through it and threw me to the wolves. Another nurse told me it was normal to feel that way, and that you cannot be taught everything you'll ever need to know on orrientation. So now I've been working for a little over a month by myself. And we have recently changed administrators, DONs, and ADONs. The administrator is mad b/c ppl are staying past their 12hrs, and therefore getting overtime. Now as a CNA I was never even called to the office much less written up. As a nurse I work Sun, Mon, & Tues 7p-7a. So after my 12 hr shift tues. I went home and slept for a while, after i woke up and began planning things to do for the rest of the day, my phone rings and its my place of work. I let it go to voicemail (I always screen my calls from work). When I check the msg it was my DON saying I needed to call her back as soon as I could. (this didn't sound good) I quickly return the call to see what the problem was. She explains that the adiministrator had asked her to talk to me, and asks if I can come in (on my day off, 30 min drive there). I asked What was going on. She explained that she felt the need to go over 3rd shift nursing responsiblities with me. I didnt really understand why b/c up til now i had not heard of anything I had not been doing. (other than the whole not beeing gone by 7:15 but ya know I'm still new.) Reluctantly I got dressed and went to work. next thing I knew I was in the DON's office with the DON, ADON, and Staffing Coordinator. (definately not good) It is Brought to my attention that the med reorder sheet that comes out on friday and is to be filled out by 3rd shift (oh joy one more thing to do) had not been filled out this wekend and this was the reason pharmacy sent EVERYTHING, and why I was overcome with meds the night b4.I quickly explained how the last time i filled it out someone else came in the next day and redid it. So I figured that if she was such a perfectionist and had the time that I beeing a new nurse did not have ten she could continue filling it out. ( not to menton what about the nurses that worked Fridaynight, and saturday night were they getting the same speech) Then it was brought to my attention that I had not followed the BM protocol. (funny I thought I did) As it turns out in all the comotion with all the meds I and everything else I had to do I somehow forgot to look at the BM sheets and over over looked a clipboard on the desk with the off going nurses notes fo the day missed the BM list she had made. ( which I thought that was why we gave report so I wouldnt have to search for information on a piece of paper that a nurse had scribbled on all day) So the one night I dont make a bm list and give my mom or enemas Wichever the case may be, I get in trouble then they go into how i have not been clocking out by 7:15, and how working a month and a half bymyself is enough time to get situated and get out on time.( I don't see how this can be said when everyone is different) anyways I get one write up with all the aboved mentioned, then I'm asked if I would like to got to days b/c they feel i wuld learn more and be more confident if i worked days for awhile. However they only have the weekend shift to put me on meaning instead of 3 days a week 36 hrs i would work 2 days a week 24 hrs. they said it would be my decision and to take the weekend to think about it. My question is is it ok to call someone to work so that you can write em up?I think ill take em up on the day shift job just so i can spend the rest of the week finding me a new job. (no im not quiting just b/c I got wrote up its something ive been thinking about for a while)

I myself am ready to get out of LTC. I want to work in a hosp unfortuantely not many hosp around here hire LPNs

:twocents:HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A NURSES ASSISTANT? OBVIOUSLY NOT!!! The work that them girls do on a daily basis is just that WORK!!!!! Been there done that got the t-shirt, I know what I'm talking about. However there is always a bad apple in the bunch, but I'm not talking about them right now. As for respect it takes some to get some!

:yeah:wanna come be my cna? lol j/k sounds like as a cna you have your business straight. just like me when i was a tech. but you know while cnas are there to assist a nurse, as a nurse i don't expect my techs to clean up after me. (not to say that my cnas like you wouldnt come over and say "oh i'll clean that don't worry) at the same time if something is going that requires >1 cna and i am not busy myself i have no problem helping out. yes that even means changin ppl.

Hosp jobs for LP's are scarce in my area as well. And some hosp are trying to phase out LPN' al together.

How can you say this? Do you know this person? Do you work with them? Don't get me wrong I don't know them either but this statement doesnt tell me that they cant take direction. it sounds to me more like they had the unpleasant experience of working with a horrible nurse who makes herself feel better by putting someone else down. How do I know this? b/c I ve worked with a nurse just like that. She felt she was better than me b/c she was a nurse and at the time I was a CNA. Most (not all) nurses who have never worked as a tech have this chip on their shoulder. Either way no one deserves to be talked this way. There is a word for what was told to this person by a nurse what is it....... oh yeah we nurses call it verbal abuse!

o.k. heres my 2 cents even though no body asked. I am a LPN but I worked for as a CNA for almost 2 1/2 yrs b4 I became an LPN. First off let me say that you will work with that CNA that knows whats expected as far as their job is concerned, and don't mind assisting a nurse b/c it is there job. At the same time as a CNA you will work with that nurse that understands that you have showers to do ppl to feed vs to get ice to pass call lights to answer and anything else that is asked of you, and lets their thanks be known when you help them. I myself try to always say please and thankyou when talking to my CNA's. So even though assisting a nurse is the CNA's job; common courtesy goes along way. (not to be confused with foot kissing). This reminds me of a quote from To Kill A Mocking you know the one about "walking a mile in the other person's shoes"

I have had my license for only a month or two. I am a LPN, and I work for a Nursing home. I've worked @ the same place for the last 2 1/2 yrs. I was a CNA until I Got my licesne. We recently went under new management just before I got my license. While I'm not thrilled with the changes it doesnt seem to bother me either. When I graduated from nursing school iI turned in my two weeks notice mainly b/c i didnt like the new maangement and b/c i felt they had lied to me about my becoming a nurse and working for them (I'll choose not to get into that storey right this minute). About 1 week b4 my last day a my staffing coordinator pulls me to the side and asks me to stay. She had talked w/ the other department heads basically telling them (and I don't mean to pat myself on the back here) that I would be a good nurse and should not be allowed to leave without a fight. She told me what they had discussed and how they would improve things and make things up to me. After carefull consideration and input from trusted nurses I decided to stay. (besides I hadn't lined up a new job yet) 2 mos later they did as they said they would (somewhat) but I find my new role stressful ( but I'm a nurse so this is to be expected, right?). I'm not so sure that really like working here anymore. When I complain to ppl I went to LPN school with or express my wanting a new job to my family all I hear is "You worry to much". I want to one day obtain my R.N. and work in the ER (or so thats the plan right now) so I think I should find me a new job on a med surg floor I think it would benefit me more, and that I would like it better. People tell me that the grass is not always greener on the other side but I feel I'll never know if I don't try. So what do you think do I stay for longer than 2 mos to see if it gets better or do I get out now?

I hear ya I've been a LPN for a whole month now and I'm so losing my mind!