[DSplendid]

Hello...
I just had a few questions for those who have started working as an RN or have been for awhile.
First...I start orientating in 2 weeks. I've already worked at this hospital and this department for about a year as a nurse tech/aid. The way it works, I guess..is I will do a hospital orientation, then go off and work with my preceptor (6mo total) I'm not new to health care...I was an EMT for 11 years, and on & off in put pt. dept., clinicals, hospitals etc. I feel very comfortable with the staff I'll be working with. Furthermore, I do feel confident with my skills I gained in school and knowledge from already working in that dept. i.e. were things are, the computer system, routines, etc. But my questions are this.
Is it normal to be scared out of my mind ?
I'm so scared, I'll look like an idiot! I have this recurring nightmare that my preceptor asks me something/do something so simple and I mess it all up; and everyone gets mad/laughs at me....

Do the preceptors expect a lot from you? I mean I'm a hard worker, and I learn fast; moreover, willing to learn. But just starting off, I need to absorb first. I mean, I don't know what I mean. I think I'm just scared they're going to except me to know everything, esp. since I have a little exp. and worked there already...and of course I feel as though I don't know anything.

How did you feel, and when did you get comfortable? I know this is going to vary by person and on the type of nursing. But just some feed back. Like when did you fell as though you had a grasp on what was going on. How did you feel while being precepted? When did you feel ok, being on your own? I won't be on my own for 6 mo. which is fine with me.

Any advice...any at all is welcome. I'll be working in the ED, which I feel very comfortable in like I said...however...tips, advice, suggestions, tricks..lol on just being a "new grad" in general would be great. (don't feel as though you can't commit if your not working in the same dept. as me...I want to hear it all.)

[EricEnfermero]

First, the doubts (and even nightmares) are quite common. While I don't have any particular theme to my own dreams of incompetence, I had a friend who was a student athletic trainer at a very large Division I university. He had this recurring dream that a football player was injured, in the middle of the field, in front of a sellout crowd, and he was the only available trainer. All my friend could ever say or do (in the dream) was repeat, 'I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do.' So trust me, your thoughts are not silly or rare.

Your unit may have high expectations of you, but they should be aware that you're a new nurse and plan to guide you accordingly. Where I work (NICU) as a fairly new grad, the more experienced nurses always try to keep an ear peeled in the direction of the newbies. I assume your coworkers will be the same way, or else you wouldn't have chosen to continue working there. One of the most important skills to develop: Knowing when you need to ask for more help.

[rninme]

and remember, the only DUMB question is the one you DIDN'T ask!

I can remember being scared out of my mind...afraid that I was going to do something stupid and cause irrepairable harm to one of my patients. I think that all conscientious (sp???) nurses feel that way.

I, for one, would much rather work with a new grad that feels the way you do....rather than the one that thinks he/she knows it all...and has nothing new to learn...(yes, I have precepted a couple of the knows-it-all type and they scare the sh** out of me!)

Take a big deep breath....focus on what your preceptor is telling you...and learn. You'll do fine!!

[GradrnKylie]

I am in the same boat as DSplendid. I will be starting August 7th in Cardiothoracic ward. I am excited and yet scared too as I feel like a fish out of water.

In regards to asking questions, i always ask questions but sometimes I feel that if I ask alot of questions to get clarification I feel annoyance from others. So you cant always win.

What I fear is that my preceptorship isnt long enough that I wont cope within the role as RN.

Already I am having reoccuring thoughts about doing handovers and IV pumps or not being able to work out a medication calculation of a particular required drug. Feel like I am gonna screw up big time.

I hope once in the role, that all my fears die away.

I wish us Newbies the best.

[Daytonite]

SN_2B_RN. . .Here is a short article with very simple advice on handover report.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...06/ai_n9425820 - Get an A+ on End-0f-Shift Report

Here are some older threads with advice on handover report:
http://allnurses.com/forums/f15/givi...rt-161697.html (in the CCU forum)
http://allnurses.com/forums/f30/givi...rt-161695.html (in the MICU and SICU forum)
http://allnurses.com/forums/f15/shif...form-3445.html (in the CCU forum)
http://allnurses.com/forums/f15/shif...form-3434.html (in the CCU forum)
http://allnurses.com/forums/f224/shi...rt-130221.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f224/tou...-139929-2.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/end-s...rt-116969.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/how-c...rt-110515.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/what-...se-111414.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f224/afr...se-120811.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/worst...rt-123923.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f8/idea-...rm-128822.html
http://allnurses.com/forums/f50/handover-report-137980.html

I have posted this link to a report sheet that I use, but it is for working with 6 patients on a medical unit. You are welcome to download and copy it. Unless the unit you are going to be working on already has a handover sheet that you can use, you might just want to create your own. I have been creating my own report sheets for years. At first, using a simple manual typewriter up to today, using the Table formatting of Microsoft Word.

Attachment 5032 (Report Sheet)

[DSplendid]

Thank you so much DaytoNite.....

[leixlip]

I just started my first hospital job, RN residency!! I am orienting with 3 weeks of classroom with alternative clinicals then we do 3 rotations to different units before going to our home unit. Anyone else doing a residents program?

[DSplendid]

Wow...that is new to me...I'm doing something different. I'm doing 3 days of classroom..to start...orientating to hospital equipment etc. then working 3 months with my preceptor, and then 2 months of more classes on and off. It used to be (stopped just as I started) orientation with a preceptor was 6 mo. and 3 mo. of classes....I don't know what happen...I just hope I feel comfortable in 3 mo.

[morningglory8]

It's pretty much a given that you SHOULD be scared. Hopefully scared equals careful. The preceptor I had "turned me loose" with her there to answer questions if I had them after the second day of going around with me and observing my skills, bedside manner, ability to chart ect. Once she was comfortable.....she kicked me out of the nest.

[MIA-RN1]

Is it normal to be scared out of my mind ?
Sure! You are entering a whole new world, you don't know the unit culture, you don't know who your friends are (or arent!) and you are not familiar with any of the paperwork etc. If you weren't scared, then you should be worried.

Do the preceptors expect a lot from you?
Depends on the preceptor. I have been working with several. Some insist on following me around and checking all my charting and telling me what to do, others say "come and get me when you need me" so it really depends on the person precepting you. One would hope you come with basic nursing knowledge/skills relevant to your specialty but I have found on a whole, nursing instructors are more demanding than coworkers are. something to remember tho, everyone thinks their way is best. So you will be exposed to lots of people saying "Well, I do it this way" and whatever 'it' is, you will be expected to do it that way while you work with that specific person. Just do it and learn. You will find your own way that works best for you as well.

How did you feel, and when did you get comfortable?
Well, I got comfortable last night lol. Seriously. We were short two nurses, my preceptor got grand jury duty for a few weeks and so I was given 3 mother/baby couplets and an antepartum and told to ask anyone for help if I needed it. This was probably my 5th or 6th time working with mother/baby patients. (I did a week or so in NBN first, and before that was 2 weeks of classroom) I was nervous and the charge really made sure I felt capable. Nervous and capable are not mutually exclusive, I learned. My patients survived me, and I survived them!

Any advice...
Well, wear comfy shoes, bring an extra pen, keep at least one powerbar in your locker and have some gum or breathmints. And eat before you go to work even if you're not hungry.
Seriously tho, just go with the open mind that you had in school, and realize that every single nurse you are working with was a new nurse once as well. Be friendly to everyone and confide in no-one, and make friends with the techs! It is a HUGE team effort between techs and nurses and when you all get along, everyone is happy.
Oh, and make up an assignment sheet that works for you.
Good luck! It looks like you started this week!