Am I making the right decision?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

in all charity, i think you should seriously consider a refresher course in nursing-- your board of nursing can tell you more about that-- or consider another line of work. :twocents:

dudette10, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

Once was during orientation for not having a good judgement or handle cases efficiently.

You were on orientation. Did you ask your preceptor how to handle the case?

Another one was yesterday d/t transcribed lab wrong (misspelled a letter)

,

Was this a verbal order that you wrote down wrong in the first place? You can always repeat back with something like "N as in Nancy or M as in Michael." I have to do that all the time with BNP vs. BMP.

I didn't administered prn meds fast and quick enough on the clock (patients complaint)

Was it a pain med? That sometimes happens.

MD's concern that I overlooked newly admitted pt's med. What happened was pt asked if this new med he was getting at hospital will be given here. Basically I didn't hear the med's name correctly so when the ARNP asked if this pt was on it, I overlooked in the new order. I didn't say no but it took me longer to view it. I was not familiar with the med also. It was under a different name. Anyway, ARNP told the DON I told her pt is not on it while in fact he is.

I bet the patient gave the brand name, and the doc said the generic name, right? That's a toughie, and it's one that always makes me nervous as a new grad myself!

dudette10, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

in all charity, i think you should seriously consider a refresher course in nursing-- your board of nursing can tell you more about that-- or consider another line of work.

refresher course that will accomplish what exactly, based on the errors the op stated? or get out of nursing? really?

dudette10, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

About the brand name vs. generic name. Whenever patients tell you their home meds--or whenever you see it on the MAR for any of your patients-- and you don't recognize it, know what it's for, nor know its generic name, be sure to look it up. It will help in communicating with docs, too. I've had docs for admission orders ask, "What BP meds is he on?" By doing some research before you talk to a doc, you can avoid this. :)

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

in all charity, i think you should seriously consider a refresher course in nursing-- your board of nursing can tell you more about that-- or consider another line of work.

i disagree. op needs to do as i did and really examine what is the root of the mistakes and work on them. as a new grad she needs experience, not another course. only through experience will she get better and become a more efficient nurse.

don't look for another course of work either. don't give up on nursing unless you are truly ready.

all nurses is a great place to receive advice. i've been a member going on 5 years no. however, i've learned pick and choose what advice i listen to.

just my 0.02 cents.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

in my opinion a refresher course would be the best place to examine the roots of those mistakes and learn how to handle these situations better, in a milieu that does not have the pressures of an active work area bustling all around her.taking verbals, dealing with meds, setting priorities, and making clinical judgments better are precisely the skills she identifies as her weaknesses right now. sounds to me that a refresher off-site from the hospital on these would help her out with less pressure than knowing her coworkers and supervisors are watchng her every move.

we can give advice and she can take it or leave it, as anyone can. she sounds like she's close to the end of her rope, though, and a break might serve her best interests. good luck, op.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

Based on information I just pulled up for a refresher course in my area, it's nursing school all over again, including prep for NCLEX.

The Current Nurse Practice Act in the State of Illinois states that if your nursing license has been expired or inactive for a period of five years or longer you are required to re-take the NCLEX licensure Exam in order reactivate your nursing license.
This class will also be appropriate for nurses who will need to take the exam. Review of Medical-Surgical Content, medications administration, the nursing process, and clinical time will help prepare the nurse to take the exam. Special content courses are also available to assist the nurse in preparing for the exam.

Maybe she would be better off reading this:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/im-freaking-out-652691.html

FutureRN_NP · Feb 28, 2012

Thanks everyone for the advice! The root of the problem is the workload and little time I have to do with it. I have a wonderful supervisor and she is the best but I do not have that 10-20 minutes to ask question and obtaining the answer. I do not have that luxury. If I do take that 20 minutes than I will be there all day to finish the rest of work. My supervisor advise me last night that I should look into hospital job. Less patients to worry about. I know she is correct but the job is so scarce. Then again, I just do not to stay and risk loosing everything I work hard for either. I know all other nurses do not do much of a wonderful job than me because I found many mistakes they made. They cover for each other. For me, they would be happy if I walk away or take it on the plate directly to the DON.

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

Love what Dudette10 has said!

Classes are a waste of your time and your money. You know what you need to know! You just have to do editing on what your absolute priorities are, be your own best friend - what would you do to help yourself, are there any little cheats, or safety nets you can incorporate?

Drugs: YOU MUST BUY AN ITOUCH AND LOAD MEDICATION APPS ONTO IT. FREE: MEDSCAPE, FREE: EPOCRATES, FREE: MICROMEDEX. You can look up brand or generic and find the alt and all you need to know on these!!!!!

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

I think you are simply too new to the "profession" to handle the rigorous scrutiny .

Especially now that you are being "watched".

I would definitely leave graciously after 2 weeks notice.. and search a position that is not so brutal.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2012

I have a wonderful supervisor and she is the best but I do not have that 10-20 minutes to ask question and obtaining the answer. I do not have that luxury. If I do take that 20 minutes than I will be there all day to finish the rest of work.

Stop right there. You are a new grad. You MUST ask questions. If it delays your paperwork (!!!!!) so be it. If you don't ask questions, you'll continue making the same mistakes, and you will never learn safely. Instead, you've learned un-safely by making mistakes that affect patients and tick off providers.

My supervisor advise me last night that I should look into hospital job. Less patients to worry about. I know she is correct but the job is so scarce.

She's not correct. It's going from the frying pan into the fire, plus you'll have to start from square one all over again. BOTH jobs have their stressors.

I know all other nurses do not do much of a wonderful job than me because I found many mistakes they made. They cover for each other. For me, they would be happy if I walk away or take it on the plate directly to the DON.

I am not in that type of environment (thank you, universe!), so I can't offer any help on this. But, forget about the mistakes they made, and work on correcting your approach to the mistakes you've made. Don't just wing it, as I fear you have been doing thus far. Research, ask questions, and keep learning.