NewLPN11

I can deal with BM and blood all day long, day long...but pus, snot, and puke and I'm gagging!

Yayy congrats :)

Sounds exactly like my hall to a T lol ...do the best you can..thats what I was told at least...

Bahahahahaha ain't that the truth!

Why does it seem (in my experience) that the on call docs are always grumpy when you call them? Even at a reasonable hour. Youre a doctor. What do you expect? Geez.

How long did it take to leave work without the feeling you forgot something? :) just curious! I do bc I am new!

Soo. I am a *fairly* new nurse. Been liscensed less than a year. Now am at my first full time job! I ended up getting 5 days training on a hall I love! Everything was going great! Until tonight. At this facility they have fulltime wknd staff who only do wknds. Those of us who do both are the lucky ones that get thrown onto a different hall. Tonight I had to work a hall with a very heavy med pass, and is never even set eyes on this hall until tonight! I started my evening med pass at 7 and finally got done about 11! An aide asked how I was doing and I started to cry! My shift was suppose to end at 11 and I still had charting, I and o's, treatments etc! I left feeling like I forgot something. Now I can't sleep. I have to go back tom and am dreading it! I feel like a failure and like i can't hack it!

Hi all! Thanks for the input! I'll update: today is day 4. Day 1 I pretty much shadowed. Day 2 I did partial med pass and some treatments, charting etc. Day 3 I was the "nurse" and my orienter was there if I needed her but I did all med passes, treatments, charting, etc. Annnnd I got out on time. I def feel more comfortable with the routine. A lot of it was putting names with faces, getting to know he residents and also the med cart. 2 more days then Monday I fly on my own!

Hi all! I was just curious how many days of orientation is normal for a fairly new nurse in ltc? I am getting 3 to 5 days. Doesn't feel like enough to me.

Hey all, Well...today is my first day in ltc and I was told I'd get 3 to 5 days training w/ another nurse. Thoughts? I feel this is not enough. How many days of training did some of you get? I am anxious and nervous to begin this job. Thanks in advance!

Congrats!

You will answer call lights etc..depending where you work you may have a "chore" list to complete if there is down time. You will turn and reposition the immobile patients q2h (or as ordered) and provide peri care if incontinent, toilet if needed, etc.

I don't feel bad saying "no". They don't own me, I am allowed to make plans on my days off. That being said, I do tend to have a problem saying "no"

Today, I went in to my facility to do computer training and pick up some hours. I ended up opening up to my DON about how nervous and anxious I feel and how I question if I can do the job. She told me that I am doing a great job and she sees no problems, all my documentation is ok etc. Hearing this really gave me a confidence boost! I'm not sure why, but something as simple as "good job" really helped to put me in a better state of mind. Its something I feel we take for granted. I am going to pay it forward and tell my aides good job, thanks for a good night, etc. Just had a good day and wanted to share :)

With my dementia patients I find it is best to go slow and tell them what you're doing so they don't get scared. It's challenging when they can't follow directions, but I still tell them what were doing so they don't get scared. And sometimes it is a full out battle, lol.

A few more tips! When transferring from a WC to bed, chair, toilet, etc, if you can, position the wc so that the patients strong side is closest to the chair, toilet etc. If the foot pedals come off, remove them and set them aside! Don't forget to lock the WC when transferring. Utilize grab bars in bathrooms if they are available. Have the patient push up off the arms of the wc. Good luck!

Hi babblingbrook! I am 5'0" and was an aide for 3 years. Here are some things that really helped me! Use a gait belt! If you need help transferring, ask! Id rather suck it up and ask then have a fall. Lift with your legs, not your arms! If I have a "heavy" transfer, I take a sec, take a breath and use my legs for strength. The most challenging I find are very tall patients. They tend to grab on to my arm and the height difference makes for difficulties. I just instruct them "don't hold here, hold here instead." I hope these tips help a bit! Don't fret, it may take a while to find your "muscles". But, you'll get there! Good luck!

Yes, it was the same day. I work in LTC, I was an aide there for 3 yrs then transitioned into nursing. In Ohio, LPNs are pretty limited to long term care, and home care. It depends where you live what you can do as a LPN. Good luck and keep us posted!!

No way...I can't do without my tennis shoes...Asics or Nikes for me..plus we were told.we couldn't wear Crocs or anything open d/t spills etc..

I live in Ohio, when I passed mine the trick told me the same message you recieved. But, I wouldn't go by that alone. I found out the next day that I had passed by seeing my name on the BON website. Good luck!

Prayers your way!!

Spotted like a COW..haha

Udderly Smooth! The bottle is spotted like a car! Best I've found!

I am an LPN and I am PROUD! However...it wasn't always this way. While training, a LPN who has been with the facility for years kept telling me I should not have become a LPN, I won't find a job, they're phasing us out, blah, blah blah...I think she has her own insecurities to adress!

Honestly, I've just gotten used to it. Like someone mentioned above, be mindful of facial expressions. Sometimes inside I will be wanting to vomit, but I have to hold it together in front of the patient. It also helps to just try not to think about the smell and think about what you are doing to help the resident.