skicoachrn

Crap. I am already feeling stuck. I work in a small LTC and rehab facility, originally hired per diem as a new nurse, and have grown and learned a lot, but now I think they find me to be one of the hardest workers, and so are jumping on any opportunity to have me do more and more. I have started as the consultant for the res care side (capacity of 24) and it has taken me 6 hours to go through 2 charts. I have to create an audit form to follow and try to get faster. The administrator wants me to make up for missing reports from the last 6 MONTHS!! I do not think it is possible, so I am giving him my first report from May and June. I cannot believe how much work it is, and I wonder if I am being too conscientious. I have a list of the regs I am auditing for, but even so, there are sub categories and tangents to follow if I see a red flag somewhere. I cant fathom going through each chart in only 15 minutes. That would take superhuman speed of attention to detail. I am kind of freaking out. The director called me today and asked me if I want to assume the MDS coordinator role too.......I have only been a nurse for 1 year now (a bit less). One side of me would rather look at charts all day than do some aspects of patient care, so maybe it will be a good fit. I figure for the first report for res care it should take me 1 hour per chart (maybe less after going through the first 12) and 2-3 hours to write up my report. 27 hours of work for every 60 days. Does that seem right?

DebRN0417 - Thank you for your response. It is odd that the facility hired me as I have less than one year of experience. I am not up to speed with regs at all and will have a TON of work to learn it all. I feel a bit directionless, and I am worried about the work load, but it will ultimately be good for my career I guess. I'd hate to fill in for the DON!!!

Thanks for reading this. I have recently been hired by the LTC and rehab center where I work per diem as an RN to do consultant work for the res care. I can't figure out what I am supposed to do exactly. I have a list of regs that I need to check compliance for in the charts, but piecing it all together has been really hard for me. Does anyone do this? Can anyone help me with organization and planning? I spent 3 hours there today looking over 2 charts to review.....there are 24 on the unit! I cannot spend 1.5 hours on each persons chart every 60 days and write my summary and suggestions on top of that! Does anybody have any advice for me? Thank you! I feel like I got suckered in to the job before I knew what it really entailed!

Don't be too hard on yourself. It sounds like you thought of all the right things. Remember he had just been in the hospital and they obviously missed something since he only came back with orders to monitor the wound. I do like the reminder to listen to your gut and follow those instincts. If you feel uneasy about something at least a call to the on call MD can help reassure you. But do not beat yourself up. I think you sound very conscientious.

Thanks dbscandy. and everyone for the supportive words.

I am a baby beginner nurse anyway. While I feel very insecure and awkward in my learning, I know my heart is absolutely there with my patients, and I do not do what I feel even slightly uncomfortable doing.

Well, this is a humor thread after all. Goodness, such expertise here....that is the thing about nursing that is hard, all the EXPERTS who never make a mistake....ever. Obviously the insulin thing did not get me very far. After I opened the syringe and looked at the bottle I went DUH and laughed a little bit. It was funny how stupid it was. Sorry I freaked you all out a little bit. Same with the kangaroo tube. I opened the package, looked at the ends of the tube and banged myself on the forehead for wasting a whole tube feeding set...funny, no? My preceptor laughed with me too. Should I have cried and quit? Should she have reported me as unsafe? If that is the general consensus, than my humanness makes me unfit to be a nurse. I'll leave it to all you superpowers out there. :bowingpur

OMG! I can imagine the look of horror! I bump into stuff each time I go into a room. Our rooms are like broom closets for crying out loud! Broken angel on the floor is just too metaphoric for words.

I feel for you. You have been through a lot. I think if you still have a dream, and still have a strong desire to work you can find your place as an RN. In fact, it may be the healthiest (albeit hard) thing for your recovery from the TIA. You will work your brain and keep learning and that will help rewire your brain. And remember we ALL forget stuff every day, and have to look it all up again. That is why there are resource books everywhere! It will be challenging for you, but don't give up! Find a pace you can handle. hugs.

I am week 4 in a 6 week orientation as a new RN in LTC/Rehab. I have done some really stupid stuff so far Highlights: 10)__ Tried to hook up an IV antibiotic with kangaroo (g-tube) tubing! 9)__ Unhooked a suprapubic catheter to flush without pinching the tube. Hello pee! I love pee!....just not on my shirt and shoes. 8)__ Tried to draw up insulin in a 60 cc syringe using an 18 gauge needle! 7)__ Stood around feeling really clueless. 6)__ Asked a s/p CVA pt. with right sided paresis to squeeze my hand....with her right hand. 5)__ Hid in the bathroom when asked to flush that dang suprapubic catheter again. 4)__ Had daily fights and arguments with the IV pump. "There is no freakin air bubbles you stupid machine I finally did it right this time. Stop beeping!!!" 3)__ Said to a Pt: "I really like how your member looks". so embarrassing....but at least the ulcer on it is healing! 2)__ Hid in the bathroom for 14A's flush again...... 1)__ Tripped and fell into a Pt's bed landing pretty much fully on top of him! talk about a laugh. I have never felt so stupid, clumsy and DIS-oriented ever in my life as I have in the last 4 weeks of orientation.