How to survive orientation. Any advice?!

[FutureRN_NP]

Newly hired new grad. Orientation day two and my feet are killing me. Painful feet is the least of my worries. Nurses who I have been with for the last two days could go as fast as 180 mph. I cannot seem to catch up with them of what they were saying half of the time. I feel so slow and do not know lots of stuff. I feel I am taking baby steps. Is this normal or just me slow period?

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Hang in there. It's normal. Heck, I've sometimes had 2 minutes (or no) orientations on a new unit. What sort of unit/ward are you on sweetie?

Have a game plan, use a cheat sheet. Ask a zillion questions - who cares if people get annoyed, they will get over it. Write everything down & ask for feedback when u do h/over. Also research stuff you don't know about later or the next day if you have time. Stay back & attend any training sessions, also ask if people can show you stuff after work. And don't let patients, family etc manipulate your time, be firm but in control. If you don't control your shift, it will control you. Time and people management is everything. And get your head round the paperwork FAST, also start your computer & medical record documentation as early as possible, that way, you can always add stuff later. Try to do everything as early as possible in your shift.

Look, I've been a RN for 3 years, I worked HDU last night only for the 2nd time in a major hospital, and the RNs there were running rings around me. I'd only worked there twice & management knew that when allocating me. I had one coworker who was trying to help out but getting frustrated. The coordinator had to help me out a bit, but to be honest, she was just glad I was there as they were short staffed. I had a break, and a cuppa tea, then went back upstairs & got my $h*t together. It was a hectic night, don't know how HDU nurses do it, kudos to them.

If ur struggling talk to the NUM of the unit as well and always asked experience nures for tips.

Good luck.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

completely normal and to be expected. hang in there.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

Watch, listen, learn.

Let everyone know if there are skills that you need to learn. If you hear that someone is going to do a cath and you need to practise that, ask if you can do it.

Observe how other nurses do things, not just your preceptor. We all organize ourselves differently. What works for me, may not work for you. But how Susan does it may work for you. I always tell people - this is how I do it, but that doesn't mean its the only way to do it.

Don't try and learn everything in one day. It takes time to learn it all.

Get your proper sleep, eat properly. If your feet are hurting, look into new shoes - ask around. Again, what works for one person may not work for others. I know some people who swear by running shoes - they don't work for me. I need a shoe with a good arch support because I have high arches. I swear by Nurse Mates, someone else swears by Crocs which give me shin splints.

Finally, if someone is going too fast - TELL THEM! Say - hey, can we slow things done just for a mintue, I"m lost. If you don't tell your preceptor that you are lost they won't know.

Good Luck! I know you can do this!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

It's very normal. And apparently, quite a surprise to lots of today's graduates.

Hang in there. Expect to feel inadequate for at least 6-8 months, possibly a year.

Knowledge will come. Coping skills will come. You will survive.

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

This is completely normal. Where I work, they are cutting orientations even shorter. You are expected to funtion immediately. The reason is due to the costs of training new grads. Get some good shoes and get ready to run!

[DemonWings]

Your slow on your second day of orientation?!? That is unheard of!! I've been orienting for quite a few months now and I am still really slow, but its a different ball game now that its our signature on the MAR, if you were speedy Gonzales on the second day Then you should be worried. Be slow, be meticulous about the details now and you will develop good habits and a solid foundation, then and only then can you increase you speed.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

Buy good shoes. Write things down, ask questions, and remember.....in 6 months-1 year you will be a lot more comfortable!

[FutureRN_NP]

Sorry for a late rely but thank you all of you so much for words of encouragement. I have done well so far, just not as fast or efficient as the other nurses. Every RN who mentors me tells me that I am doing great and that speed and efficiency comes with time.