First week as a new grad. Any advice?

[Alexx_xox]

Hey everyone,

So last week was officially my first week as a licensed RN.

Wow, so crazy to think that only a couple months ago I was still a student, and here I am, finally a NURSE! Sometimes I catch myself saying "Im a nurse" and I still can't believe it.

Anyways, I digress, I wanted to hop on here and tell you all about my first week. I have stated before that I was hired in the emergency room as a new grad and I am currently apart of what is called a nurse residency program.

This program consists of:

9 weeks of training (not on the floor)

This basically involves:

BLS

ACLS

TNCC

ENPC

EKGs

& Code like sim training

There are a couple other topics they really go into as well during these 9 weeks.

This past week we specifically covered EKG's and really went into detail on the different EKG strips and how to identify/treat each rhythm.

Now after those 9 weeks are up we spend 8 weeks on the floor with a nurse preceptor. Once those 8 weeks are complete, you are then on your own. I feel very lucky to be apart of this nurse residency because it helps engrain some of the topics you learned in school quite well.

However, (there is always a con to everything in life) I still feel like nothing is better than hands on training.

How many of you agree with that?

For all my current nurses with experience, what truly helped you learn and feel confident in caring for others? (working on the floor, in class sessions, online modules???) please let me know.

Naturally, I am very confident and willing to take on many challenges, but, like most new grads, I'm still nervous for my first week on the floor with patients alone.

Do you guys have any good advice for new grads starting on the floor?

Let me know guys! Thanks so much.

Xo Alex

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

There was no such thing as a nurse residency when I started, no online modules (no internet) -- and apparently no such thing as a preceptor, either. I was just thrown in. Part of the problem was that the hospital hired most of their nurses from their very own diploma program -- I was the first BSN they had ever hired. They had no idea what to do with me. Unlike the diploma grads, I wasn't able to hit the ground running. There was no classroom instruction. I learned by doing -- mostly from the NAs and LPNs because the RNs had no time for me. It was a miserable first year -- absolutely, abjectly miserable. I eventually did learn, and it was mostly by doing under the supervision of NAs and LPNs and by studying at home on my own.

[Alexx_xox]

There was no such thing as a nurse residency when I started, no online modules (no internet) -- and apparently no such thing as a preceptor, either. I was just thrown in. Part of the problem was that the hospital hired most of their nurses from their very own diploma program -- I was the first BSN they had ever hired. They had no idea what to do with me. Unlike the diploma grads, I wasn't able to hit the ground running. There was no classroom instruction. I learned by doing -- mostly from the NAs and LPNs because the RNs had no time for me. It was a miserable first year -- absolutely, abjectly miserable. I eventually did learn, and it was mostly by doing under the supervision of NAs and LPNs and by studying at home on my own.

Wow, sounds like the "nurses eat their young" stigma has always been a thing. How long did it take you to feel comfortable as a nurse?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Wow, sounds like the "nurses eat their young" stigma has always been a thing. How long did it take you to feel comfortable as a nurse?

The "nurses eat their young" stigma is a fallacy. It made someone an awful lot of money in book sales and speaking engagements, but it simply is not true. Those nurses weren't eating me -- they simply had no idea how little I knew, how insecure I was or how much I needed (and wanted) to learn. These days, new grad orientation programs are a thing, and most hospitals have some sort of program in place. It was different back in the days where everyone came from the hospital's own diploma program and was already more or less oriented.

It takes most new nurses about a year to feel comfortable as a nurse. It took me longer. I had no experience as a CNA to draw from, no team leading class where I spent 40 hours a week on the unit. What made me feel comfortable was learning the protocols, the policies and the hands on care. I studied medications at home -- my drug card from nursing school came in handy. I added to them as I learned new things -- how fast to give Lasix IV push, for example, or what happens to Dilantin and sugar solutions. One of the interns taught me about blood gases (thanks, Steve!) and an NA with a beautician's license taught me how to braid my patient's hair to keep it out of the way and unsnarled. (Thanks, Deb!) My patients taught me a lot as did the LPNs. And did I say I studied at home? Medications, pathophysiciology, anatomy and physiology, current literatue. It all helps.

[Alexx_xox]

The "nurses eat their young" stigma is a fallacy. It made someone an awful lot of money in book sales and speaking engagements, but it simply is not true. Those nurses weren't eating me -- they simply had no idea how little I knew, how insecure I was or how much I needed (and wanted) to learn. These days, new grad orientation programs are a thing, and most hospitals have some sort of program in place. It was different back in the days where everyone came from the hospital's own diploma program and was already more or less oriented.

It takes most new nurses about a year to feel comfortable as a nurse. It took me longer. I had no experience as a CNA to draw from, no team leading class where I spent 40 hours a week on the unit. What made me feel comfortable was learning the protocols, the policies and the hands on care. I studied medications at home -- my drug card from nursing school came in handy. I added to them as I learned new things -- how fast to give Lasix IV push, for example, or what happens to Dilantin and sugar solutions. One of the interns taught me about blood gases (thanks, Steve!) and an NA with a beautician's license taught me how to braid my patient's hair to keep it out of the way and unsnarled. (Thanks, Deb!) My patients taught me a lot as did the LPNs. And did I say I studied at home? Medications, pathophysiciology, anatomy and physiology, current literatue. It all helps.

Most people I talk to say it takes about a year to get comfortable. It's nice to hear that you don't feel nurses eat their young. You are probably one of only a couple who have told me they don't really believe in that. Most people I talk to do believe it's a thing still.

[SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN]

I have been in healthcare for about 10 years now, 2 as an CNA, 8 as an LPN, and the past 8 months as an RN. I have met very few "eat their young" nurses to be honest. I just started in the ER myself and have had actually a good experience so far with my co-workers, they are just glad to get more night staff so they are more than willing to train and answer questions. There are bullies in every employment setting, the trick is just to not let their attitude bother you, then they are just regular people with a bad attitude. GL!