calexis20

Hi there, I need advice. I've been a nurse 5 years now. Most recently as an ADON in a personal care/AL home. I have a 1yo and due to insane amounts of staff shortages have had my life totally flipped upside down and have been working nights/days for a month. I had been contemplating leaving my job prior to this due to poor life/work balance, the never ending cycle of bringing in high acuity residents (for this particular loc), not having an appropriate amount of staff nor resources and really just tired of the politics and corporate BS. Everyone is burnt to the ground esp after this year. Anyways, I've handed in my notice and am planning to go agency for a while to make a schedule that works for me and my life. Any tips for agency nursing? What did you do for insurance, especially if you have children. Do/did you love it? Hate it? Make decent money? Tell me your stories. Good and bad. I'm not afraid of hard work and I know it's crazy everywhere. But I am looking forward to leaving work at work for the first time in a long time.

You hit the nail on the head that's exactly what it means! Lol I have seen this as well. I did work AL for my first 6 months. I have had admissions roll through from AL facilities that I couldn't believe had survived for so long in AL when they needed more. My hope is that state and facilities will start to realize the demographic is changing and allow the floor nurses in AL to do more, that would be a start. At least where I am now and where I'm going the nurses are very restricted in what they can do. Thank you for your insight!

Hello fellow nurses! I've worked LTC/STR as an LPN for about 2.5 years and just accepted a new position as assistant director of wellness in an ALF. Was wondering if there are any nurses out there who have experience in this position and would share their typical day/issues and any tips. TYSM!

Yes that helps ton! Thank you both! I did keep my report sheet from this specific hall so that I can write notes for next time. I definitely am a list person so I am going to try writing out my timeline like coffee rtc said. And I will definitely be going in early to look at the schedule because looking for ppl takes so much time! and i also had my first fall, its like they can smell a fresh nurse on the floor! lol

Hello all! Just venting/need some advice! So i graduated 06/16. passed boards 7/29 and have been working as a shift lead at an ALF sonce august. I scored a LTC/Rehab PRN job sometime in september. They offered 40 days of training which i graciously took. I am still on orientation, today i came in and they were short a charge desk nurse and asked if i would jump on a cart so another nurse could take the desk. I said yes. Now, i feel like I did okay. 1st med pass and treatments were done by 1130 ish. now i have about 22 patients, but they are pretty needy. Narcs around the clock. one with IV abt, another with GI bleed, ETOH abuse etc etc. anyway my question is i feel like i was kind of all over the place. how do you organize getting your vitals signs, mini assesments, meds accuchecks etc etc in a way where you dont constantly have to go back? and the charting has me nervous! I feel like my charting sucked today especially because i dont know these patients! I feel like im freaking out a little here!

Hello everyone, I know it's been a really long time since we had this conversation but I just wanted to give a huge thanks and update to all of you who took the time to give me advice. I just graduated from my program on the 16th of this month, and am in the process of getting a job now where I work as a CNA and just waiting for my authorization to test! I'm very excited and happy to start this new career and to keep going with my studies. í ½í¸Š

Oh I know you must be relieved! Lol my program is a year long. I start in June and end in June of next year. It's going to be a loooong year haha

You go! That is a really want tough schedule! I have no kids and I'm single. My school schedule just changed actually, its now M-Th 7:30-2:30 and then Fridays 7:30-11. With my new work schedule I will have off M-T-W work Thurs and then have Friday off. 16hr shift Saturday and a regular shift Sunday night into Monday. It will be a but rough I think, but Im almost sure that I'll be okay as long as I focus. I really want to do this, and I decided to keep my apartment only because it's more beneficial for me then my other options. My parents have agreed to help with whatever I need financially, so I think I'll be alright. Thank you so much for your advice! ☺ and good luck to you too dear!

Wow mariafromcali you're a tough cookie! Thank you for sharing your story with me. I have read so many posts from people who tell me they went to school and worked all while having children too. Amazing! I Dont have any kids right now, if you can do it I can too! Thanks for your encouragement ☺

FuturenaijaRN Thank you very much!

Hi everyone! I haven't been on here in a while but I wanted to thank you all for your great advice! I took time to think and decided it would be better for me to keep my apartment so that I can have a quiet place to study as my other options didn't really give me that. My DON worked with me and I was able to drop my hours to 30hrs every week and I will have a couple days off during the week. I think I will be just fine as long as I manage my time well and focus. I'm so excited!

Thank you very much for the response! It's greatly appreciated!

Hi all! I am new to AN! I am currently a full time nights aide at a SNF. I start the LPN program in June but I am worried about working and going to school! Class is M-F 8-2:30p. I get off work at 7am. I am trying to drop my hours from 75hrs to 60 hours as that would give me 2 days off during the week + every other weekend but I want to see if I can maybe work 12s on the weekends and have T-W-T off. I have my own apartment and am having a really hard time with the thought of giving it up but I will do whatever is necessary to graduate! Looking for advice or anyone's personal experience in this situation! Thanks so much in advance! 😊