Words of wisdom needed ASAP

Enjoy · Mar 7, 2005

God Bless YOu. This is the beginning of your nursing career. Nursing is a gift and you can become a very good professional. In Nursing is you will learn new things nearly everyday. Any nurse that thinks she is Ms. Know it all, is really a nurse who is insecure and a goosip and trouble maker. There are more of these kind of nurses than your professional mature caring nurse these days. I have been working in Long Term Care facilities for some time now. They are all very similar. The work is hard and challenging. The pressure is tremendous. The back stabbing by your co-workers is never ending. The advice I wish to give you is-- be open to learning, Ask question to the doctors especailly if they are open to conversing. They have a wealth of knowledge. Read and research on your own-books related to nursing and your area of interest in nursing. If you know a particular nurse to be knowledgable and with insight ask that nurse questions. If you aren't sure of a med, procedure or just aren't comfortable with something ask for assistance from your next person in command first and then move up until you find someone that can assist you. Learn and understand the Nursing process because you will need it everyday you work to care for your patients and to document. Things will go wrong, you will make errors , we all do. Three days of orientaion is not really adequate. This is not unusual though. It may be enough for an experienced nurse who just needs to walk through the facilities protocal but for a new nurse and new graduate it is not enough. Minimum should be 2 weeks and the best would be a comprehensive 6 weeks. They need to allow you classroom time to review blood born pathogens, and other necessary regime required by law. Also you need time to work the floors,to pass the meds, and to document and to take orders, to learn how to respond to an emergency , when to call a doctor and giving report. The best policy in dealing with the other nurses gossip is to ignore it. Do not give information about your personal life and family out to those you work with because in time the will use it against you. If the enviroment becomes to hostal give a resignation and leave. Don't continue to submit to it because then you will be terminated. Be careful , do your best, Be honest, care for those patients. Make sure the patients are getting hydrated. Dehydration creates so many problems, symptoms and illnessess for the elderly. Hope you will enjoy your job.

QUOTE=fuzzball]HI I am starting my first job in LTC and I was wondering if you guys have some pointers about LTC nursing. I am a fresh newbie LPN and I will be doing med pass by myself but will always have another nurse for awhile with me(she will do doc calls, charting, etc.) I will be passing meds for 36-40 residents. I have worked with these residents for the past 4 years as a CNA. Do you guys think this is okay. MY DON wants me only to work or sign up when another nurse is on the unit. I am getting 3 days orientation. I know the unit and we do work with 2 nurses most of the time. Does this sound alright. Another question? Certain nurses think they are super nurses and feel they can talk to the CNA's about others. Any tips on dealing with these super nurses. We have a few. As a CNA I just patronized them and they left me alone. I just didn't feel like listening. Now they know I am starting as an LPN so they are giving me the low down on everything and its scary. Example: Nurse tells me "can you believe that nurse gave a bolus tube feeding and used the syringe". Then the same nurse who talked about that nurse sucks up to her when she see's her. Dosn't make sense to me...I want to be a safe compentent nurse and be my patient's advocate but scared to death with nurses attitudes. I am sure this nurse could be at everyone's facility. Any ideas how to stay out the crap in nursing? Thanks in advance...:)

weetziebat · Mar 7, 2005

first, congratulations on starting work in your new postion!! it will really come in handy to know both the residents and the staff.

i agree that you will need another nurse besides yourself if you have to pass meds to that many residents. will you be responsible for the treatments? i remember, only too well, how long it can take to give meds to a hall or two full of geriatric patients. three days orientation sounds par for the course, but hardly ideal. especially as a new graduate. they may feel you can fit right in, but being in a different position means you have to learn a whole new way to relate to your co-workers.

one thing to remember, in my opinion, is that some people may have trouble relating to you as an lpn. they are used to you being a cna. don't let them get to you or undermine your self-esteem. as a new nurse you of course have things to learn, but you are a nurse so don't let others make you feel insecure.

also, cna's who worked with you as a peer may now resent you and feel you think you are 'better' than them now. unfortunately, there may be nothing you can do to make them feel differently. aside from remembering how hard they work and offering to help them when and if you have time (which may never happen :chuckle ). need to remember that as a licensed nurse you are responsible in ways they are not, and that is really isn't possible to just be 'one of the guys'. being friendly, of course, but trying to have the same relationship you had with them before is not possible.

as far as the gossiping goes. some things i've learned from others is to try to not get caught up in the politics of the unit. can be hard but once they know you are not going to get dragged into the gossiping you will be left alone. if anyone talks about another staff member, you can just say something to the effect that everyone has good and bad points and that you feel uncomfortable talking about others.

good luck and hang in there. there will be good days and bad days but try to put them in perspective. i have a feeling you will do just fine. let us know how it goes, o.k?

fuzzball · Mar 7, 2005

I value your tips and knowledge. Already I am starting to feel better about this new job. I feel I can handle it. I know I should have more time orientating but oh well. I will be with a LPN always. I was told I would never be alone until I feel comfortable. I also know how promises can be broken. Thanks for your honest opinions. It really helps!

Speculating · Mar 7, 2005

God Bless YOu. This is the beginning of your nursing career. Nursing is a gift and you can become a very good professional. In Nursing is you will learn new things nearly everyday...Any ideas how to stay out the crap in nursing? Thanks in advance...:)

GIFT hahaha :chuckle I'd like to return mine but for the life of me find the receipt :rolleyes:

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2005

There is never a dumb question...Ask them or try to find the answer before you do something you don't know...

irishnurse67 · Mar 22, 2005

If I were you, as a new nurse, I'd start off doing med-surg for at least a year or so. You'll learn a lot more and get a much better orientation.