First Job. Nervous.

Specialties Emergency

Published

I'm really nervous! I just got my first RN job and it starts in 10 days! It's at a rural hospital ER. They are going to provide me with 2 to 3 months of preceptorship but now I'm all worried that it won't be enough. I'm super nervous because I'm moving two hours away from my family and signing a 2 year contract with the hospital.

Any advice for a new grad? How do I make the nerves go away!

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Are you in a new grad residency program?

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No, it's not an official new grad program. They're going to precept and train me on the floor.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

I'm going to say the same thing that was said to me:

"Do you think they've never seen a new nurse before?!"

I promise they won't let you sink. It's not in their best interest to not train a new person well. They will have spent a ton of time, energy and money to teach you to be a good and safe nurse. Most places also have a person that they pair you with afterwards (a resource) just in case you are feeling unsure about anything.

The first day is usually all paperwork and then they will show you their charting system. They ramp you up from there.

If you are extra nervous, just look up the major things you are concerned about and plan what you would do next. I promise the correct answer every time will be "Get help" followed by everything else.

Even after orientation you will never be alone. Let me say this again because it's important to your wellbeing... You will never be alone! It's a team in the ER, and we don't leave anyone to code a patient alone. Ever.

You will be ok. Just take some deep breaths and exercise off the extra energy whenever you get too anxious in the next few days. :)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

That's the best part about the ER (to me anyhow). We are a team. A well oiled team, machine that when the tough times come we work together and get it done.

Never, ever, ever and I mean NEVER be scared to ask questions!

Have fun and soak up everything you can during orientation.

Be teachable and listen.

Take notes.

Get ACLS and PALS certified.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency.

As noted above, er nursing is a team sport and you will never be alone.

Nervous is good for a new grad. Not nervous for a new grad makes experienced nurses nervous.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I completely understand where you're coming from. I graduated in May and started my first RN job June 8th (so just over a month ago) in a level 2 ED. It is a 16 week new grad residency program...I'll be under a preceptor til mid September and I have weekly online learning modules to complete (Emergency Nursing Orientation modules by the Emergency Nurses Association).

The first week was all hospital orientation, paperwork, sitting in a classroom for 8 hours a day. I started on the floor the next week. Thus, I've had 3 weeks (9 shifts) on the floor, and this third week I was already expected to take care of 3 non-critical patients at a time. My preceptor even said she felt it was too quick; that when she started they didn't take 3 patients until like 6 weeks in.

In saying that, I have learned so much. I am being forced out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. Like others have mentioned, it is a team environment in the ED. I go out of my way to ask what I can do for other nurses if my patient's don't require anything for the time being. This gives me even more exposure -- looking up and administering more meds, doing more IVs, doing EKGs so I can interpret strips, etc. They appreciate the help and it gets me experience.

And one thing I've learned -- there's never a stupid question. Sometimes people assume "someone else" already told you something. Example: I just finished my third week on the floor, and I just found out on my shift Wednesday that I'm supposed to be "signing" out (electronically) my charts for each patient. No one told me this! So I sat down and "signed" like 40 charts in our EHR system (PICIS) at the end of my shift.

I let my preceptor know when we met before I started on the floor that I felt super unprepared and like I knew nothing, and that I was really nervous. She said she appreciated that I was nervous, because her last preceptee thought he was billy bada$$ and thought he knew everything coming out of school and couldn't take criticism. I told her she wouldn't have a problem with me in that regard lol.

Ask, ask, ask questions. Even if your preceptor isn't around -- I'll turn to another nurse and just be like "so this may or may not be a stupid question, but...." and they have been SO kind in answering any and all questions I've had. Whether medications, wound care (because Lord knows I learned nothing about wound care in school), how to chart something appropriately, etc. Sometimes, even when I know the answer, I ask a question anyway to make sure I, in fact, knew the answer.

Sorry for the long post! I still feel overwhelmed, having to learn how to prioritize tasks and charting while caring for 3 rooms at a time when I just started a month ago. It has been crazy. But I wouldn't change it for anything!

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Ok...Here is what you can control right off the bat:

1. Get to work on time. 2. Be respectful and polite. 3. Get in there and work hard. 4. Ask to DO things...don't just watch others. 5. Be reliable. 6. Did I mention get to work on time?

If you do those things people will help you and you will learn.

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Specializes in Emergency, pediatrics.

Don't be nervous. ER is a fast paced priority game. Focus on your sick patients first like icu's, chest painers, sob'iers then on your frequent belly painers and so on. Have a thick shell with families and leave your problems at home and your hospital problems at the hospital. You'll be fine, they won't let you sink! Plus you have a doctor a head turn away😎

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