Started new job...how long til I'm comfortable?

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Specializes in ER.

I know you all have had wonderful advice in the past....

I started a new job as a charge nurse in rehab/long term carm recently. This is a completely new area for me and I am overwhelmed with the paperwork/routine etc. I come from the ER so I am not used to calling doctors, updating MARs/charts, etc. I know this seems silly that I am nervous about doing all of this since I have acute care nursing experience, but how long til I feel comfortable?

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dont worry..u will be comfy in no time....i work as an LPN in LTC..i hate the paperwork too....but trust me..with your ER experience....it will come in valuable...and people will be coming to you for advice...and stuff....

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Specializes in ED.

Goodness grief, you must have adjusted to the er at one time, youll get used to this too...............

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Specializes in LTC.

Its been about a month and a half for me in LTC.. its my first job as a LPN. I am still not comfortable

It takes me all shift to do a med pass( 4p 6p and 8p/HS) for 25 patients(actually tonight it took me 6 hours).

Don't even ask about the paperwork yet. I still am learning to do a med-pass in a reasonable amount of time lol. As far as I know about the paperwork.. theres mountains full.

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Its been about a month and a half for me in LTC.. its my first job as a LPN. I am still not comfortable

It takes me all shift to do a med pass( 4p 6p and 8p/HS) for 25 patients(actually tonight it took me 6 hours).

Don't even ask about the paperwork yet. I still am learning to do a med-pass in a reasonable amount of time lol. As far as I know about the paperwork.. theres mountains full.

ive been workin about 3 months my first job as a pvn in ltc and i still dont feel fully comfortable.i feel somewhat comfortable wow 25 i guess im lucky i only have 14

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ive been workin about 3 months my first job as a pvn in ltc and i still dont feel fully comfortable.i feel somewhat comfortable wow 25 i guess im lucky i only have 14

*lvn*

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Rule of thumb in nursing since the days of good ole Flo...

It takes about 6 months in a completely new specialty before you don't feel dangerous. In 12 months you should feel reasonably comfortable with the vast majority of situations.

Try imagining your work load as algorithms. Sometimes it helps to understand the flow of the paperwork you are generating as it relates to the patient experience and outcomes...

Time management is a huge issue for all of use when we are new to jobs...so don't feel odd about asking for some pointers from those more experienced than you. Don't be tempted to compromise safety.

Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC.
ive been workin about 3 months my first job as a pvn in ltc and i still dont feel fully comfortable.i feel somewhat comfortable wow 25 i guess im lucky i only have 14

14 would be a blessing from god. We are supposed to have 50 which is the entire floor(two carts) on my shift but the desk nurse usually splits the floor because it is too much for me to do by myself.

My 25 is alot though, theres 3 g-tubes(which take me about 20 mins, maybe a half hour total if i have a problem with the tubing, pump, g-tube etc. (thats getting the meds together, flushing it, giving the meds and flushing it again, and hanging up the feeding. Theres several patients who are on boatloads of meds. I try to split those up instead of making them take a cup full of pills at 6 or 7 o clock.

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