2 new grads in charge?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I have all of about three months experience now, and I am going to be working alone at a facility with another new grad who's first day on her own will be in a few days. She is amazingly overconfident, even making fun of me for being concerned about this. She has never done meds, treatments and documentation all on the same day yet and basically has no clue that she hasn't a clue. She makes med errors pretty much every day and doesn't seem concerned in the slightest. She made fun of me today for being slow and careful, and said she can work super fast without mistakes. I am not looking forward to the days that I will be alone with little miss know it all, at all.

Ok. Thanks for reading my vent.

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Specializes in Corrections.

You're doing the right thing by taking your time and making sure that you do it correctly. Learn it the right way and speed will come with time. All the other gal is doing is learning how to screw up with speed.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Yeah, for some reason I see train wrecks ahead. She asked me why I would bother looking up meds and told me pharmacology wasn't her thing. She thought I was crazy for questioning a doctors orders. Uhhh isn't that part of our job? To be the patients last line of defense from error?

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Specializes in ICU & LTAC as RN. FNP.

The co-worker will be in trouble before long.

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Specializes in Telemetry; Stroke.

Oh my this is a catastrophy waiting to happen. I feel for her patients. She better wake up and smell the coffee because if she doesn't she will not have her license for long. You are doing the right thing - take your time and CYA because no one else will. Hope it all works out for you. My question is this, "Why doesn't your facility have any seasoned veteren nurses working with ya'll?"

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Oh god I have had flashbacks of colleagues at Uni - the newly qualified who knows it all. A scary and damn dangerous creature! Ok first piece of advice - don't even worry about her, you are responsible for your own practice, do your job to the BEST of your ability, never compromise your standards, check drugs you are uncertain of - you should always do this, standing in a court of law and telling a judge 'pharmacology' isn't your 'thing' will do nothing but lengthen your sentence for negligence! Let her make her own mistakes and if you find her doing something or about to do something stupid - whistleblow. Simple. Nursing is a life long learning career, not one nurse knows everything - if they otherwise they are lying. The best nurses are the ones that think 'hmm I didn't know that, will research when I get home'.

You sound conscientious and cautious - you will gain confdence over time but never be rushed and remember you worked hard for your registration - you aren't going to lose it and put a patient at risk.

Best thing with know alls - ignore them. Split the workload and let her be responsible for her unfortunate patients.

Keep your chin held high - you are doing well ;-)

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I am a brand new nursing student, on my first day of class it was drummed into my head the importance of being aware of the importance that a patient is given the correct meds. To check and then recheck befor you give the medication. Keep up what you are doing and let her fall by herself. Dont let her bring you down with her. Good Luck!!

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Specializes in ER/ float.

Reading this just made me soooo angry I just just scream.... I blame these damn so called nursing schools turning out new grads with out any standards or knowlege of the role a real nurse plays. what ever happened to 80% or higher on test exams like we had to make,otherwise you fail and have one chance to retake before being out of the program? pharm knowledge is key to success and not harming your patient. The new or experienced nurse that thinks they know it all is dangerous.!!!

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One weekend I was the agency CNA.....the next Wednesday, I was the only RN-educated person in the building (150 beds) w/1 LPN and 6-7 CNAs in the building.

It wasn't easy, but it got done. Stick with checking things you're not comfortable with- and it will get easier in time. And faster. It's normal to be scared. :) Hang in there. The facility isn't going to put you out on your own if they didn't feel you were capable- not the same as comfortable :)

If you can't do it- no problem- do your best, be professional, and give notice if you need to go.

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Specializes in LTC.
The co-worker will be in trouble before long.

I say the same thing..The bad ones weed themselves out, usually.

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Specializes in Level II & III NICU, Mother-Baby Unit.

We nurses are the last line of defense our patients have. Look up medication information, question doctor's orders, question the pharmacist, do whatever you need to in order to be your patients advocate. And like others have said, little Miss Priss who is so overly-confident, blows off pharmacology, and takes false pride in doing everything like lightening will just as quickly find herself in a heap of trouble! Keep your integrity, smile, and always strive to do your best. I'm proud of you!

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Keep doing what you're doing. Look things up, question orders, give good care. Let her make fun of you...look at the source. Eventually, she will dig herself into a hole and find herself in a lot of trouble. Hopefully nobody is harmed in the meantime. Just rememer that everyone you're taking care of is someone's son/daughter/mother/father/brother/sister/aunt/uncle/whatever, do what you know is right and give the best care that you can.

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