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SQUISHYRN thanks a ton!! And you are so right since starting my job ice had to send someone to the hospital, do an incident report for a fall, order labs, dc meds, get psych consults plus tons more and if u do not ask the right person u may do something so wrong and u will get In trouble because they say u should have known.....Just 2days ago I was on the cart 7residents were missing at least one of their meds so I could not give it and we are not allowed to borrow so I didnt knoe what to do besides call and fax new orders to the pharmacy but as far as documenting on the MAR I was lost 1 nurse said just put u faxed it and called pharmacy med not given one nurse said sign it and leave a note saying last dose was given and re ordered well the next day still lost I went to my Supervisors and DON and they said u have to call the pharmacy and tell them to delivery it STAT as per the DON because documenting not given because of the pharmacy would be a med error my head spun because the seasoned nurses not all but some have their way of doing things and not always the right way so they orientate u and some things I know flat out is wrong but the paperwork I would not know what is wrong or not ugh its so much

Thanks everyone to your feedback to my little rant... well this is week two ot orientation and so far so great ive been blessed with 4wks of training and im gonna def take advantage my side is tough 20+ pts with 7diabetics and some who came from a psych facility sheesh its a lot to handle but I took a breathe and trying to just get a routine watch the nurse training me do everything wrong lol and stay positive....no nursing school can not prepare you for LTC and thats the sad thing u have to just be a quick learner and not have to many panic attacks ive started going in 30min early just to get organized hopefully it will get better I will keep u guys updated :)

So im a new Grad LPN as of July 17th. And now reality as hit I started My new job this monday and now asking myself ***.. In school they teach you everything you need to know to get started to being a great nurse. Many clinical hours spent in the hospitals doing skills and mastering them. My problem with this is LPNs no longer really work in Acute settings. Most LPNs do either home care or LTC no there is a huge difference in Acute and LTC and thats where my problem begins. In school clinicals for our med pass we may be given up to 5pts...But we did not have to chart just sign off on the meds, we did not have to call doctors, we did not have to get labs or consults. In LTC the LPNs role is so much more then what we do in school. Yea they teach charting but omg what about everything else. I know there is a limit on what they can and can not teach but they want us to be great nurses and part of that is getting a job and being able to feel confident you can adequately perform. Yes I can assess and treat and yes I can pass med and sign my book but there is so much more and I see it time and again in these threads how New Grads are overwhelmed because after 2days orientation they are on their own. Does anyone not see an issue with this, yea you can ask questions but you are responsible and there is just so much room for error in the situation of LTC with a new GRAD on their on 20plus pts and no idea how to even start anything but a med pass.. Give me the med pass im good but im just so baffled at the pluses of the job. I feel like LPN programs should let you experience the hospitals and peds and ob but some time should be spent in the field we are to work. Let us get behind the desk with a nurse to see the paper work come in to get that early am report count the carts and the shifts end. Im lucky enough my job is willing to train me a 3-4wks because the DON really believes in me and I know I will do great I graduated top of my class and Im just the kind of person to get what needs to be done done but for all those who have 2days orientation and are crying right now its just not fair. Some say you get use to it but dont you think things will be so much better if you were more prepared maybe nurses would not be cutting corners, or so grouchy. I feel nursing programs, and new grad orientations should really adjust according to the times (sorry for this extremely long thread just wanted some thoughts on this because it has been bugging me)

Im starting my first job on Monday and I cant be any more scared, nervous, excited, and sick to my stomach lol I do feel I forgot everything but I worked as a CNA for 5yrs so I utilized the nurses I were close with while in nursing school the good ones anyway and asked questions all the time and asked their advice on things like time management. My first job is LTC with 30pts OMG! Lol but by the grace of God they are giving me a great orientation time 4-8wks thats a blessing in its self. So I guess my advice would be stay calm lol

I would suggest not only looking online and newspapers. I recently was hired at a facility that was not even advertising that they were hiring I basically googled LTC facilities in my area and also doctors offices and everyday for 2wks I went to about 2 or 3 and was never sure if they were hiring or not the last one I went to I was hired that day and I start Monday so dont limit yourself and get stuck doing something you do not like being a nurse is supposed to be rewarding if you must go back choose the one that cause the less stress and continue to search for something else

Confidence and persistence. I never looked online for a job or the paper I googled different nursing homes and places I knew hired lpns, i made a ton of copies of my cover letter and resume and everyday made it a point to visit 2-3 of those places and do applications. The place I got hired at never even advertised the open position. Even tho you have no experience be confident in the interview and make sure you voice your strengths. The hiring DON was so enthused about my excitement she said she would rather take the risk on hiring me then on someone with 15yrs experience and maybe bad habits. She mentioned how new grads are so fresh new skills and eager to learn.

I make $24/hr new grad in NJ

Im usually such a big skeptic and think the worst first lol but this day I felt inspired because she spoke to me not at me and she really understood. Although she was not certain at the time if she could hire me she believed in me and that felt great. Constantly you hear oh they not hiring LPNs anymore or why did you go to be a LPN or they phasing out LPNs such crap we are nurses and just as important as others. Im so happy my story was able to help and shed some light on those feelings down its a tough journey but if you wan it bad enough it is so worth it.

Hey Im so happy for you I just saw the comment you left under my post!!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! I know the feeling so exciting

Thanks guys!!! Im from Nj and its really difficult here for Lpns especially new grads

I took my Nclex Sept 17th of this year and one thing I realized there is honestly no way to study. You need to just get familiar with the style of questions and know the basics like labs. I had a ton of select all that apply and honestly I dont think I knew half of the material on y exam but i finished in 45min and passed the first try remain calm and be confident a lot of the questions just want to know that you know what to do in a certain situations even if you dont know what the med is or the disease process is are you gonna lift the head first or apply o2

Hey Guys I had to share my story today because I know as a new grad as of July 17 there is a lot of disappointment faced. I graduated July 17,2013 I successfully passed my boards September 17,2013 and been on the job hunt since. Every corner I turned I constantly heard the spell about "oh they dont hire LPNs anymore" or "you need experience" my journey had just begun and I was already fed up. Yesterday my job let me go because i was a CNA and my nursing license is now active as if things could not get worse they told me even though I had been there 5yrs they are no longer hiring LPNS as of last year.. Well today October 8th,2013 I went on another job interview with confidence me and the DON spoke for 30min and she told me how inspiring I was and had such a great personality and good vibe but they require 2yrs experience and that I should not get discouraged as I walked out another nurse awaited her interview and she had 10yrs experience. Within 30min of getting home my phone rang and it was the DON calling to offer me a job at 24$ an hour 3-11pm part time to start With all this being said dont give up I remained confident and although my journey has just begun Im excited that I was able to make her believe in me as much as I believe in myself.