acbrn88

Ahs blatantly wrong as it sounds to do that, I too have worked LTC and understand the unreasonable expectations of management. You can get bogged down. Did, they report it to your BON? If not apply for other jobs and be up front about the whole thing. Thats the only thing you can do!! And also... how hypocritical of them for letting you go. Watch out for stuff like this in the future and just put your foot down. I have been asked to do un-ethical things (LTC) and its why I left. Back-timing things and putting someone elses initials in are a big deal, shame on them for expecting such. Lessons learned the hard way are the ones never forgotten!!

Also just something to note, I had worked as a CNA before but when I graduated ans first started working as an RN that was theworst foot pain I had ever had (nursing home nursing.) Anyway after that my feet would hurt sometimes after work my feet would hurt and still do sometimes a little after a long shift (hospital nursing now). But its not too bad. I have a pair of Danskos and also a pair of Timberland clogs. Both very comfortable although it may be important to note like previous comment said price cannot be an option. These are your feet and your legs and back You only get one set of legs one back!! Also the Dansko shoes do have like a'break in' period where they get formed to your feet as you wear them. Until they are broken in they aren't as great. They also run small. You dont want them tight! Sanitas may be the same way im not sure! Anyway... good luck happy shoe hunting!!

I work nights! Absolutely love it! As others have said the people I worth with on nights are great, way more laid back. The day I work off I am like a zombie but I don't feel like I have less time off. The boyfriend is a paramedic who is still in school full time and works 24's. He definitely understands my crazy sleep schedule so that's nice. Just depends on what fits for you and your lifestyle. Might be harder with kids but for now I love it, more money too!!

Well I almost hate to say this but its good to know that others have had horrible experiences in LTC as well. I got a job at a LTC facility a few months after I got my license, jobs were few and far between for a nurse with no experience. I worked there for six months (And never have I EVER left a job so soon) but it was the most miserable place to work on the PLANET. Ok, well maybe not but you get the picture. A lady that I have come to see as my mentor (She works two jobs and I got hired on at the hospital she works at) told me to GET OUT. No ifs, ands or buts about it. I finally listened. They make new grads (having been out of school six months or so) managers over whole units and give them way to much to handle as a new grad. Shane 505 was absolutely right in everything he said. You have way too many people to pass meds to and not enough time and its easy to make med errors. I made my first there, as well. In my LTC facility we still used paper MARs, and at the end/beginning of each month they have to be 'checked off.' We got our assignments and I understood how it worked, but what I failed to realize was that after the 'new mars' were printed and started to be checked off, any new order written had to be put on both sets of MARs. I signed off a Coumadin order for someone (and generally INR's were done once a week unless the range was totally crazy) and I put it on the current MAR but not the new one. And after the beginning of the new month the pt didn't get coumadin for three days until someone caught it who remember the pt getting coumadin previously. Someone else was supposed to check behind me and they didn't catch it either but the point is I didn't do what I was supposed to (which I still believe to be my fault even though I was never shown or taught how to do this correctly, learned by trail and error as you can see). BIG med error. I worked a rehab hall so some of my pts ask what they are taking, etc, but this pt was also mentally retarded and couldn't ask what he was taking he just trusted I was doing my job, which made me SICK. He had filters in his legs, so I didn't cause any harm, and it was my mentor on duty when it was found out. She took me for a walk outside the building and explained things to me. I was so upset I threw up. So I feel your pain, dear. Don't be discouraged. Its like anything else you just have to pick yourself up and keep going. Things were fine, my pt was ok. Since then I have accidently done other things too. My point is this, like others have said, be glad you didn't hurt anyone, there are worse (MUCH WORSE) errors, and EVERY NURSE makes errors. We are human too. I work at a teaching hospital now and lots of errors are made. But there are many many checks in place to help nurses out to hopefully keep us from making mistakes. We have to scan meds and scan the pt and two nurses IDs are used to give insulin, stuff like that. I received adequate orientation at the hospital though, at the LTC facility I received one week of following a nurse around who wouldn't let me do anything. I was scared for my license, so I started looking elsewhere for a job. I had my new job lined up and then turned in a notice to my old job. (We were being forced to work 5 and 6 12 hr shifts per week due to short staffing, I had 40+ pts on my own at night for night shift, I also had times where there was no nurse to relieve me so I just had to keep passing medicine. Let me say, after 16 hrs you are ready to GO!) When I told the DON I was turning in my notice they told me not to work it out because they didn't trust me. *crazy* Anyway, not all facilities are like that, I am sure, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job now. I work a normal rotation schedule, 3 and 4 12's a week, straight nights, I always have relief, I learn new things every day, I have co-workers that help and managers that ROCK! It has its rough days but I feel like I am learning and actually getting to be a nurse now. So there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep on doing your thing, you are a great nurse, don't feel like you aren't!!=)