I am a semi-new grad - I worked for 7 months before going out on maternity leave. Now that ds is 6 months old, I'm going back in a few weeks. I feel that when I was working before, I was doing okay, but I was much too focused on the time management aspect of my job. I have (sort of) mastered that, but I feel like my assessment skills fell by the wayside.

My question is this: How do I get back on track? I feel like my shift is about more than completing my tasks and making sure my patient is just safe. I want to be as good as I can be at assessment, especially because my ultimate goal is to do agency nursing so I can spend weekends with my family.

Another concern of mine is that I've never been involved in a code yet. I work in onc, so they're not all that common. Most folks sign DNR's before it comes to that, but I wonder when I'm ever going to get that experience. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing an agency assignment without the knowledge of how to operate the crash cart and give the docs the meds they need, document, etc.

Has anyone out there experienced similar feelings and been successful at accomplishing his/her goals?

Thanks in advance,

Julie in NYC

:

Congratulations on the new baby!

I'm sure most everyone has similar feelings about returning to a job or starting a new job. Ask your clinical specialist/staff educator to help you find out what you need. It just might not have been covered in orientation. Have her crack the code cart and review alal the equipment. Do the same with the defibrillator etc. JCAHO requires that all staff be kep up on equipment so this might start a trend for a yearly review class.

You are practically a new nurse aren't you, but let me assure you that as a very OLD nurse (30+ years) we all feel like that at times.

Have fun w/ the new baby and give him a hug for me.

Hey! Thanks for the quick reply. I think I will talk to a nursing educator. The one that covers my unit is worthless. The one who covers the ICU's, though, is very cool, and I think she'd at least take the time to meet with me to discuss this.

The crash cart wasn't really covered in orientation. They sort of showed it to us and said, "This is a crash cart." Not too informative.

-Julie

Hey! Thanks for the quick reply. I think I will talk to a nursing educator. The one that covers my unit is worthless. The one who covers the ICU's, though, is very cool, and I think she'd at least take the time to meet with me to discuss this.

The crash cart wasn't really covered in orientation. They sort of showed it to us and said, "This is a crash cart." Not too informative.

-Julie

Boy, that's a scary thought. We have to review a Code Blue (mock resuscitation) ever year.

Boy, that's a scary thought. We have to review a Code Blue (mock resuscitation) ever year.

I'm curious to know, is this the case elsewhere?

-Julie