Encouragement for those newly on orientation/new hires :)

[seaghost]

I just want to share my experience with you all. After this week I will be off orientation and officially on my own. I started work in early June on a Cardiac floor, orientating on days (5 pts) but actually hired for nights (6 pts). Over the past 2 months I have had HUGE downs and a good share of ups as well. It seemed like every shift I would have greater challenges and more things I knew nothing about. Several days I felt like crying, and one day I actually did. I was lucky enough to have a preceptor on days who was very emotionally supportive and the rest of my coworkers were as well so that helped build my confidence a great deal. There were times coming home from work when I thought I could not go back another day, but I pulled through. I cannot even believe the amount of confidence I have gained in these tumultuous 2 months and all I can say to those of you struggling is that it WILL get better. I still have my challenges (and being on nights helps with stress reduction), but I truly have started to feel like I have things more under control, and you will too, it just takes time. :) Keep plugging along guys!

[jyoppiniRN]

Keep plugging along indeed. No words could be more motivating during many life situations. Thank you for sharing

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the encouragement. :)

I got hired for a critical care residency and I am not worried about the coursework or the patient care, but all of the equipment and new computer systems are flipping me out a lot. I graduated with my BSN in May. I moved out of state and the hospital I'm working at uses absolutely NOTHING the hospitals where I had clinicals and worked as a CNA at did. New IV pumps. New charting software. New defibrillators. New vents. New monitors. New time clock. New coworkers - I'd never laid eyes on anyone who lived within 100 miles of this place until I started here. New IV catheters - and these don't stop the blood from flowing; once you stick someone right the blood just goes everywhere until you get everything hooked up. I have made a mess of a bunch of patients so far with blood going all over the place. There is only one thing I have seen before and that is the blood glucose monitors - but they use them differently than my previous hospital. Before I just had to stick and check the patient, now I have to enter all of these comments every time I use the meter and re-check for all of these certain parameters and values have to be within 10% to be a valid recheck. Even the stupid stuff like soap, socks, tissues, etc. are different. All the new stuff is a little overwhelming. I am comfortable in the room talking to my patients but no where else in the hospital. I will be really glad when I finally get all of the new information straight in my head!

[MSNrunner]

Thanks for the post! I will be starting orientation in two weeks on an Acute Care of the Elderly unit. I am excited to be starting my career but also getting pretty nervous after reading so many new grad posts about how horrible the first year can be. I hope your transition from orientation to being all on your own goes smoothly!

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I just finished a six month internship and an now cross training on a totally different floor. I am grateful for the intense help. I feel fairly comfortable.I ask when I don't understand something and I have learned how to communicate with the interns, residents and attendings. It is a great thing. My first job, I had 5 weeks of a shadow and was not [re[red at all. SO excited not that I am done. I got to know everyone on the unit thanks to working both days and nights and having different preceptors.

There were days I felt really stupid and inadequate, but I had cheerleaders to get me through. It may different now that I am on my own, but I know, at least that I have the training I need to do the job.

[nurse_sharon]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I am in my sixth week of orientation and have five more to go. I am working nights on a med/surg unit and I'm still having trouble juggling just two patients, let alone the five I will be expected to take once orientation is over. I'm terrified of being on my own in just over a month. There are so many things they just don't teach you in nursing school! I'm glad to hear there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I can't wait until I feel like I really know what I'm doing!

[Mopples]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I have started my new grad in Australia this week. We have had 3 days of corporate orientation/bls assessment. Tomorrow we start 2 days of supernumerary on ward orientation. Next week we have another face to face orientation day, then supernumerary on ward, then as of Wednesday next week we are on our own on ward with full patient load (4 on mornings/5 on evenings).

We do have a lot of support to call on though as well as regular study afternoons/days.

[HikingEDRN, BSN, RN]

It's nice to read about a positive experience. I have learned two completely different areas of nursing since I started in early 2009. During the first, I was a new grad and during the second, I may as well have been a new grad (newborn ICU to adult/peds ED). Both times, I had knowledgable and supportive preceptors. Of course I had my ups and downs but I always feel so bad for new nurses who (whether real or perceived) don't have the support they need from their preceptors.

[plinytheRN]

yes! I am in a similar spot, I have been off orientation for a month from a medical telemetry floor. The more familiar things are the better, so overwhelming and frustrating sometimes. The learning curve is so steep. Besides the fact that the nurses are supposed to know everything about all the patients all the time and be responsible for other people's jobs... it's going fine, my advice is to get to the full patient load ASAP on orientation so you don't drown when you get off of orientation. Having a great preceptor and people you can go to for help is key.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

My first job as a new grad was approximately 2000 miles from where I grew up and went to college. Every time you change jobs there will be different stuff; the good news is that after you have gotten proficient at a few sets you'll be able to learn the next new ones that much easier, because you will have the theory and basic engineering behind them well in your head. It gets better.

There are actually places that prefer someone from far away as an anodyne against the dread "we've always done it this way" they get from folks who have never been anywhere else.

[Loque, BSN, RN]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. It's always good to hear the successes

[jclsatx]

I start a 12 week orientation on September 9th for a med/surg unit. It's my first nursing (LVN) job and I'm excited and very nervous! I hear the nurses on the floor are wonderful and that everyone is very supportive, which is encouraging. I know it's going to be really freaking hard and scary, but I'm ready! (Plus the 3 day work weeks are motivating me even more, haha.)

Good luck to everyone else in my shoes. We can do this!