Should I quit?

Scottishtape · Nov 25, 2015

Sounds like a miserable place to work.

I have found that on orientation, things are a lot slower and more boring than when you're on your own - obviously. What you described isn't orientation. It's nurses who don't give two craps about you or your training. You can always sit down with the ADON and express your concerns. This may help. It may not.

Based on how you described the utter disorganization, I would assume not much will change. You need to think about not only will you be happy there, but will your license be safe there? I have walked out of two different LTC facilities when I saw things that I knew would place myself and my license at risk. There's just no reason to stay in a situation that you see could be professionally (or otherwise) harmful.

Not only that, but since you're new to nursing, you really need to be trained by nurses who don't do things "illegally". You need to use this first year to build a good solid foundation for yourself.

I would start looking for something else if it were me.

caliotter3 · Nov 25, 2015

Any place where I have worked, the nurses would have been all over you trying to get you going so that there would be another person working. This sit around and ignore the new person is a new one on me. Probably best to start searching for another job. I don't think that being proactive on your part can salvage this situation. However, be warned that a lot of what you have observed will be found in just about any long term care facility. You are just looking for one where you have a better chance.

annabash_rn · Nov 25, 2015

I am so sorry you are having this horrible experience. I would suggest you continue looking for another job. In the meantime, are there any friendly/more seasoned nurses you might be able to seek out for guidance regarding job duties/training? It sounds like your preceptor(s) aren't helpful at all. Also, 5-6 days of orientation sounds pretty short to me. I would look elsewhere.

gipsydangerous · Nov 26, 2015

Not all LTC and nursing facilities are like this. Just FYI. Good luck job searching!

Inori, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2015

learn what you can, continue looking for a new job.

Iknowwha2du · Nov 26, 2015

I know it sucks but a lot of facilities are ran this way so, you just have to do enough and do it right enough to survive in the environment. Cover your orifice as well. Make sure you can back up what you do and research things you don't understand. Ask someone that you can trust questions that you need clarification on. I worked at a LTC facility and I had to care for up to 30 patients. I would go in a 3pm and not leave until 3 am the next day. All of us nurses would leave at that time although we were scheduled for 8 hours. I now work at a hospital and I have less patients, still a lot of responsibility but things have improved from the past. If you have some experience for a certain amount of time, it is easier to get a better job. It looks great if you can survive in LTC facility especially if you are an RN, that is you take the job cause you can't get anything better.

Ldya1492 · Nov 28, 2015

Thanks for the advice. I did speak to the ADON and he only gave me two extra days. Also come the end of December I will be made the admissions nurse. My last 2 days have been alot better as I have had better preceptors who incorporate me in their work and actually explain things to me. I still have not been familiarized with procedures and policies and it's just kind of left up to me to figure things out. I wasnt even informed of a mandatory meeting or that I am to complete 40+ tests/assessments by a specific time. I'm contemplating whether to resign or just stick it out until something better comes up.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Nov 30, 2015

The unfortunate thing about orienting to facility policies and procedures is that there are some things you just won't encounter during orientation. For instance falls and other incidents. Unless there is a "dummy" resident in your charting that you can practice on this probably won't get done. After all, it's not like you can count on somebody falling just so you can get experience in the facility documentation.

Things like familiarity with the charting software including order entry should definitely be done during orientation. Med pass orientation is of course a must.

Ask, actually insist on at at least three full shifts with the same nurse. First day you should shadow and learn the basics of documentation, probably a bit boring but it will give you a good feel for the pace and work load. Second day you should dive in do everything, but with your orientating nurse glued to your side to walk you through it. This is quite often impossible for some orienting nurses to manage as they are so used to rush, rush, rush that they just can't handle the understandably slow pace of a brand new nurse. Hopefully the nurse you are paired with will be patient. Third, maybe fourth day as well you should be able to fly solo with minimal assistance from your preceptor.

This cycle should be repeated with at least three different nurses, preferably at least one on each shift. If your facility is not willing to provide you with decent orientation you will be set up for massive frustration if not total failure. Talk to the DON [or ADON if that is your contact person] and if they can't or won't work with you to give you the training you need to work independently then definitely start looking for something else.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2015

Thanks for the advice. I did speak to the ADON and he only gave me two extra days. Also come the end of December I will be made the admissions nurse. My last 2 days have been a lot better as I have had better preceptors who incorporate me in their work and actually explain things to me. I still have not been familiarized with procedures and policies and it's just kind of left up to me to figure things out. I wasnt even informed of a mandatory meeting or that I am to complete 40+ tests/assessments by a specific time. I'm contemplating whether to resign or just stick it out until something better comes up.

Sounds like you have legitimate gripes, but you should take the bull by the horns and jump in. You could independently be looking at Policy and Procedure Manuals, you could latch on to a couple of aides and work with them for a while, learning the place from their perspective.

And don't sit at the desk. Follow the nurses around, meet the patients. Take initiative. Find the fire extinguisher, learn the phones, doctors' and other peoples' names, talk to the MDS Coordinator, follow the Admissions Nurse so you will know how to do admissions, learn where supplies are, and so on. There are many ways you can keep busy and learn a lot. Read patients' charts, too.

Get hold of an admission packet and learn what it contains. Get your Orientation Checklist checked off. And get those tests done while you have time.

Ldya1492 · Dec 8, 2015

Believe me I tried taking the bull by the horns lol. I even filled in for a call-in during my orientation. That was completely overwhelming since I had to constantly find a coworker to point out the resident to ensure I was giving the correct meds. Not to mention atleast one medication for every patient was missing and when I asked what to do if I didn't have the medication I got a shrug or an not so helpful answer. I asked several nurses where I could find the procedure and policy manuals, some didn't know and some said I should have gotten it during orientation. When I spoke to my ADON he told me that I was to go to the "new nurses orientation" which was in the building next door to the facility that I worked in (The LTC facility that I work for is part of a chain of LTC facilities located through out the state). When I went, other nurses there from the other facilities were on day 1 or 2 of their orientation. It made me think that my facility rushed the hiring process with me. I finally was introduced to the policy and procedure manual which is on every computer at the facility. This decreased some of my anxiety. I was then further instructed that I should be trained to use the electronic documenting system by trainers located off site. (Funny thing is I had to take the test for the electronic documenting system the next day with my ADON who said he personally would train me). The next day I came in to train and take the test all in one sitting and he barely new what he was doing which even more confusing. I still wasn't on the schedule since he had to see if I passed or failed the test (which I failed) and after I asked him repeatedly if I was to come in Monday he told me he would text me what my schedule was for the week. Well come Monday afternoon he texted me to come in and that he was there til 5pm. I felt he should have just told me to come in Monday, not text me mid-day when I have to drop everything. Maybe I'm nit picking now, since I'm usually patient but I'm kinda fed up. No proper training and no organization!! Everyday I get home I'm putting in tons of applications and just considering starting back to school until something better comes up.

~Shrek~ · Dec 9, 2015

I worked somewhere with a lot of problems like you describe. I quit, but I have my parents financially supporting me, and during the 5-6 months I was unemployed, I didn't have any concern about paying for rent or food and was taking classes at my local JC to go to graduate school. If you can afford to quit and have family supporting you, then I would. If you need the money and cannot afford to quit, begin looking for a new job NOW.