Update on LTC job

[namazonian]

hi all,

after 6 weeks of orientation at the ltc job, i've officially had it and will be resigning. there were too many signs things were awry and i fear for so many things on a daily basis. my preceptors only cared that they didn't "want to leave late" as i was being oriented on my shift (finally, after nearly begging the don) these past two weeks. i was told that i could not work past my shift because orientees don't qualify for overtime and if anything was to happen after my shift that the facility will not pay. well, i had not only missed breaks this week i also had to punch out for my shift to come up and finish what i couldn't in my alloted time, all the while i was berated by my preceptor that i should have started earlier on med pass (i did but didn't know any of the 22 patients on her wing) even though i had to do this alone without any assistance. prior to this she would seek me out just to find out if i was doing her side as if i (and i probably was) just a helper to her. then she would dip off to the employee lounge or go make phone calls in the supply closet. i don't even have a job lined up to fall back on and i realize that i will be dealing with not getting unemployment for 6 weeks but i can't cope anymore. i feel so cheated and unprepared and one of the worst things is that nursing was a career change for me and as a consequence of the education i am thousands of dollars in debt that i haven't started paying back yet. i called off work today and spent the day nearly sick and sad applying for jobs, nearly crying, and typing out my resignation letter to submit come monday. i don't know what else to do and don't even know if nursing is for me anymore. i've never felt more demoralized and useless until i started this job. the only thing i can say is that i have another degree to fall back on but i don't see any jobs in that field. if anyone has any advice as to what else to do it would be greatly appreciated.

[Ms.RN]

HI

Does your unit have a unit manager or a staff development nurse? To me a staff development nurse is more perceptive to concerns of new nurses because they are responsible to make sure new nurses are getting a good orientation and they dont like to loose too many nurses. Talk to them in private and tell them that you are not getting a good orientation on the floor and ask if you can have few more days of orientation with another nurse. If they say no, then its time to move on. Also for me, during your orientation, you are being oriented to the unit and the work, not doing the med pass by yourself and not finishing up the work.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

My first 2 thoughts as RN who would be in your current situation:

PROTECT my license, and think of the legal consequences involved with any situation.

PROTECT my soul and state of mind.

You already know the answer. They are just using you, you're just another body in LTC to fill a gap. They do not care about you as a valuable employee or person. Start applying for all and ANY jobs - not even nursing jobs - today and get out ASAP. If you stay there, something will blow up out of proportion, the crap will hit the fan and you will get the blame. I can almost smell this in the wind.

Protect your license vehemently. If you lose that, all your hard work will have been in vain.

You are so distressed. Please see your doctor and have a discussion about this and maybe get something to help calm you if you're not sleeping. Also try to look at non-medicating, ways of relaxing such as yoga, pilates, exercise, etc.

Giving up a job is a big thing, but if you really cannot take anymore you must look after yourself first. And I think you have already made up your mind anyway. If it were me, I would leave I think, after weighing up all the pros and cons.

You can only bang your head against a brick wall for so long, before either the wall gives way (unlikely), or your head splits open - your choice!

[namazonian]

Hi Carol,

Believe me, I'm ready to submit my resignation letter on Monday. I've never felt so used and demeaned in any job in my life and I've worked many. I feel like a laborer and nothing more. I don't think I need to go the route of antidepressants or meds but calling out this past Friday was the best thing that I could have done for myself. I've been job hunting and trying to find out what else I can do besides nursing and even what I can do with my previous degree. I was in Target earlier today shopping and I even thought of submitting an application there. At this point I may just to make ends meet. Believe me I am no stranger to hard work being that I've worked through school, worked in warehouses with grueling hours and still try to help my family and somehow have a life. I just thank God that I don't have kids yet because this may have influenced me to stay and take this mess. This job sucked but hopefully there will be many more that will be better out there. I care too much about myself to kill myself slowly this way with this job.

[doggal]

I rarely post here and had to reregister as its been so long (i.e. new computer,system issues). I am an OLD nurse and I consult in nursing homes. I have worked critical care for years, Psych for umpteen years, you name it. I am seeing astonishing bad things in some of the larger more corporate nsg. homes. I tend to see better working conditions in SOME of the non-profit faith based sites, though not all.

I must say I am lucky to have been a nurse when there was decency and civility. I had SUPERB teaching and preceptorships at top notch places (i.e. New York/Cornell which is now NY Presbyterian). Believe me, decent places will know why you resigned,should you take that route.

I am acutely aware of the job market, but should you resign you can always volunteer,lets say at the Red Cross, JUST to keep nursing on your "resume". This would indicate that you have not lost interest in the field but just would not permit exceptionally bad standards. Meanwhile, I know what you mean,-I was at Walmart tonight and surely the working conditions there are vastly better than at one of the nursing homes where I consult!

[kindlpn]

I can relate to your situation it is hard being a new nurse, but it will get better with time and prayer give it 6mos at least. You have alot to offer to the patient as a caregiver. While you were in college thing was challenging, but you continue to push forward and accomplished the dream of being that outstanding nurse. After the 6mos you still feel stress out resign and leave no regret.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

1. Your employer CANNOT mandate that you not be paid for overtime. Is it against the labor law. If you are a regular salary employee you must be paid for your time. You cannot clock out and go back to work. 2. Do NOT get discouraged thinking that you are a failure because you are having difficulty in LTC. It is a VERY difficult job with a lot of responsibility... and very little support. And most facilities will hang their staff out to dry in a minute if something happens, even if it is not the fault of the staff. Most often LTC facilities have system wide problems that administration/ owners are unwilling to fix because they do not want to spend the money. It is easier to fire an employee than to dig down and deal with the issue that is really causing the problem. 3. If you can, try to hang on to this job long enough to get another and then give your two weeks notice and leave. Try not to burn your bridges.

And remember, any time you feel that the care and safety of any resident is compromised you should report it to the 1-800 number. Your complaint will be kept confidential if you request it. As a new LTC complaint investigator, let me assure you that complaints and concerns are taken very seriously and all are investigated. You are there to assure the safety and wellbeing of the residents in your care. And if the facility places roadblocks to your efforts to maintain those standards, you should report them.

[namazonian]

Hi doggal,

I will be resigning as of tomorrow. I spoke with my mom and previous professor and they agree that continuing to work with this place is a no go. I'm frugal and have gone without so many times that I believe at this point considering what I've gone through that I can deal with being broke once more as long as my spirit is not broken. This job was truly breaking it.

[namazonian]

Hi everyone,

I appreciate all of your responses and after reading them through and speaking with friends and family I've decided to keep the job until something better comes along. I spend nearly all of my free time job searching and I've got some "feelers" out there so I am praying that in the next 2-4 months that I will get a better opportunity. I realize that I am not perfect and that I can't know everything right away so I am also working on trying not to be too hard on myself. I will be taking on a full assignment of 34 patients today although I'm still ortienting so I will not be too overwhelmed when I am off. Pray for me that I am efficient, confidence, and succeed.:)

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

Hi INLPN93,

Exactly what "bonuses" do you mean? I'm willing to work base right now as long as I am actually being oriented and not fearing for my life (and license) and patient's lives on a daily basis. As for the facility being "young" this is also certainly true of my place as they've recently cleaned house and all the RNs are in my age range of mid twenties. The "older nurses" are all LPNs and I don't know how in goodness name they have hung around this place so long. The building has 75% new nurses and 25% seasoned nurses and I try my damndest to get adviced from the more seasoned ones because I feel strange getting it from someone nearly as green as me who has only been out of school 3 months. I'm not sure if I can shake this feeling of leaving enough to go in ready to work on Monday but I do have my resignation typed up and ready to go.

The Bonuses are given to the Administrator and those higher up, not the workers. In monst corporate run facilities, the Admin gets a monthly bonus if he keeps the cost of running the place below a certian amount. This means sending nurses/cnas home, shorting people on orientation, getting rid of higher paid workers, hiring new grads because they get lower pay, cutting back on supplies or buying the cheapest goods that can be found. I've worked in places where they cut back on the amount of food given to the patients! Find a nice, small, PRIVATE company. They are there for the patients and because of that, they are there for you. But, don't give up on Nursing, we need you and the wonderful Nurse you will be.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

namazonian,

It's so hard to decide what to do, because it is all so crazy isn't it. If the general public only knew. But now that you have flushed out everything, talked to us and your teacher and your family, be assured that your decision, no matter what it is or even if it suddenly needs to change tomorrow, is the best decision!

Know that we are here for you no matter what happens :heartbeat