I recently obtained a job PRN in a nursing home. I am a new grad LPN and we are only allowed a 5 day orientation (today was day 5 for me), although I was told I could have a few more days if necessary. I must say I knew this would be no bed of roses, but it has turned out to be nothing short of a nightmare:( At this point I am not sure if I am going to be able to handle this job. I feel totally overwhelmed. The med cart is a jumbled assortment that I don't think I could have memorized even in my younger years lol. I am trying hard to memorize the 30 something odd folks on this hall, but as they are all over the place it is hard to keep track of a lot of them. I have also noticed that many of the residents don't have ID bracelets on, which I thought was very strange.
I don't want to just "give up", but really feel stressed out. Everyone keeps telling me it will get better...which I truly want to believe. This job is only two days a week every other weekend and every other Monday and Friday, which would allow me to return to school in January, as I had planned. I know that LPN's seem to have limited places that they can work and I don't want to job hop all over the place.
Hopefully I can make it work. I hope everyone has a great evening!
Yes, never a good sign when an employee is "out of there" at the first opportunity! I was just offered a job today at another nursing home. At first I didn't want to accept it but I had just had a conversation with another former classmate a few hours prior to getting the offer and she assured me that not all nursing homes will be like that. I decided to accept the offer and give it a chance; maybe I'll get lucky and really enjoy the job or at least have nurses that are willing to spend a little time on my orientation. Either way, I'll be sure to get something out of the experience and, if it's really terrible, I'll be so "out of there" at the first opportunity, LOL!
Guess someone is looking out for us because I ALSO received an offer today that I believe I am going to take. I go in Thursday to fill out their paperwork and then will begin orientation. Another classmate of mine is working at this facility and assures me that I will find things much different than I did at the other place. I sure hope so. I don't want to quit job after job. I know that doesn't look too good... but before I will lower MY standards to match THEIRS I will!
I was scared to death to even say yes to this... but in talking with my mom about it she said well, "it isn't like anyone is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to stay... if it is doesn't work out LEAVE"! LOL...
I am crossing my fingers that this will work out for both of us. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes for you:)
Don't worry ,every job have its own starting troubles,be positive always that you can do everything.When i started my job after my graduation I struggled lot,sometimes felt to run away from there.But ,due to that struggles only i have learned everything within 3 months and learned how to scrub and circulate in OR.So,take the struggles as a challenge and go forward,don't give up.More over have faith in God and pray always even during your work.All the best
Thank you kocheli, positive postings from members is one of the main reasons that I keep coming back to this website! It really helps to have someone else share their experiences with you to let you know that we're not the only ones out there that struggles sometimes.
Pegasus65, congratulations! It just goes to show that if you hang in there long enough, good things will start to happen! Good luck with everything.
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”
I was wondering how your new job was going? So far this new position seems to be much better. While of course it is still much to take in, at least the meds are where they are supposed to be and the folks training me seem to actually care about the residents. I will train tomorrow and Sunday and then take it on my own next weekend. This position is a Baylor weekend position for 7a-7p on Saturday and Sunday. While the 12 hours are definitely long, I believe it may actually be better for me since it will give me a little longer to do things.... or at least I HOPE that is how it works out lolol. At least I haven't felt that horrible sense of dread going in there that I did with the other place. I hope yours is working out too!
I'm glad to hear that your new job is working out so well. I, too, seem to have made it into a facility that is willing to train and answer questions. And yes, the med cart is so much more organized than the one at the last job. I am absolutely loving my job. Tonight is my first time on my own but there is another nurse working in the building and she has already told me that she is more than willing to answer any questions that I may have, whether I think that it is a dumb question or not.
We are also on 12 hour shifts, which are a killer to get used to, but it does give me more time to get things done and even some down time to learn the facilities procedures and policies.
I am a new LPN myself, but Ive always worked in LTC. That's where my passion is, I love geriatrics. I was blessed to be able to work as a graduate nurse, before I took the NCLEX. I wasnt allowed to pass meds, but I was charting and doing treatments, so I got that down right away. Ive always worked third shift, where personally I think all new nurses should start out at. It is a little slower some nights, but dont let it fool you..night shift if unique and busy in its own way. But it gives you a little more time to get things down. What is also beneficial is the other nurses working with you will have time to answer your questions if you have any.
It was still very scary my first night on the floor by myself. Just take your time, be safe, and ask the nursing assistants which resident you're looking for. I use to be a nursing assistant and 9 times out of 10 if you treat them with respect, they'll do the same and help you out as much as they can.
At the risk of sounding very cliche, it will get better. It's just like any other job, over time you will learn the "ins and outs" of how things work, and what works for you. Take your time, and focus on doing your job and taking care of your residents. Being in a new job will always be scary, but any amount of experience you can get will only benefit you as a nurse.
I'm glad your newer positions are going well. I've been there as a newer LPN.
I know that LTC residents are considered "more stable," but i wish there was more of an orientation period in this specialty. For instance, there's still so many types of paperwork/forms that I have no idea on how to fill out, and we get in trouble if we don't fill them out correctly. I've known nurses who only had a 3-day orientation in LTC (as new grads), and I give them a lot of credit, as there's no way I could have survived with such a short time period.
We had a resident have to be sent out on this past Saturday. The LPN I was training with had me continue to do the medications while she did the paperwork. I did get to see some of it though. I will give this facility one thing... they have tried to make it as easy as possible for you to understand what needs to be done with each situation. There is a flip folder at the nurses station with examples of how the paperwork needs to be filled out and what needs to be sent etc. I am just hoping that I will get a little more time under my belt before anything happens so it won't put me so far behind with med pass. While the massive amount of work is still present.. I will say again this place is much better than the one before!
I was with an agency nurse on Sunday and she pretty much let me do most of it while she sat at nurse's station all day. Actually in a way I was glad because it did let me build at least a "smidgen" of confidence that I can do this lol. Sure hope I feel that way this coming weekend when I am truly "flying solo"!
Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.
We had a resident have to be sent out on this past Saturday. The LPN I was training with had me continue to do the medications while she did the paperwork. I did get to see some of it though. I will give this facility one thing... they have tried to make it as easy as possible for you to understand what needs to be done with each situation. There is a flip folder at the nurses station with examples of how the paperwork needs to be filled out and what needs to be sent etc. I am just hoping that I will get a little more time under my belt before anything happens so it won't put me so far behind with med pass. While the massive amount of work is still present.. I will say again this place is much better than the one before!
I was with an agency nurse on Sunday and she pretty much let me do most of it while she sat at nurse's station all day. Actually in a way I was glad because it did let me build at least a "smidgen" of confidence that I can do this lol. Sure hope I feel that way this coming weekend when I am truly "flying solo"!
Have a great day everyone!
Glad things are going well with your new job. you'll be fine this weekend.
kitkat260, MSN
40 Posts
Yes, never a good sign when an employee is "out of there" at the first opportunity! I was just offered a job today at another nursing home. At first I didn't want to accept it but I had just had a conversation with another former classmate a few hours prior to getting the offer and she assured me that not all nursing homes will be like that. I decided to accept the offer and give it a chance; maybe I'll get lucky and really enjoy the job or at least have nurses that are willing to spend a little time on my orientation. Either way, I'll be sure to get something out of the experience and, if it's really terrible, I'll be so "out of there" at the first opportunity, LOL!