Called in to work as a new grad?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a brand new grad on a ICU step down/telly floor. There are alot of things that are new to me: calling dr's, administering drips, taking off orders. Now I take 4 pt's with my preceptor and charge nurse's help. I still feel like it's alot. I am on my feet from when I start at 7am and then I look at the clock and it's 2pm, and I think: I haven't taken a break, sat down and charted or even eaten today. While other nurses seem to have it SO MUCH easier. My preceptor and charge nurse have been great the past few days with all my questions though...

So now I'm off (so is my preceptor) and I was called in and asked to work for 4 hours as they are short staffed. I'm kinda scared to call back and accept even though I am available. I don't want to get stuck with 5 telly pt's because they are short staffed. Does it look bad for me not to accept the extra hours since I was just hired? My preceptor won't be there, and the person who I think is charging today is NOT helpful, like other charges!!

Normally on this floor nurses have 5-6 pt's!! :confused:

Ruby Vee:

You're RIGHT! I am NOT off orientation. I was going to ask the nurse manager for MORE orientation, actually. This floor is just so desperate for people to work! ugh...

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

go in, you will learn alot by being challenged

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I disagree with the previous poster. I will say dont go in, especially because your preceptor is not there. you are brand new and there would be many months ahead to learn and be challenged. Today is not the day!!! If you go in and something happens to a pt under your watch, you will be liable because you accepted an assignment you are not fully prepared for.

Dont call back, wait until tomorrow and say you had gone fishing and didnt get the message till it was too late to call back!!!

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What I would do is go in, because it's our job to be an active member of the team and help the others out.

Also, keep in mind thats itis YOUR license on the line; so when nurses are diveying out assignments, you are the only one in charge of and even concerned with your protection/license.

Although I struggle with assertiveness myself, I would make sure that I "asserted" to charge nurse exactly what I feel is an appropriate team for my skill level and what patients/combo of patients, that is not.

OF COURSE, I dont know a THING about you, your hospital, co-workers ect... But I thought I would take a stab just because us ":rolleyes:new grads:nurse:" need to stick together!

Good Luck!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

maybe i'm wrong, but from the original post, it didn't come across that the poster was off orientation. if she's not off orientation, why are they calling her in?

it would be legitimate if they called you in to help out by working as a nurse tech -- vital signs, i & os, turns, baths, feeding, etc. but if your preceptor isn't there you shouldn't be acting as a nurse unless you're off orientation. it's up to you to clarify what they want and decide whether it's safe for you to do it.

but me -- i'm all for turning off the phones and staying home on my days off!

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I'm NOT off orientation, and my preceptor won't be there!! I just don't feel comfortable working like that.

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

I'm confused - are you still on orientation and still working with a preceptor? If you are, then you should not be considered regular staff and should not be getting called in to work by yourself. If you are off of orientation, then the decision is completely up to you; however, just as a warning - short-staffed days are usually crazy and hectic for everybody involved, so having a new grad in the mix may make things even more hectic (for both you and the other nurses). If you are off of orientation, how long have you been off for? Knowing that may influence my decision even more.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I would NOT go in. I would either call back and say that I had made other plans I can't cancel ... or I would pretend I wasn't home and didn't get the message until it was too late.

Wait until you feel at least semi-comfortable working on your own before picking up extra time like this. You still need precepting -- and if you are not going to get it during this extra time, then I would avoid it.

However ... be prepared to say "yes" to such requests ocassionally once you are off orientation and/or if they offer you appropriate preceptor support. If you always say "no," you make yourslef look bad and that may come back to haunt you at some point.

If the unit is frequently short, you might find it easier to volunteer to fill a few holes in the schedule on a planned basis rather than take these last-minute calls. By signing up ahead of time, you can make plans for working the extra hours and that may be less stressful to you. However, don't volunteer for too much extra time. Just do it enough to be seen as doing it ocassionally. Too many hours causes burnout faster than anything else.

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

Sorry - just saw your post that you are not off of orientation. Given your circumstances, I, personally, would not go in and work as a regular RN staff member. It is not fair and is dangerous. Do not be convinced that, "You will be fine" and that "Everbody else will help you out." Been there, done that, not worth it.

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Specializes in (Nursing Support) Psych and rehab.

I agree: don't go in. Although you are brand new, you are licensed and anything that happens under your license is fair game. Perhaps they saw your name on the staff sheet and called you...

I disagree: not calling back to let them know you cannot make it is childish and it does not show good. Be responsible. Although you are still in orientation you should not forget to use your brain.. So for the person who told you to tell them you went fishing :nono: I frown on you.

You are not scheduled, you don't have to go. Short staffed situations come up all the time and people say no all the time. You won't die, they won't kill you... But if you are dishonest or don't give them the courtesy of calling back and just saying you cant make it, they might really look at you as incompetent. In the future when you want a day off and need someone to work for you or you need extra money and want to be the first call in, you will look back on this

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

Don't go in. It can be even more difficult to get things done when you only have four hours instead of 8 or 12.

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It does NOT look bad to say no when called in on your day off. You could be a new grad or 40 years experienced. Do no feel guilty to say no. Some supervisors or even co-workers might hint, grumble, "lay a guilt trip" on you. But they are probably the first one's to say "NO" when they are asked to come in on their day off!!!!!!!

Politely say "No, sorry I can't come in today." and hang up. I don't think a new grad not off of orientation should be placed on the floor. Maybe, as one poster said, come in ONLY to ???answer phones, maybe basic CNA stuff, but that would still be a risk your license would be as a RN, and could easily suddenly find yourself with total care of several patients!!

This is coming from a nurse who almost always says "yes," and feels terribly guilty when she says no!! Also I was a supervisor for several years and I was on the other end, calling 10 - 20 - 30 nurses on their day off asking them to come in. I did not think, assume, any nurse on her day off had any obligation to say yes. They said no, I said ok, and I moved on to the next name on the list.

It is not part of any nurses record or evaluation that she comes in on her days off.

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