does it really get better?

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.

I recently started my orientation as a medication nurse at a LTC facility. I took the job knowing that it would be nice to take on a different environment. But right now, I am not so sure. I felt bad that we actually moved closer to this facility so that I wouldn't have to worry about driving long distances. And I really appreciate that my husband understands me and agreed to move. The 1st week seemed pretty good 'til I made a huge mistake last night. I was doing the med pass on my own with no supervision. Told my preceptor about it and she said that I made a huge medication error. I felt horrible and incompetent. Went home in tears and I'm glad my husband was there to comfort me. Geriatrics is new to me and I'm not so sure if this for me. The med pass is overwhelming knowing that my patients before in L&D have less than 5 meds in a shift. My med pass always take three hours and I envy the other nurses who gets done in an hour or two. I'm having a hard time with difficult residents who always refuse their meds but takes it when my preceptor gives them. I feel that I'm doing pretty bad and I truly believe that we are our worst enemy. It seemed like I can't get over the mistake that I made. Now with how my performance at work is, I don't want my husband to regret the fact that we moved here and end up me getting kicked out of orientation and stuck in this place.

I just wanna know how you guys dealt with this kind of feeling? How long did it took you to get the hang of things?

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Specializes in PerioOperative Nursing & Psych.

It really does get better... I promise. We all make mistakes, even nurses who have been practicing for a long time. What matters is that you learn from your mistakes, and try not to repeat them. In my first year I worked as a Psych nurse along with another job ( trying to pay off nursing school debts;)) and I was the medication nurse and needed to pass meds scheduled for 2130, the nurse that was precepting me was busy because one of our patients had become combative and needed to be Baker Acted; so she was working on that. I started working on the med pass at 2100 and never finished until 2300; the patients were getting aggravated by the minute but the faster I tried to go the slower I got. Now I have been working at this facility now for about 1 year and it takes me a lot less time to do it...where I can get my patients to bed by 2200 ( but only sometimes). The point of the story is that even though some nurses may go fast and others slow... after you get more comfortable with the medications and patient recognition you will gradually increase in speed. Never sacrifice SPEED for QUALITY. Always remember it is your license on the line.....

So, keep your chin up, thank your hubby for sticking with you and it will get better.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

It definitely gets better! Take any advice or suggestions your coworkers are willing to give to improve your speed and success with getting the meds in the more difficult patients. If you feel comfortable describing your med error maybe we can offer ways to avoid that in the future. Hang in there.

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.
It definitely gets better! Take any advice or suggestions your coworkers are willing to give to improve your speed and success with getting the meds in the more difficult patients. If you feel comfortable describing your med error maybe we can offer ways to avoid that in the future. Hang in there.

I took a narcotic pain pill from my resident's husband which happened to be a resident too. I didn't realize the mistake I made until I was about to sign off the narc sheet.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

It happens. Use it as a learning experience in the value of the 5 rights and remember to double check the names. Trust me your supervisor has seen worse!

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.
It happens. Use it as a learning experience in the value of the 5 rights and remember to double check the names. Trust me your supervisor has seen worse!

Thanks. I appreciate all of your kind words and encouragement. I am encouraging myself to learn from it and try to be positive. How about dealing with difficult patients? I try my best to offer the meds to a resident who keeps saying no and I respect their right. How do you let a patient take a pill without violating the patient's right to refuse. I don't wanna be in trouble just because of these patient's rights.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

It does get MUCH better. I would start a med pass at 7:30am and not be done until 11:30, then have to wheel back to the beginning of the hall and start all over again. Other nurses would be lounging around at 10am, with treatments done and everything. I was so overwhelmed and frustrated, it felt like I could never be like them. Now, 6 months later, if you showed me a cup of meds I could tell you who they were for... even if it was smooshed up in applesauce! Once you get to know your residents and what meds they take and where you find them in the drawer and what works for each person to get the meds down, it all clicks. You will get there! I used to hate it, now I love it!

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Specializes in Case Management, Psychiatric Nursing.

I feel your pain..

when i first started my med pass i got the hang of it it almost cam naturally but as far as the documentation new admits, discharges, and transfers.. it takes me so very long! and i still cant get through it without help from my co-workers. I too feel incompetent at times im on my own finished orientation 2-3 weeks ago and i still get stuck, but i always ask and thank god i found someone that was willing to help... i dont feel like LTC is for me, im currently looking for another full time position so i can give a 2 week notice because i feel so overwhelmed and stressed i cant take it. If this LTC is indeed for you im sure u will get the hang of it and yes as far as med pass you will get familiar with the meds of your residents and eventually know it like the back of your hand.

First year of nursing is hard but we all must go through it.

Hang in there dont give up.. dont worry about the nurses lounging, get your med pass done and take your time.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

The more you get to know your residents the better the chance you will have getting them to take their medications. I don't advocate getting anyone really agitated but try asking them why they won't take their meds. It may be something as easy as crushing a big one or getting them a cup of Pepsi if that is what they like. It may be controversial but I'm not above bargaining to get them to take their much needed medications either. Sometimes I will hand them the med cup and say "ok, just pick two" etc. and see if I can get them to take whatever might be the most important ones such as BP meds, metformin etc. Definitely make an honest effort every day because I can often see nurses that know Mr. X never takes his meds and don't even make a decent attempt at it, imo.

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.
I feel your pain..

when i first started my med pass i got the hang of it it almost cam naturally but as far as the documentation new admits, discharges, and transfers.. it takes me so very long! and i still cant get through it without help from my co-workers. I too feel incompetent at times im on my own finished orientation 2-3 weeks ago and i still get stuck, but i always ask and thank god i found someone that was willing to help... i dont feel like LTC is for me, im currently looking for another full time position so i can give a 2 week notice because i feel so overwhelmed and stressed i cant take it. If this LTC is indeed for you im sure u will get the hang of it and yes as far as med pass you will get familiar with the meds of your residents and eventually know it like the back of your hand.

First year of nursing is hard but we all must go through it.

Hang in there dont give up.. dont worry about the nurses lounging, get your med pass done and take your time.

Thanks LVN2010M, I've read some of your posts regarding your orientation. I already told my husband that I'm not really enjoying the job though he said that I should try sticking with the facility for 6 months so that I could bid on an available position at the hospital. I am not picky, I just wanna enjoy the job that I would have. I know it is tough but I gotta try and do my best and render care as best as I could. I have been receiving offers from other facilities though I feel that if I accept these offers, I would start fresh and move closer so that I don't have to drive long distances.

Let's just hang in there both, hold our chin up and support each other. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to PM me. It is nice to have someone going through the same thing.:hug:

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

The bargaining thing really does work. We have a woman who quite honestly does not belong with us, but in a mental hospital. We are always promising candy if she takes her psych meds. Another woman will not take more than one bite of crushed meds in applesauce, unfortunately she also has a huge potassium and a huge crushable dulcolax. So what I do is crush the small pills (including bp meds and all-important Ativan) and offer that to her first, then have the other large two available in another cup. Sometimes she takes it, sometimes she rejects it. I try again with the second one later. Also, pudding or ice cream masks the crushed pills better than applesauce. If they can articulate, ask how they like their meds. I have one guy that likes a trace of applesauce, just enough to get the surface wet. Other people like the entire cup filled with it. Get to know your CNA's, they may have great suggestions for you. There was one lady who would scream and yell when I'd try to put on her topical Ativan, so a CNA would go in and distract her while I snuck up and rubbed her legs with it. Liquids can be put into morning juice, just lift the lid wrapper slightly, then close it up and shake. I've even on one desperate occasion stood by the door and watched a veteran CNA spoon a med into an anxious resident's mouth. You really aren't supposed to do that, but I see it that if I am right there and the resident knows and trusts the CNA and is refusing it from me, then the ends justify the means. And some days, you just have to let it go, write down "refused", and document.

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