Stressed LPN

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I am currently working at a facility where we have one nurse per shift for the 3 floors and 2 RNs that sit in the office. Some days are decent but some days can get really bad! I am the constant go to for everything. Continually questioned and called on by staff, patients, family, etc. while the other 2 nurses keep their door closed “working”. There have been times when they have witnessed the overload of work and even commented “how crazy the day is”. I had recently taken vacation and upon my return was told they do not know how I do it. I am stressed out, continual headaches.. really thinking about quitting!

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I understand how you feel but I work in dialysis and not in ltc or anything like that. Dialysis is a beast! You are on your own responsible for putting on your 4 patients, monitoring them during treatment, and taking them off treatment. All that doesn't sound like much, but when you have 3 sets of 4 patients at a time and time restraints on you and working 16 to 17 hours a day is a lot! I am definitely stressed and totally understand how you feel just in a different kind of business. I would say look for something else, but to me unless you are in a clinical setting being a LPN/LVN is a lot of work and not a lot of support from your superior nurses. I have other friends that are LVN's and they went into LTC and they didn't have much support or even training to make them feel comfortable with what they are doing. I really hope it gets better for you!

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Have you communicated with the managers about how your days are going? It sound silly but I suffered in silence at my old job until I spoke up for myself because I can be a bit shy. When sometimes they sit back because you appear to be dealing with it well in their eyes. I would communicate with your managers the need for assistance some days. If it doesn’t change I’d go to a higher up and explain how you communicated with your direct managers and they didn’t help the situation - if they don’t value you and you aren’t super attached - find a new facility. Maybe assisted living it may be a bit more calm. ?

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Thanks so much. I have actually communicated my concerns with my superiors, but when you are more concerned with money than patient care your concerns fall on death ears. With great contemplation I recently resigned from my position of 6 years. I will miss my patients that I have grown to care so deeply about, but if I stay I know I will begin to hate the thing I have wanted to do all my life. I pray that all the stressed great nurses out here luck! May you all have a blessed week!

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Good for you for making the decision to resigns. You need to take care of your overall health before you can provide the best care for your patients. I wish you all the best!

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I feel you on this! I am currently working at a LTC facility with one LVN per 40 patients or 60 patients. I feel unsafe and have communicated this to the admin but nothing has been done. I have applied at other jobs and will be hopefully starting something new soon! I agree with the above comments, we must take care of ourselves first!

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Specializes in Long Term Care & Sub-acute Rehab.

Hello there! I’m so sorry to hear about your issues and I hope it’s gotten better!

Nursing is stressful in itself. The floor nurses will have the most stress because they are truly “running the floor”. The day by day grind is testing your limits as a nurse. Realize that everyday has its own differences and challenges that the day prior may or may not have had as well! Continuing to prosper and grow from it is essential and while I realize it’s hard to do it can certainly benefit you later on.

As for management and the lack of help they seem to provide, perhaps voicing your concerns to your DON may help? Management should realize when their nurses are overwhelmed and by all rights SHOULD them out if possible.

Hoping you are well!

Yours truly,

Nurse Pure-Spring

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Specializes in LTC & Rehab Supervision.
On 8/8/2019 at 10:14 PM, ginaolive823 said:

Have you communicated with the managers about how your days are going? It sound silly but I suffered in silence at my old job until I spoke up for myself because I can be a bit shy. When sometimes they sit back because you appear to be dealing with it well in their eyes. I would communicate with your managers the need for assistance some days. If it doesn’t change I’d go to a higher up and explain how you communicated with your direct managers and they didn’t help the situation - if they don’t value you and you aren’t super attached - find a new facility. Maybe assisted living it may be a bit more calm. ?

I know this response was meant in a positive way, but the fact is that she shouldn't HAVE to communicate with them over this. They should be out there at least checking how things are going on. I'm so tired of the mentality that these people can't lift a finger to help other floor nurses.

It's almost as bad as managers of fast food places, where they do nothing but watch the employees work and twiddle their thumbs. It's sickening!

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I've been there as well. They had me on a hall that had about 30 pts. And that was horrible. I worked on graveyard shift, and I,had an early morning med round scheduled at 6 am . and by state regs, I Should have been able to start at 5 and be finished by 7. There was so much to do I had to start at 4:15-4:30. GTs, ted hose to put on before pt gets up, lots of fingersticks and insulins, and just on and on and on, all on top of just setting up regular meds to give and document. I tell ya, I would starve before I would go back into that hellhole. The patients for most part were great and cooperative, but I had one man that just did not like me at all. I swear nothing had ever happened between us, but he just didn't like my looks. I would have to have his cup of pills set up and the other nurse would have to come down and hand it to him . just extra stuff that is so time consuming.

I'm so glad to be retired. My heart goes out to other LPNs still having to work. It's a hard job where ever you go.

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When I did Ltc, it was 1 nurse to 42 patients. It was a tough job, but when I worked 3-11 pm, it got worse. The nurse had to do Assessments, vitals, insulins, inhalers, g-tubes, helping with feeding during dinner, and treatments and everything else that came up...the dreaded admission, a fall, or skin tear,etc. Then, they decided to have the nurses do half the med pass in addition to all the other responsibilities. In the end, I did leave because I felt the residents were not getting the care they deserved, and I couldn't give them the care I wanted to.

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Specializes in Lpn.

I've been an LPN for 13 years in long term care. It is very very stressful and I don't even think some nurses realize how much it affects you. The facility I'm at now is not bad I only have 28 patients. I work night shift with two CNA s. It is very stressful I understand hiw you feel. But it is worth it. It is a good feeling knowing you get to take care of people. Also you become attached to the patients they r like your family. Very stressful

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On 9/5/2019 at 3:41 AM, LastYoungRenegade said:

I feel you on this! I am currently working at a LTC facility with one LVN per 40 patients or 60 patients. I feel unsafe and have communicated this to the admin but nothing has been done. I have applied at other jobs and will be hopefully starting something new soon! I agree with the above comments, we must take care of ourselves first!

I worked LTC and had an average of 30 pts and that was hell. I can't imagine having 40 or 60. But I have found out that LPNs get dumped on alot. And as long as we keep our mouth shut and continue to put up with it, nothing changes. Upper management doesn't care what you're going thru as long as you keep state from breathing down their necks. I quit, I'm retired, I wouldn't go back over there to work , no matter what they offered me in pay.

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