OK, after 7 months of a job I hated on a respiratory/GMF floor, I took a part time job at a much smaller, less prestigious hospital ED. I took a part time job in anticipation of our Eastern European adoption and having a young child, wanting to be available for the kid. But that's another thread altogether. Generally, I've had +++ experiences with the staff nurses. They generally don't appear to be snarky to each other, but they are ready to tear the head off of the "palace" of administration!
OK, I'm scared to death of making a mistake. This hospital doesn't have any written standing orders, so I just have to "catch" on. The nurses are telling me to take the worst patients while I'm on orientation because no doubt my first patient off orientation will be a five day old baby in asystole. They also said that I am will be expected to handle a load the same as any other nurse who has been working there for 5+ years.
Here was my day today:
0700 -- 92 year old in massive pulmonary edema, inherited by noc's, precepter just went to work and told me not one bit of information until we had the patient settled in a regular hospital be. Weekender nurse, totally burned out, made this comment "J.J. (my preceptor) Lucky you, you have the 'perfect nurse' with you". Still not sure what that meant.
0845 -- 70 year old c/o HA and ST memory loss, walking like a kid playing airplane, laughing all the way. Turned out he had a huge brain tumor. My preceptor treated me like a tech -- go get this, go get that.
1000 -- 72 year old male c/o dizziness while doing laundry. My patient on my own. Nicest guy in the world. r/o MI workup, r/o new onset CHF. Luckily, he was an easy patient.
1400 -- LOL w/SOB. My preceptor yelled at me to take this patient. He (my preceptor) is very soft spoken, and he said "I mean it! Stop charting and go get this patient!" He scared the crap out of me. I didn't hear him say one word of this to me, and before I knew it he had her in a room, nekkid, gown on, nebbed, solumedrol on board.
1530 -- Getting ready to go home. Anther nurse said to me, after I said that the staff was being supportive, said "Well, we're trying". I tried to ask her what she meant by that because I thought maybe she was being a little snarky, but someone else came into the breakroom and she was suddenly more interested in that person.
This is my third week of orientation. Have I bitten off more than I can chew or will I eventually get this? I don't want my co-workers to hate me, and I love the ER and I love this hospital, but there is so much I don't know. Maybe I'm better off on a tele floor? Any words of wisdom will be very appreciated.
