working as LPN very difficult for me

Published

:o I finished my nursing school in Europe, I moved here to be with my dear husband. He is gone to Iraq now...I have nobody to talk with and ask advices, so I will really appreciate your opinion and help.

I passed NCLEX here in US, and I enjoyed studying for it.....the think is that my first job as an LPN was in a Care Center...it was not a long term care because patients were changing so often...so I really do not know the difference, any way I have a problem......when I had to call doctors about labs , or other reasons, I had problems understanding their orders....one time , I had a lady doctor on the phone and I asked her to repeat the order for me, she was whispering to somebody ..." Oh, my God!!!" I felt very bad, very bad.....another time, I had to call two doctors for two different patients, I was running on the hallway back and forth, and the phone rang, so busy and crazy how it was that day, I jumped to answer the phone, and I do not know what was in my had, but I gave information's to the doctor on the phone from a wrong chart.....of course, I called back and excused myself...but I felt so bad.....I did not do any medications errors, my treatments were done correctly, but the papers and talking on the phone is just not for me....I was afraid I will do a mistake, so after three months ( approximately) I decided to quit....this was like a part time job for me, because I do have another job, but there I am not a nurse.....

I need your opinion...I am so afraid of being a nurse, things are different from the way I studied them, and I am afraid that I will loose my license if I do a mistake. Now, is this just because I did not study in US? Or is just simply me, I am not good enough?

I really care about everything I am doing, and if I feel I am not doing something good, I feel really bad....and I do not know what other jobs I can get, as a LPN.

So, my big question for you is, where I can I get a job, hospitals do not need me (LPN), LTC, nursing homes...looks I am not good for this...doctor offices , do they want LPNs? The newspaper doesn't have other jobs than nursing home...I am very disappointed......

You, people are great, and I am sure everybody is doing a good work....I do not know about me..... I thought I am a strong person, but I am just sad....

Please, excuse my grammatically mistakes, thank you!!!!!!!!

Any input would be appreciated, thank you! :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Peds, LDRP.

Aw, sweety, Im pretty sure this happens to most if not all new nurses. dont be so hard on yourself, give yourself time to get used to it. Im only a new grad myself (todays the last day of school!! :balloons: ) but I know that my first job will be a challenge, especially since I wasnt in healthcare as a CNA or anything before. Our teachers told us on one hand dont stay somewhere you arent happy, but on the other hand sometimes sticking it out will make you a better nurse for it. They say we wont learn and grow as nurses by job hopping. AThe beginning will be a little rough no matter where you go, but each day you get up and go to work will be a little better and working through tough times will make u a stronger person. Now that being said, Im gonna come to the boards in about a month or two in the same situation....lol.

But really, if u want a slower environment maybe a Dr.'s office would be a good choice. good hours, holidays off too. Lots of Drs offices used MA's and/or LPNs because they are cheap and dont want to pay an RN. This can be to your advantage. If I were you I would start stopping by walk in clinics, etc and inquiring. Make sure your resume is in good shape and make up some nice cover letters. If u mail them send them on Ivory colored paper and send in an 8 X 11 envelope. They get more attention that way and are less likely to get lost. good luck and let me know how it goes. feel free to pm me and as soon as I get a job we can share our trials and trivulations (sp?) as new nurses!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

everybody has days that are just crazy!!! Take some time to decompress before making any major changes or decisions. Just the fact that you didnt make any med errors is amazing by the sounds of your day! You obviously have a big heart! Cut yourself some slack and breathe deeply! The right thing to do will become clear!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm a new nurse too, and although I went to school in the US, I think ALL new nurses feel a lot like you do. It's crazy somedays! I think the key is to take your time, and seek out an employer who understands that there is a learning curve. I was lucky enough to start at a facility where the orientation program was as long as I needed it to be so that I felt absolutely comfortable my first day on my own. Look for that! Good luck! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't give up! You will be able to find yourself an enviornment that you are more comfortable with! You can do it! :icon_hug:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My suggestion would be to try and take some more English courses that focus on communication skills. You have already passed the nursing exams, so next would be to focus on language skills. That is one of the most important skills that any nurse needs. It will also give you a boost in your confidence. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

monaky,

I agree with the others you are being to hard on yourself. I ask Dr to repeat their orders, if they do not like it so what. Dr need to know that when they call we have about 100 things we need to get done and on our minds. Working in a care center or a nursing home you have lots of people to worry about, not just his patient. I also ask Dr to spell their names. You said you did good on medication and treatments, so you are not worry about your patient cares right. Paper work and talking with dr comes with time. I really suck at charting, can not find the words I want to say misspelling is my middle name. But all my residents like me, trust me and look for me and that is why I became a nurse to give care to the sick not baby a Dr. Give it another try. You will do great. Find a nursing home you like and ask if you can job shadow before starting the job, most places will let you. Some nursing homes LPN's only give medication. So you know you are good at that, the other stuff will come along in time. Don't give up just yet.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).
one time , I had a lady doctor on the phone and I asked her to repeat the order for me, she was whispering to somebody ..." Oh, my God!!!" I felt very bad, very bad.....

Well, if there's one thing my instructor has beaten into my head thus far is the importance of communication. The MD would be whispering more than "Oh my God" if they mess up an order. I imagine you'd feel pretty bad too, and it wouldn't be your fault at the heart of it. Digoxin, Digitoxin. There's a whole book out there of meds that sound the same; Celebrex, Celexa...(ok I got the two confused for awhile!) Yeah, if the doctor thinks it's inconvenient to repeat the order, they'd better consider how inconvenient a lawsuit will be. :selfbonk:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

All new nurses go through the same thing! I did too! It takes awhile to build up your communication skills...When your on the floor taking care of Patients its busy! One day I was getting an order from a doctor.. I gave him a wonderful summary of everything that was going on with my patient and after my wonderous spiel..he said.....".Laura thats not my patient." I looked at the chart and he was right! Yikes..I felt like an idiot! But, you move on...It taught me to slow down and gather my thoughts before I answer a call or place a call. I carry my scut sheet with me and highlight my DR calls.

Never be afraid to ask an MD to repeat an order..its your License! I had an MD give me an order for Coumadin when a patient had a PT over 7! I argued with her...She yelled at me..said I was stupid...I went to my supervisor and told her I was not going to write that order. She insisted the DR had not understood me..(Even though the Dr told me she had the lab I had faxed in front of her and read it back to me.) My supervisor called back and the Dr yelled at her too and insisted the coumadin order stand.. We had to call the medical Director and she overode the order and gave the order for Vit K and Bleeding precautions. Later I found out the Medical Director had spoken to the Dr and the Dr admitted she had made a mistake...But, I never got an apology.. Remember Dr's are not perfect either..they make mistakes too..but, they are lucky because they have us as their back up...The Nurse is responsible for every medication and treatment she /he gives..Period.

I am now a Nurse Manger in a LTC facility. I have our new nurses focus on meds and treatments first and gradually work up to the desk and paperwork. I think you should look into a LTC or Dr's office ..But don't give up! Caring Nurses are needed!

Laura

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, the only think I can say is THANK YOU! Your words mean so much to me! God bless you all....I will try to find something so i can work as an LPN, if not, I will have to go back to school, and try to learn how to do all these paper work, and other things i feel weak in doing it. I just like to do things correctly, and when i live my work to be satisfied that i did a good job.

You all, are so nice.....

In the place I worked all I heard, was about our license... I heard so many times about how easy is to loose the license...but nobody told me exactly why and how we can loose it....so I was afraid not to do any mistakes...and having that in my mind I was so tensioned....Is it there a book I can read about rules in nursing? Or laws in nursing?

How long can we have in orientation? Is there a rule? Or depends on the facility?

I am sorry if I am asking silly things, but it looks like you guys are closest to me than anybody else right now...THANK YOU again!!!!!!!!!! I :) appreciate your time!

PS: I can't believe you guys wrote me these nice messages....very encouraging!

See sometimes, "When God closes a dor he opens another one for us, but we are so obsessed about the one closed, and we do not have eyes to see the other one opened"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in floor to ICU.

We have had some issues with turnovers at my hospital so our orientation time frame has been extended. I think they give you up to 6 mos! Find a place with a good preceptor program. Try and relax. I know it is difficult when you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off! I have had many days like that on our Med-Surg floor. I have been a nurse for 15 years but was out of hospital nursing for about 6 yrs before I picked it up again. It was difficult. The first day, I left the hospital and cried all the way home, but I didn't give up. I just celebrated my 5 yr anniversary at that hospital. Organization is the key. Once you get a routinue down you will feel more comfortable- that takes time. That's why your preceptor is soooo important. Talk with your nurse manager about your comfort level. Good Luck! :icon_hug: Keep us posted!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

You sound like a typical new nurse. The real world is nothing like nursing school for us who are educated here in the US. We all have days like that. Don't get discouraged.

Suzanne above gives good advice.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion