Amiller0313

Ohhh yes yes..!!!!!! i just re read what I posted! It really sounds like I am saying use your judgement and go ahead and give it. No ! You NEEED to call the doc for a new order. (I figured that was a given) I am sorry that sounded horrible. And i would not do that. I need to proof read ! sheeesh I sound like an idiot! ha!

Keywords. New Grad and STARTING pay! you gotta work your way up, negotiating starting pay as a new RN in this economy is probably not the best idea. Nurses are getting laid off left and right, The DON most likely will not think twice and say "Yea right! I have people breaking the doors down to have a job right now". Pay raises will come. ( I thought the same thing when i started my new job as a Rn in LTC 2 months ago) my mother said ( a nurse of 28 years on Mother Baby) " Patience is a virtue" Its tought though, just starting out, you think after graduation you are going to get hired in the job you want at a hospital and then suddenly they are not hiring, let alone new grads, take the job and use your skills as a nurse, everything else will eventually fall in to place! Goodluck!!!

I understand what you are saying, I have been in LTC for just about 2 Months, first job. When you are in nursing school you envision yourself graduating getting a job right off the bat in a great hospital on a floor that you wanted. Then.... it does not happen... the hospital is not hiring at all, so you go to LTC and you are not to fond of it , BUT ! you are a practicing nurse, using your skills and certainley learning time management skills there! You have to start somewhere along with everyone in the world. I thought to myself, i am not even able to do full assessments on these residents because they don't need it its LTC!! but as time went on I had a couple residents that would let me do full assessments on them, just to do it ( i explained to them why and everything). Stick with it for now and apply to hospitals and apply and call HR at the hospitals and bug the crap out of them, it gets you noticed and shows them you really really are interested. Eventually everything will turn around and you will get that dream job!! Goodluck!!!!!!!

Well I am not a seasoned nurse.I have been practicing with my RN for about 2 months. The Pros are correct for sure and the cons CAN be correct. But if nursing is a true passion then you work through those cons and let the pros overshadow them. If someone came to me in nursing school and gave me that list of cons I would have said oh well, that is sometimes how it goes no matter where in the USA you are a nurse or really any other profession. There are certainly times you question your profession as a nurse. Me for example my first day I was like " What the heck am I doing" but if it is your passion and you live it and breathe it everyday then keep it up, if you are not feeling it right now, shadow someone. I beleive you need to love the thought of helping someone at their worst time in their life or the best time in their life. Not only patients but, families and friends, you do alot of teaching to families and alot of support and communication skills come out when speaking to a family member. Give yourself some time to think it over, and really try to shadow someone. Goodluck, Alyce:D

Hello! I am a new grad myself and have been working in LTC for a little over a month now. I have about 20 residents to take care of. I work 7-3 or 3-11 these shifts are very different from one another. 7-3 there is PT and OT going on ( in the facility that i work) so you need to know that schedule and then docotors appointments and hair dresser appointments, that shift is very busy. 3-11 is mostly what I work, So this is how a typicall 3-11 goes for me, come in do rounds with CNAs checking residents alarms if they have any, narcotic count with 7-3 shift, listen to report ( we tape it, faster that way.) certain days are lab draw days so you have to see if any labs came back and if they are critical or PT INR's then fax and call the Doctor, and pray you hear back from them before 5. Then i tell aids who I need temps on and weights on and let them now any issues with residents that would interfere with there care at night. Then I get passing meds, doing bp's, LS, O2 sats, on the residents that need it, you will get to know them and now who needs BP or apical pulse before passing meds, answere phones, talk to family members, G-tube feedings, help aids toilet or transfer as much as you can, then dinner help feed anyone that needs assistance, make sure aids fill out "eat sheets" so you know how much dinner and fluids they had. ( if you have residents on fluid goals or restrictions you MUST tell the aids how much they can have on there shift. after that aids are getting everyone to bed.. continue med pass along with dressing changes, treatments such as creams and lotions that need to be applied, generally 2 residents get a shower a night, you must go in the shower room and do a skin assesment. I generally get done with everything ( if its a smooth night around 1045-1115) I never really take a break cause i want to do good assessments on resident i don't know or that need assessments. Now if there is one issuse it can set you back pretty good. I went into work one day 11am-11pm actually did not leave till 2am! sometimes that happens. You got to remember its not speed, its acuracy. If you know that you have done everything right and to the best of your knowledge and you are leaving an hour or hour an a half after you shift then so what. Its easy to make med errors with 20 residents or forget to do something, my first day i thought WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING!!!!! and i was down, now only a little over a month I LOVE IT, residents grow on you, and they remember your name. I wanna be eventually ( long term goal in Critical care Nursing but I am 24 and fresh out of school! I have time) LTC is a great place to start as a new nurse I think because you learn TIME MANAGMENT SKILLS LIKE IT NOBODY'S BUSINESS! and they are for the most part not critical ( like in the hospital). You get your confidence in LTC when you are just starting out. A lady that works with me and has been there for 3-4 years and also does per diem in the hospital said going from one day of 20 patients to 3-4 is awesome. SO reallly hang in there! Trust me it is a good place to start. Feel free to write me about any questions. Never Never Never hesitate to call the docotor or doctor on call if you feel in your gut something is gonna go really wrong or is already there! :)

I am a new RN grad and this week with be my 4th week orienting at a nursing home. I have between 18-20 resdients to take care of. Here is the catch they are residents not patients, this is their home now so taking care of them is different. I don't do full assessments on everybody, its impossible in the short amount of time you have. Get a good idea of there health history, if you see CHF, Pneumonia, or any heart related conditions and they are on beta blockers or something like lasix, take a peak at their lower extremities and listen to lungs. With all residents on O2 you need a fox and lung sounds. Residents that are in ok health you dont need to do the whole assessment with them unless something seems different about them,( you will get that information in report). As far as cheat sheet i recommend getting theire report sheet, you wanna limit it two one or 2 pages. mine is one paper divided into 20 boxes with names and room numbers. The MAR on my med cart is big with everyones own section tabed with room numbers on it and there picture and how they take there meds. You will get a feel for your residents and which ones want there meds right away and wich wait until later. If you are working evenings its always right after supper because the majority of the residents go to bed around 7pm. If their Trazadone is scheduled for 10p and they are in bed at 7pm it makes no sense so you gotta use your judgment, give it early. On top of meds you will have treatments, such as dressing changes, lotions etc. that needs to fit in usually after meds are done. You will be fine takes some getting used to i highly highly suggest a pen that as multi color choices on it. ( LIFESAVER) dont get to crazy with your cheat sheets you wont have time to flip back and forth if you have one sheet per person and that is also a good way to make a mistake when you are running around. GOOODLUCK!!! :) let me know if you have any other questions!! I am happy to help!!