Hello, it's been a while since I posted. I'm a new nurse (finished school in Dec, got licensed in late Jan) I was hired at my first job at a LTC in late Feb. After 3 1/2 days orientation, I was on my own. From the first day it was horrible no respect from CNA's, residents cursing at me, and no one to really talk to. After many sleepless nights, I decided to call it quits but ended up changing my mind because I always wanted to be a nurse. My second week was no better, same stuff different day. I feel so weak and disappointed in myself and like a failure. I can't believe I'm letting these people (lazy Cna's) run me off. I can handle the residents b/c they don't mean any harm, but not having the support of my co-workers is what's making me want to leave. I was told that the hospitals are no better, if that's the case I don't think I'm cut out to be a nurse. I really don't know what to do. I'm in my mid 30's and don't know what I'm good at. Isn't that pathetic, I've worked most of my adult life at becoming a nurse (different things in my way) and finally I'm here and couldn't last 30 days at my first jobs. Anyway, thanks for listening (reading) to me. I'll be ok in the morning after a good cry. Sorry So Long.
Thank you all sooooo much for your support. I really needed it. Eldragon, I think we work at the same facility b/c that's how it is here. I hate to be a quitter but i'll let them have that place. I don't want to lose my license for making stupid mistakes. The med error thing is right on the mark. One resident was getting 10 times the amount of medication that was ordered for her. I noticed it and told the RN supervisor and it turns out she wrote the wrong thing on the MAR so the resident got too much medication. Yeah it's time for me to go. Thanks again everybody.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Don't feel hard on yourself...you quit to preserve yourself and that is most important. How were you to know that you would be subjected to a 3 day orientation, then to be thrown to the jackels with absolutely no support?? How were you to be aware that there are surly CNAs that exist, or that the nurse to patient ratios in most long term care settings are horrible?
Any place that has a supervisor that calls you a chicken is not a place you wish to be. There are better places, and there is no logical reason to wish to remain there. I don't know if your area does not hire LPNs in hospitals and other settings, but check it out. And, cry to begin mending and then, look at the bright side. It wasn't all in vain unless you let it be that way.
I too started at a LTC facility after graduation. I had a sad orientation. They stuck me with a burned out nurse, and she was glad to give me her work that she didn't feel like doing. With, mind you, little to no supervision. I was taking antacids, and antidiarrheals on a regular basis. I have been there a year and a half as of now. I am as of this weekend giving my two weeks notice. I started with pediatric home care 6 months ago, and stayed at the LTC perdiem, just didn't answer the phone. I LOVE home care. The one on one with the kids is great. I have had a few "quirky" parents, but most of them simply want the best for their kids. Wouldn't you? If your job is affecting your health, and mental well being, it's time to leave. :wink2:
Thanks you Remched, I have only 5 more days left at that place. It's a little better. The administator called me in her office and asked why I was leaving. She told me to hang in there and give them time to make things better. I still haven't found another job. I find it difficult to work full time while my hubby is deployed b/c of the kids and no family here. What is home care like? Do you get to make your own hours? Would you suggest it for a new nurse? Thanks again.
I am fairly new to home care. Only 6 months. But the staff is incredible. They listen to what you tell them, and if you don't like a case (and so far I left 2) you don't have to stay. My agency will call me month to month and ask me when I can work. So, it's kinda like working perdiem, but you are almost guaranteed hours if you want them. I only want to work 20 hours a week b/c I have two kids. Believe me, I could work more if I wanted to. You really get to know your client, and that can allow you to notice subtle changes that could be a big deal. I wish you luck and you have to do what feels right.
"graveyard shift nurse tells me that i should come on graveyard - because it's dead, and they have "6 hours of doing nothing." really? so why not earn some of your paycheck and get some clerical work done? why not fax that drug order over to the pharmacy and stock the cart?
so many errors and laziness, i can't believe it.
if dayshift does all the work, how come graveyard gets a shift differential?
all this running around and stress, and i'm getting paid the bottom of the barrel wage for lpn's in my county?
thanks for the vent!"
where do they get 6 hours of down time? i work 3rds and am almost always busy the whole time. i work on a skilled unit with only 31 pts when we're full and have another nurse and always have stuff to keep me busy all night! when i'm by myself i have to practically run to keep up! i think we only get the shift diff. because so few want to work 3rds, it's something of an incentive to lure people here. i know what you mean about low pay. i, and a girl i graduated with are the only "new" nurses in the building, and know we get paid the least of all the nurses we have. but i guess i have to start somewhere. med errors. oh aren't those just grand? on nocs we have to do the "changeover" on the mars and tars. i have already found 3 med errors on the 3 pts i have done so far. what is scary is i only found those accidentally because i had questions about the order on the old mar and dug up the original orders. i shudder to think of what would be found if someone sat down and went through every single med and it's original order. (i really, truly don't have time. they set the new books out for us about a week before the end of the month.) no wonder some of these folks don't improve, or get worse! i have brought them to the attention of my unit coordinator, but she flatly told me that she's "picky about what she writes up people for on med orders". ??! which translates to "i have no intention of writing anyone up over those med errors". the d.o.n. is useless as well. this is her first d.o.n. position, and i get the impression she is allowing herself to be dragged around by the nose to keep upper management happy. this is my first nursing job, but hear (and fear) it's like this everywhere. it really makes me sad.
Honey I understand where you are coming from I've been working for close to 3 month in a LTC facility and I have 3 CNA's that talked in creole (me being an english speaker) while I sitting there doing my MAR for a good half hour or more, night shift. I just block it out as much as I can an count the amount of week I have until my credit card bill is paid and some of my car loan so I can decide what I must do. I love my shift but I can't follow the ignorance and lack of tact that some people have. Much luck to you.
Specializes in LTC, Hopsital, MD Office, Home care.
i work night shift and day shift in a ltcf where i've been for almost three years. it's busy as ever on both shifts. it took me a long time in this facility to get the aides to respect me and my authority as well, but once they were able to see that i'm willing to help them on the floor whenever i can and that i'm not telling them what to do for the pure enjoyment of bossing them around, they began to open up to me. they all know i'm not above writing any of them up for failure to follow direction and/or not doing what is expected of them; whether or not the write up "sticks," is another story. i have found med errors and have written them up myself; one was actually made by the d.o.n. who was involved in an admission.
i've come into this facility with the overall attitude that i'm not there to make friends via my superiors or subordinates; i'm there for the sole care and compassion of the residents who are paying duly to live there. if that means not being afraid to be assertive in regards to what is right, then fine. i think the main thing is, yes, most ltcf i've been in seems like the same drama and politics, but i play the confident nurse and assertive nurse card well, not intimidation, but show them all that you know what's going on... that you've got a clue. i'm not one single bit worried about being isolated in my job; i'm not there for 8 social hours, or at least 6 like that one facility.
I would say find another job as well. If the person you turned to ignores you there is no support there. When I started my first nursing job it was in a LTC facility. I had one noc orientation and on the second noc the charge nurse that was suppose to orientate me called in and quit. I called the NM to ask what she wanted to do, she said " Nothing , your a nurse I think you can handle it". Well, I went to the adm office to complain the next morning and they made the NM come in that noc to be with me. The noc I was left by myself one cna took pity on me b/c I was a mess from crying after hanging up the phone from the NM, and went with me to the rooms to adm meds she told me which res. was which during meds, tx, and accu checks the next morning. I didn't chart cause I had never done that before. The NM was apologetic after the administrator got done with her. So, I would advise you speak with the DON and see if she has any advise about how to correct the cna's laziness. If she is not willing to help. Then consider other job options. It will get easier. If you make it through nursing school raising a family you will make it in nursing. Keep your chin up. We need good nurses. I'll keep you and your husband in my prayers. God bless.
3.5 days of orientation is not enough to work at McDonalds, let alone a new nurse. I got 18 weeks orientation in the hospital setting. Stick with your dream!
Reading your story really made me sad for you. I know what you're going through, and all I can say is please don't quit. I'm an aide, and it really makes me mad when other CNA's don't do their jobs. Some of them have a complex, and they really shouldn't be working in this profession. I really think you should stick to your guns, and write them up if they don't do their jobs, i.e. what they are mandated to do. Have you tried talking to them? It could be they are just "lazy" but it also could be because of the treatment they have received from other nurses. This still is no excuse for treating you badly, but it may not be you at all. Feel free to PM me, and I can hopefully give you more advice.
trsa34
69 Posts
Thank you all sooooo much for your support. I really needed it. Eldragon, I think we work at the same facility b/c that's how it is here. I hate to be a quitter but i'll let them have that place. I don't want to lose my license for making stupid mistakes. The med error thing is right on the mark. One resident was getting 10 times the amount of medication that was ordered for her. I noticed it and told the RN supervisor and it turns out she wrote the wrong thing on the MAR so the resident got too much medication. Yeah it's time for me to go. Thanks again everybody.