Day 2 as a "Spanky New R.N."....the saga continues.......

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jul 13, 2004

Full day, huh? :chuckle

Glad you had a good one... gee.. when I started, I ony got a HALF a patient... :uhoh21: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Enjoy the days ahead, Happy. Lots of learning, and hope you get the bestest preceptor EVER !!! :)

twinRN04 · Jul 18, 2004

hey ya'll!

girl i feel you--i just finished my first week w/all that paperwork. they didn't even put it in a manual for us...just clumps of stapled policies after another. I can't say that i'm not excited about the weeks ahead. I'm so glad to be experiencing this. I start my first rotation on CTU on monday and i'm there for 2 wks. Cant wait! we also have 10 wks of graduate nurse orientation then i start my orientation in the ER!! Can't wait to get back to my buds down there. anyways i like to hear about everybody else's first week so i thought i'd share mine! good luck everyone!

~jessica, RN~

Truly_Blessed · Jul 18, 2004

Awesome! Best of luck to ya!:)

DR2004RN · Jul 19, 2004

I am glad to hear you had such a wonderful day. I KNOW EXACTLY what your manual looks like, it sounds like I have one just like it. We sat and went through ours page by page during orientation. I have just finished my first two weeks on an oncology/hematology floor. I will be working in the float pool at my hospital, so I am getting an orientation to ALL of the floors in the hospital. I am off to ortho next. I am looking forward to that because ortho intrests me. My entire orientation lasts 120 days. Well good luck to you. Keep us posted on how you are doing. Bye for now.

melon · Jul 19, 2004

You have 10 weeks of orientation?!!!!! And take care of one WHOLE patient?!!!!! What a dream world! I was thrown to the wolves when I first started. I had such a struggle getting into the real world that I just ended up quitting nursing altogether (which is kinda unfortunate). I really wish that I had a nurse mentor. In nursing school, I looked after two patients max. And that was in my fourth and final year. Then I got a job and on the first day of real work, I had to take care of TWELVE patients (acute care surgery) and had about five days of orientation. I was so slow and so scared! I live in Canada. I heard that in the US the patient load is a lot less. Is this true?

jaimealmostRN · Aug 6, 2004

Happystudent- hows it going? I'm dying to hear all the juicy new details of your new job when you get some time!

PCGrad06 · Aug 7, 2004

:balloons: best of luck :balloons:

keep us posted on the new job

orchid · Aug 9, 2004

You have 10 weeks of orientation?!!!!! And take care of one WHOLE patient?!!!!! What a dream world! I was thrown to the wolves when I first started. I had such a struggle getting into the real world that I just ended up quitting nursing altogether (which is kinda unfortunate). I really wish that I had a nurse mentor. In nursing school, I looked after two patients max. And that was in my fourth and final year. Then I got a job and on the first day of real work, I had to take care of TWELVE patients (acute care surgery) and had about five days of orientation. I was so slow and so scared! I live in Canada. I heard that in the US the patient load is a lot less. Is this true?

Hi threre

No its not..its just as crazy as Canada or maybe more so...lol

Altra, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2004

HappyStudent ... glad to hear it's going well! Looking forward to reading more Tales from the Other Side ... :chuckle

happystudent, RN · Aug 13, 2004

Well......the saga continues..........

Sorry I havent been updating...i figure it would be easier to write my experiences in chunks.... :chuckle

Anywhoo....Its now six weeks into the game and Im still alive! I havent been eaten yet so thats a plus! :rotfl:

Well let me start off by saying that this has been a totally different experience....I knew it would be challenging but......... :uhoh3:

I give the highest honours to the nurses who specialize in tele/med-surg. It has proven to be a juggling act and I still am at awe to those who have chosen this path.

So, I am up to four whole pts now......Its seems that the majority are dual diagnosed which makes their care very difficult to manage. I usually will have at least two pts that are either in a-fib or have some type of bundle branch block (BBB) further complicated with acute renal/liver failure or diabetes. sheesh........

Its quite difficult managing my chest pain pts when one pt is being discharged another coming up from the ED and still another coming up from the cardiac cath lab.....on those days I question my decision to become a nurse :rotfl:

There are pages and pages of paperwork that needs to be done along with all the medications to be manage and constant paging dr's, taking report, giving report...it goes on and on......

It has been very difficult trying to manage my time and learning how to delegate effectively. I find that I try to do everything myself, but in the big scheme of things, thats counterproductive........it makes for a frustrating night :stone

Im not gonna lie......It is hard work, but I know I can do it. The most frustrating thing is finding my routine. I have about 4 more weeks left, Im expected to be able to manage 5 to 6 pt on my own.......THAT IS A SCAREY THOUGHT!!!! :chuckle ........

Some days, I get home and drop on my couch, scrubs and all and pass out....thats how crazy it is, guys.

But I must say, I ABSOLUTELY love taking care of my pts. I love talking to them and answering their questions. They seem to have a lot of respect for me as a nurse and that makes it worth it! :)

I will stick it out.... I only have 4 more months then I start my orientation in the ED.

I will keep yall posted!!!!!!

Thanks for reading :)

suzy253, RN · Aug 13, 2004

Wow...you're doing so great!!! I appreciate you updating us here so the students can see what we face when we are released into the real world. I'm in awe of YOU!!! You're a great nurse. Keep up the good work! :)