Time Management in LTC

[elizabethallen23]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new nurse and I just got my first job in a LTC facility. It's been rough! I could've used more on the floor training (I had 5 days), and I feel like all of my time and energy is spent on my med pass. The earliest I've ever finished my shift was one hour after it ended, and that's considered early for me. I have 27-30 residents, 5 on sliding scale insulin, all of whom have at least 10-15 meds, one person having more than 30 daily meds (not including her PRNs). I'm extremely overwhelmed and feeling inadequate. I'm terrified of making a mistake, since any time I'm at my med cart, people seem to rush me to ask me questions, usually silly little things. I'm constantly being pulled away for this or that, and I'm not sure if I'm just in need of time management skills, or if I need to know when it's okay to say no to residents, coworkers, etc. During my floor orientation, it seemed as though each preceptor was able to fly through their med passes. It seemed like I'd pull meds for one resident, and by the time I was out of their room they had given meds to 5 residents. I never did quite see how they did it, so I'm wondering if it's just me or if they were seriously cutting corners. I want to do things the right way, and I don't feel comfortable giving all morning meds or evening meds at once. Sometimes I know it's okay, if they're once a day meds like vitamins or colace, but more serious meds make me nervous. I just need someone to tell me that this panicky feeling of being under the gun throughout my shift will pass and that I will get better at it! I need some advice! Thank you!!