Starting orientation for nursing home as LVN soon. Anything you think I should study?

[VNVM]

The DSD said she recommends me reading up on assessments so I can be more prepared when I start work. I will have 4 days orientation. I don't like the feeling of being unprepared and I always study about any job I go into. This time it is for my career.

I know there are many tips such as finding a mentor, asking a lot of questions, relax and stay calm, etc. I have already read about those and they are extremely helpful in getting me mentally prepared. Now I want to know what are the most crucial things I should review again to help me hit the ground running once I start?

I know as nurses, there are things you don't expect new grads to know that well, but I am sure there are things they should know, and would help you train them better if they did. I just want to make it easier for the people training me.

I can't study my entire pharm book, so what are the crucial types of meds that are most common that I should read up on? What are some of the common mistakes that new grads make, not a characteristic, but an actual mistake they often make? How about the abbreviations and stuff for the medications such as asa is aspirin, what are others that are very common but you could see a new grad having trouble finding in the med cart? Any and all tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Tracey RN]

I recommend time management skills, Customer service, and diversity! My first job as an LPN was in a skilled nursing/LTC facility and we had 20-30 patients per nurse, CNA's AND other nurses with attitudes, and a 1 hour medication administration window. Your job is what you make it, you can go into a facility with a very negative vibe and be a ray of sunshine if you don't let others attitudes affect yours. IDK why that seems to be the case in those type of facilities except to say that the MONEY is so good. I have not had a problem with getting along with co-workers but they can zap my outgoing bubbly personality very easily. On a positive note, the residents are cute and wonderful and once you get to know them you have conquered 60% of being able to do your job WELL. While you do not have time to assess all of your residents every shift, you will learn them enough to know when they have a change in personality or mental status.

If you can request to orient (all of your orientation days) on the actual cart you will work, that would be ideal to assist you in learning your residence.

An important question for you to ask when getting report is which residence are crushed medications- it is usually not indicated on the MAR (at least at the facilities I've worked at). Also, know how the system for indication of fall risk pt's so you can keep an eye on them.

In regards meds...don't even bother! Most of your residence will have a laundry list of meds- you will learn them as you go.