so tired of learning things on the go

[student-with-no-life]

I now am working in LTC 7p-7a, I have 36 residents I am responsible for. I got a whole week of orientation which did not cover near what I am to know, when it comes to paper work. So in my part of the building at night there are 2 nurses to cover 70 residents. I still do NOT have the paper work down. I have asked for help and I get "oh do this,it will all come to you". Well last night I did not understand how to finish off some orders the day nurse left. And of course I do not even look at these orders till Im done with a med pass. NOTHING was said to me in report about stopping a drug, and after I was done with med pass, and sending a "R" out to the hospital, hanging two new TF, and finishing my other charting, I look at the new orders and it says to DC tranzodone.

So this morning when the same nurse who left all this for me comes in and sees I did not do the new orders, she got all ****** off and went to the DON. Well I get a phone call and I explain, #1 she did not give me a heads up about the DC, #2 I could not read half of her writing and the supervisor that night said for me not to do it, to leave it for her in the morning, #3 that I am still learning as I go because NOBODY can seem to take 5 minutes and write done a policy on how to do orders!!!

I have asked and asked I need more help with the paper work and it seems to fall on deaf ears.

I just started school for my RN, I want to get back into the hospital, this place is so close to home (1 mile) I thought it was a good idea at the time.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

This does not sound like a safe place for you to be practicing. Not for your residents and not for your license.

[Merlinsmom]

I used to work in a place where the order passing off rates were monumental. My best advice to you is...when you come in and are waiting for report, just glance over what orders are left. This way you can ask any questions and if you have anything off the wall, just tell the outgoing nurse it needs to be handled before she leaves. Also this will give you a heads up as to what needs to be done now and what can wait. I also used to organize my orders according to importance at the start of the shift...that way, what affects the next 24hrs was taken care of. The rest I could deal with at the end of shift or when I got back the next day (if not done by the oncoming nurse)without it being a med error or causing harm to the patient.

Just my 2 cents

[student-with-no-life]

that would work BUT - our reports are taped and as soon as I get to the desk I barely have time to take my coat off they are ready to do count and out the door they go. I hate taped reports for the simple fact you can't ask a tape recorder a question.

[rn/writer, RN]

You can call the nurse at home if she leaves things undone/unclear. If she won't stay until you have heard report, then that's what she gets. It's your license on the line. If she doesn't answer, let the DON know that you are being left high and dry.

Go through all of report and make a list of questions. Make certain that you can't answer them yourself. Think through the list and give yourself a couple of minutes to let the info percolate so that collateral questions have a chance to appear in your brain. Your list should include anything that is illegible in her writing. Then call with the mindset that you need this information for the sake of the residents, not that you are bothering her or that you are doing something wrong.

If she complains, tell her that she always has the option to stay a few extra minutes while you listen to report, but that one way or another, you are going to pursue the answers that you need. Do not apologize for being assertive.

Don't get angry. Don't back down. Just do what needs to be done. After a couple of these sessions, she ought to get the drift that you will go after what you need, and she'll see that you expect to be taken seriously.

I wish you the best.