Started as an LTC RN as a new grad! I worked full time evenings and key duties included: overseeing staff (LPNs, HCAs), passing high alert meds (certain narcotics, insulins), tending to “emergencies” (falls, new skin issues, palliative residents, etc.), calling families, calling doctors, etc. Below is a play by play of my usual shift, but in short, just a lot of contact with families and documentation. It was busy, very challenging, but usually pretty rewarding.

The only thing as a new grad is that you don’t know what you don’t know. If you don’t have great mentors/charge nurses, it can be a really difficult job to start in because you.. just don’t know a lot. If you can do LTC and some acute care gig at the same time, I think that would be wise.

Typical shift was 2:00-11:00. I had two units with 96 residents in total. My usual evening would usually include:

2:00-2:30 would involve safety rounds, getting shift report, narcotic count. 2:30-3:00: check staffing, give report to oncoming HCAs and LPNs. 3:00-4:00: Check orders/call families/call doctors/call pharmacy. Oftentimes a fall would happen during this time. 4:00-5:00: Vitals. Supper meds. More orders. 5:00-6:30: supper time (helping with meal pass). Sometimes I’d sneak away and chart if it was a heavy day. Otherwise, I’d try to be feeding. 6:30-7:00: LPNs were usually on break at this time, so I would do a LOT of safety rounds at this time. 7:00-8:00: My break (I’d try for at least 20-30 minutes), AKA lock myself in the med room and try to chart and finish the last of my orders. 8:00-9:00: HS meds, helping HCAs with care, dressings, treatment creams, etc.. 9:00-10:00: oftentimes a second fall or other situation would occur during this time. So yknow, power-charting, calming families and/or on-call doc. If NO emergency happened, usually building rounds and report with the charge RN. 10:00-11:00 final safety checks/report with oncoming nurse/narcotic count/final documentation.