namazonian

Kudos to you baldnurse!! If I had known what I knew now, I don't think I would have shelled out for an accelerated BSN degree only to be miserable working as a LTC (only thing I could get)nurse now . I've developed a thick skin over the 8 months that I've been working here but I've never felt so disrespected on a daily basis for a $ in all of my 28 years on this planet.

Just found this thread and it really struck accord with me as I am in LTC. I've been at my present job 7 months yesterday and I still loathe it. I don't think patient care is for me and I'd rather something (perhaps OR nurse) that doesn't involve me having to practically be a handmaiden to patients. Don't get me wrong, I love to help others and it puts a smile on my face when my patients are better after being quite sick for so wrong, but the politics on the unit, the profound amount of work is too much to bear at this point. I'm thinking of possibly bumping down my hours from 5 days to 4 to see if perhaps this would make a difference. Any more options?

This sounds like great advice because I think this is one area I definitely want to be. I don't like LTC.:)

Hi systoli, Thanks firstly for the advice. I confronted the person and had a meeting with the higher ups with the person and it was quite interesting. Long story short so far this person has backed off but I still don't trust them. It just T's me off that some people don't know when to leave introverted people like me alone. I had another person who was trying to pick on me and had to report them as well and this person now is friendly to me. It seems as if people bring their personal nonsense to work with them and look for targets to offload the garbage on. Just because one is quiet and to themselves doesn't mean they are aloof. *sigh* just a rant I guess but point is, so far things are quiet. I just want to get through this job as best as I can because I am learning alot inspite of the stress. I need the experience and my license intact to move on to something else I don't need stress hindering that.

Hi everyone, I posted a while back on a ltc job that I'd acquired and that I'd had a rough experience with (bad orientation, overstretched DON, etc) At any rate, things have gotten better as far as me adjusting to the functions of the position BUT the load certainly has NOT gotten better. There's been more useless charting, paperwork, and extra things that the CNA's or other ancillary staff could be doing but now we have to do (like double checking the scale when the CNAs are doing patient weights and double signing) as well as inservices that really gouge into time. Now I'm also dealing with a coworker from a different shift (3rd, while I am 2nd) who is intentionally trying to find things "wrong" that I've done and who is using the cna's to try to set me up. I've found that this same nurse has a history of doing this so at least I know it is not just my imagination. I am not losing hope because I know that I there is a hospital position out there for me because 5 days a week putting in 10 + hours daily (although I'm only getting paid most times for 8) at this place is painful. I am currently working on my resume because i'm finding that whereever I've been applying has been sending rapid replies so I know the computer program being used is just using combinations of keywords or maybe even formatting to select candidates. I would like to know if anyone has been successful acquiring a hospital position even without the full 1 year experience, because at my facility some nurses have been and I know that I need to leave soon. Thanks, Namazonian

All I can say is that I am praying for you. I am at the point where you are except this is the end of my first week after an "8 week" orientation. Yesterday I almost quit right in the middle of my shift but I thought how much danger the patients would be in if I did so, so I stuck it out and as usual didn't pee, inhaled half my avocado (first "break" of 5 mins to eat all week) standing up and hiding from patients in a corner. This was after I was told that I was staying too late and that I had to manage my time more effectively. Mind you I was pulled out of med pass for this meeting that lasted 20 mins which I could have used to be done on time. Between peg tubes, unruly patients, massive narcs and meds, demented patients who keep unplugging equipment so they complain it doesn't work, O2 sat patients, other demanding mess left and right I always feel in over my head. Couple this with a nurse manager who thinks I am dingbat for asking necessary questions, I feel as though my cup runeth over. I go back in today but I am hoping to speak with someone before my shift because no matter what they tell me of "it will get better" I'm not to sure of this. All I can say is be encouraged, start looking for another job like I've been since my second week in a place like this, and PRAY!

onaclearday - I just looked up the specs and I believe its 6 mos. working history and at least 8k gross (at least in ny but I am close)

Hi onaclearday, Funny you ask about the unemployment compensation because I had been mulling this over in my mind as of late. I'm not sure how long you have to work but I believe it is an accumulation of moneys that needs to happen to get it. Still trying to get an answer on that. Ive been concentrating on catching up on bills (rent, loans, etc.) since I began this job while being fruggal with my spending (I don't eat out, I don't own a tv, don't go out to movies, clubs etc. and have fairly cheap rent for where I live) so now whatever spending that I do I will be putting the kabosh on that to have as part of my exit plan.

Now that you've mentioned it INLPN, I just looked up the ratings of my facility and overall it is 2/5. No wonder. *sigh*

Hi all, A few weeks back I wanted to jump ship on this job as I had posted and yesterday I wanted to do it again even though I decided to stay. The problem for the past 4 weeks besides the load has been my preceptor. The sad part is that I was told that there was no one "good" that they had to train me and that is why they had me training on days for so long but then I told the DON that if I am working 3-11, that is the shift I need to be oriented to because I know it is not the same as 7-3. Ok, got the switch made and since then I feel like I've tasted a bit of hell. For some bening reason when I was switched to different orientation instructors for the shift I got the help I needed for the 9pm pass, was able to get some treatments in, and charted AND left on time. The time is important because at our facility new hires are not allowed to leave early because we don't get overtime AND if something happens to us, then our facility is not going to pay. Well this went out the window with the "main" orientation instructor. When I worked with her at first When that time came she asked me what else would be left and that we "had to finish" so ok I thought I will finish what I have to do even though I tell her that I have to go she still insists. I start thinking if this is some unwritten rule that I didn't know since I made the switch from days to nights orienting that I can't leave until the work is done. Wrong. While I am busting my behind learing a new wing, while she only has the other half mind you, she comes in and out during the passes ask how much I have left and then leaves no matter what I tell her. This goes on inspite of my telling the DON that 1.) I ended up staying late on certain nights when I needed to leave (to which she replied that the instructor "should know to not keep you" 2.) that I'm having problems with timing and not even taking breaks. God only knows is she ever spoke to the insructor because this kept occuring to the point that I finished one night at 1 am and went right to the supervisor and requested an OT slip because I could not continue to work without compensation knowing that I could be getting in trouble. I brought this up to scheduling to see if she got this slip the next day because they work with the DON to put together my schedule (nothing passes through them until the DON OKs it) and she told me "not to worry". This lets me know that a.)maybe this has happened before and its getting swept under the rug and b.) they know that perhaps the instructor is not worth a nickle but because of favoritism, they keep her there even though she clearly does not want the job. Ok so more days pass by and I am with someone else but when i finally have to get a new schedule for the week since they have been giving me mine in pieces one week at a time, it seems that all of a sudden the people I need to see (DON and scheduler) are missing. I get bounced around from one to the other and even page to see the DON. The DON finally makes it to my floor while I start the pass and tells me she will be right back. That was the last time I saw her again for the day. I call the scheduler and she doesn't return my calls. Ok, so I'm wondering what I am doing for the weekend since it is probably my Sunday to work and how can I get a new instructor if possible because I've found that the one I had couldn't get her act together and its showing. Finally new weeks comes and I'm told to come in and get a schedule and it was as if nothing happened. I'm given a week straight to work (this is not the job to do this with because it is so hectic even if it is 8 hours a shift) and then my permanent schedule. I'm on the floor again on Monday when the instructor starts her mess again of not helping me out, leaving the floor, making personal calls and doing whatever mixed in with some work. I've told her that the DON does not want me to stay and that I need to be taking my breaks (yeah right) and communicating this to the instuctor. I even told her once that I may not finish this pass and that I need help. She came over a second time within 2 hours all the while I was still trying to complete the pass alone and this time I told her I haven't finished all the ones I had flagged and that I was leaving. I locked my cart, finished my report sheet and simply handed her the keys. She gave me this look of astonishment and that is when I had to tell her: I told you that I needed help and you came to me not once but twice and nothing happened. I'm going home. I've left on time since then and now she is "trying to help" but yesterday really frosted me. She asked me at the beginning of the shift (as she likes to do although it almost never works) what side I'm doing and to tell her where I am by a certain time and we agree. I tell her after this though that I can't and will not stay and get in trouble again and she actually tried to not admit that she didn't "mean to" keep me there late although there was proof. Needless to say I told her otherwise and she finally backed down. I'm so tired of the foolishness and with all the extra needy patients and 3 falls alone on yesterday's shift I am exhaused on my fifth day straight this week. I always feel like I forget things, I feel like I made a mistake yesterday and I don't know what it is and I feel that she has started idle gossip. When I ask others who had been there earlier on who are friends of mine, they tell me that they had good orientations but it was when I got off that all hell broke loose. I am trying so hard to keep my sanity and my license while I look for other work but so many times I feel like throwing in the towel. I've never felt this bothered and sickened of a workplace in my life and it scares me. I feel like I've worked so hard and come this far for nonsense and I feel stuck. My heart is telling me to leave but my head is telling me to stick with this job even without another. Help!

My prayers are with you as well. I am being stretched to my limit and I am still orienting:/

Hi all, Since I'm still at my LTC job (week 7), I want to know what else I can do so that I can either work per diem at the LTC job or Leave completely when the time is right. I have a degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies as well as a BSN in Nursing. I was wondering, since I've been job searching what I can do that is a good combination of the two, is somewhat more enjoyable that LTC and that pays well. Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks, Namazonian

Hi everyone, I appreciate all of your responses and after reading them through and speaking with friends and family I've decided to keep the job until something better comes along. I spend nearly all of my free time job searching and I've got some "feelers" out there so I am praying that in the next 2-4 months that I will get a better opportunity. I realize that I am not perfect and that I can't know everything right away so I am also working on trying not to be too hard on myself. I will be taking on a full assignment of 34 patients today although I'm still ortienting so I will not be too overwhelmed when I am off. Pray for me that I am efficient, confidence, and succeed.:)

Amen to your statement Ms_Orion!!!

Hi doggal, I will be resigning as of tomorrow. I spoke with my mom and previous professor and they agree that continuing to work with this place is a no go. I'm frugal and have gone without so many times that I believe at this point considering what I've gone through that I can deal with being broke once more as long as my spirit is not broken. This job was truly breaking it.

Hi Carol, Believe me, I'm ready to submit my resignation letter on Monday. I've never felt so used and demeaned in any job in my life and I've worked many. I feel like a laborer and nothing more. I don't think I need to go the route of antidepressants or meds but calling out this past Friday was the best thing that I could have done for myself. I've been job hunting and trying to find out what else I can do besides nursing and even what I can do with my previous degree. I was in Target earlier today shopping and I even thought of submitting an application there. At this point I may just to make ends meet. Believe me I am no stranger to hard work being that I've worked through school, worked in warehouses with grueling hours and still try to help my family and somehow have a life. I just thank God that I don't have kids yet because this may have influenced me to stay and take this mess. This job sucked but hopefully there will be many more that will be better out there. I care too much about myself to kill myself slowly this way with this job.

Hi INLPN93, Exactly what "bonuses" do you mean? I'm willing to work base right now as long as I am actually being oriented and not fearing for my life (and license) and patient's lives on a daily basis. As for the facility being "young" this is also certainly true of my place as they've recently cleaned house and all the RNs are in my age range of mid twenties. The "older nurses" are all LPNs and I don't know how in goodness name they have hung around this place so long. The building has 75% new nurses and 25% seasoned nurses and I try my damndest to get adviced from the more seasoned ones because I feel strange getting it from someone nearly as green as me who has only been out of school 3 months. I'm not sure if I can shake this feeling of leaving enough to go in ready to work on Monday but I do have my resignation typed up and ready to go.

Hi nursejoed, I was almost conjuring something descent to think about LTC several times but you hit the nail right on the head with this one. I feel that if I'm not part of the solution, I will soon be part of the problem. I don't see a " system" being of value if it is designed to be a failure with the LTC ratios. It seems that everyone I've been under has taken so many short cuts and even things like falls or patients flipping out in the middle of the shift take so ridiculusly long to tame that indeed it puts a huge dent in one's day as it has done with mine numerous times. I don't feel like I'm even positiviely influencing the lives of these patients, but rather enabling the ones especially dependent on all the narcs to keep being drug seekers and trying to manipulate I and other nurses into giving them narcs early when they know that we can't. I feel like a drug pusher at times and nothing more.

Hi onaclearday, That is how I'm feeling now. I feel hopeless and prone to mistakes. I feel that if I keep going especially in my mental state now I will just end up getting fired or my license seized. I know in this economy its tough but I feel that I should never have taken this job, even though I was on the brink of foodstamps. Last week before work I actually hoped that I would get into a fender bender to delay me from having to go into work or just not be able to make it at all. This is not how I want to live.

hi all, after 6 weeks of orientation at the ltc job, i've officially had it and will be resigning. there were too many signs things were awry and i fear for so many things on a daily basis. my preceptors only cared that they didn't "want to leave late" as i was being oriented on my shift (finally, after nearly begging the don) these past two weeks. i was told that i could not work past my shift because orientees don't qualify for overtime and if anything was to happen after my shift that the facility will not pay. well, i had not only missed breaks this week i also had to punch out for my shift to come up and finish what i couldn't in my alloted time, all the while i was berated by my preceptor that i should have started earlier on med pass (i did but didn't know any of the 22 patients on her wing) even though i had to do this alone without any assistance. prior to this she would seek me out just to find out if i was doing her side as if i (and i probably was) just a helper to her. then she would dip off to the employee lounge or go make phone calls in the supply closet. i don't even have a job lined up to fall back on and i realize that i will be dealing with not getting unemployment for 6 weeks but i can't cope anymore. i feel so cheated and unprepared and one of the worst things is that nursing was a career change for me and as a consequence of the education i am thousands of dollars in debt that i haven't started paying back yet. i called off work today and spent the day nearly sick and sad applying for jobs, nearly crying, and typing out my resignation letter to submit come monday. i don't know what else to do and don't even know if nursing is for me anymore. i've never felt more demoralized and useless until i started this job. the only thing i can say is that i have another degree to fall back on but i don't see any jobs in that field. if anyone has any advice as to what else to do it would be greatly appreciated.

Started and still am at my first job. 6 weeks and counting and I'm terrified that I hate it so much and I'm still in orientation. The signs are all there that this job is not the business but I am still looking for work with not too much luck and I need the money. *sigh* Jesus take the wheel and give me the strength to continue.

Hi Carol, In this instance I felt like I was powerless because a.) I'm still and orientee and haven't been on the unit that long, b.) jobs are hard to come by and c.) being one of color I feel almost as if I'm not allowed to speak out because it would not have been understood. I mention the last point because just this past Friday there was yet another inservice which only included the CNA's (all people of color) which I overheard. The jist of the "inservice" was basically not to "provoke" or do anything that would make the residents upset because they pay good money to be at XYZ facility and they are always right and are entitled to good service. All I can do is my part and look for different jobs while I maintain this one until I can leave completely. I don't want to be part of the problem and feel like I'm always doing something wrong, especially so early.

Hi Blackhearted nurse, I am definitely trying for more areas and will consider psych especially if I can find positions that don't require so much experience. I have my previous degree and am still looking to incorporated it into a job with nursing but those jobs don't seem to exist as yet. It is New Years day 8:55 am as I type this and I've been online searching jobs since 6 am. I just want to be happy 2011 and beyond. I've worked so hard and put up with so much.

@kcmylorn, Wow is all I can say. No matter what I am always thinking of the future and right now I still feel so uncertain especially in these times.

Hi RN1236, I pray every day that I can continue on. I just feel so sad, stupid, and lied to that nursing wouldn't be like this but I feel that it just is. I am so much in debt but I just want to be happy. I love caring for people but I feel like I'm a doormat with excess responsibility.