That I don't leave work and worry all night about what I forgot to do! I work on a VERY busy med-surg/Tele floor and I swear, I am running all day, and by the time for report, I'm a wreck. I use "brain" sheet, check orders constantly, can pretty much stay on time for meds, but I still feel behind ALL. THE. TIME. My orientation, which was supposed to be nine weeks, was cut to three. I got yelled at by one of the night nurses for letting a bag of LR run to gravity when my patient got back from a procedure, something I totally didn't know was a no-no. She was a total condescending b**** about it, when she could have told me in a nice way. I would have learned the lesson just as easily. I've lost whatever confidence I had, and I truly just want to take great care of my patients.

When I read your piece, all my memories of working ICU, going home, waking up in the middle of the nite or day, and phoning in to work asking my relief nurse to check on things I may not have done or skipped. No matter how many years you have in this profession, you will always be making those calls or re-checking details in your brain to "make sure." It's part of the psyche of being a nurse. There were nites when all earth broke loose and some things didn't get done. There were nites when IV's got backed up, because the 2nd of 2 patients was going downhill; then there nites when both patients went "south" then those organizational skills went down the tubes also.

It's all part of growing as a nurse in terms of confidence. As long as your patients and their families know you truly care for them, then that's what truly matters. That's a feeling no condescending b**** can take away from you. Hang in there, you'll be a great nurse.

As for the condescending b****, those nurses do exist. And, trust me, they too made mistakes. They seem to "forget" they too were new nurses. You don't live through this profession without making mistakes. We are human, caring for humans. If you make a mistake, admit it, report it to the supervisors, learn from it, and move on. Yes, some of those b***** with give you heartache, and will never change their attitudes. Be the better person and nurse.

It will get better. Unfortunately you will come across other rude nurses like that.

I remember working third shift as a new nurse and the next shift nurse was always in a bad mood looking for something to be mad about.

I remember years later a newer nurse came on and I would help her and give her tips because I knew what it felt like to be treated not so nice when I was new.

My orientation was also cut and the instructors were like you will be fine your orientation is over. With 12 patients and the possibility of 2 more admissions for me before the shift was over.

Thank goodness when I was placed finally placed on a unit I had great co workers who didn't mind taking a minute or two to teach me something.

When you become a charge nurse, nurse preceptor,nursing instructor, or even colleague, you will understand what your students are going through. Your empathy and understanding from past experiences will come through to them, because you have been in their shoes. Nurses should never forget where they came from.

You had three weeks orientation as a new grad to a med/surg with tele floor?!

You had three weeks orientation as a new grad to a med/surg with tele floor?!

Yes. It was supposed to be longer, and even as I was working as a staff RN, I was listed on the schedule as "orienting," but I had a full load (4-5 patients) and no preceptor. I've had to learn by immersion.