work in ltc

kkostelnikPN · Jan 7, 2013

i got an lpn position in ltc for 8-4 am. But there is only 4 days of orientation.should i take that job.i am new grad but i really like to take that job.Opinions please.

I'm a new grad too and also job searchibg. that seems scary! But have u had any other job offers or interviews? If not I wouldn't pass it up bc who knows!!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2013

I've never gotten 4 days of orientation for a LTC job in my entire career. It's always been anywhere from 1 to 3 days at the most. As a new grad LVN I received one 8-hour shift of orientation before being released to work by myself.

The LTC facilities in the city where I live offer a standard of 3 days of orientation to new grads before cutting them loose to work on their own. Remember that orientation is for learning the routine, paperwork, policies, and flow of the floor. It is not a time to catch up on the practical skills you missed while in nursing school. It is not an extension of nursing school clinical rotations.

Ask questions along the way when you're off orientation and you'll do fine. Good luck to you!

Inori, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2013

take what you can get. Ideally we'd all have 6 months of orientation BUT it comes down to monies the company wants you to start making monies as soon as possible. Follow standard of care, what you learned in school and do your best to protect that hard earned license and dont lose it within 1st year. If you can survive 1 year then youll be ok, i heard it takes that long to be a fully functional nurse that is competent and confident. You need to write down all procedure, diseasese you didn't understand at work and look it up after you get home at work no time to try to doa procedure with textbook open in front of you .. doesn't happen

SquishyRN, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2013

I've never gotten 4 days of orientation for a LTC job in my entire career. It's always been anywhere from 1 to 3 days at the most. As a new grad LVN I received one 8-hour shift of orientation before being released to work by myself.
The LTC facilities in the city where I live offer a standard of 3 days of orientation to new grads before cutting them loose to work on their own. Remember that orientation is for learning the routine, paperwork, policies, and flow of the floor. It is not a time to catch up on the practical skills you missed while in nursing school. It is not an extension of nursing school clinical rotations.

This is worth listening to. I've never had more than 3 days orientation at any LTC/SNF I've worked before either. Short orientations are just a reality in LTC.

AZMOMO2 · Jan 8, 2013

Honestly that is pretty much what you can expect in an LTC. They just never give you long orientations. I was lucky to get 2 days when I first started. They hire when they absolutely need someone to take over the cart and usually don't really have the staff to provide training like you would get at a hospital or something.

Homecare is worse... you only get 1 day if you are lucky.

onyx33us · Jan 8, 2013

You know from experience this is a tough situation because most state require at least 3 weeks orientation but LTC is privately own and managed and they do what they want. check your state requirements if you can. if this is documented, your covered to a good degree but that does not set you lose if any malpractice. If you are to accept the position, be in good relationship with your CNAs to help you locating your residents and other nurses incase for locating meds, supplies and/or treatments. DO NOT let another nurse administer or get in your narcotic box, if you are caught-up with time, ask for help possibly with treatments not medications, use a phone with internet to enable you look up trade/genetic drug names. Finally, at the end of the 4 days orientation, you could ask for extension to buy more escape incase of the ugly malpractice. In all Good luck it's a tough world.

snowybee · Jan 10, 2013

okk thank you. i will take the insurance n take what ever i have and learn from it. thank you for all your replies.