new grad needs advice

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 21, 2016

Lots of people have been in similar situations, and i'm sure they'll all give you different advice. My advice is to stay where you are and give nights a try. The senior nurses will be good resources, but don't count out the travelers. Many travelers have even more experience than those senior nurses and can help you by answering questions, acting as a sounding board or sharing tidbits they've picked up from other places that will smooth your transition from novice to expert wheverever you work. After 40 years, my husband is retired and wants to travel . . . I'm considering getting a travel contract somewhere that seems interesting to him and doing our traveling that way, at least for a while. My 40 years of nursing experience isn't going to evaporate when I sign a travel contract. I can still mentor a newbie. You just have to pick your traveler carefully. Chat with a senior nurse you trust about which travelers might make good mentors and which ones to avoid. Pay attention to the interactions between travel nurses and physicians, management, ancillary services. I'm sure you'll be able to identify a traveler who can. Help you continue your professional development for the next 13 weeks . . . And then maybe you'll meet another traveler who can teach you a few different things.

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2016

Travel nurses typically do have experience and may be a good resource, you can always look up all of your policies and procedures for specifics about things you are unsure of. Everyone is scared coming off orientation It will take time to work out your own time management and your routine. the only way for that confidence to to actually be off orientation. Congratulations on getting to this point. Give yourself a good 6 months to figure out a schedule, a year to establish a good base routine, 2 years to have seen a thing or two.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2016

Wow, 3 in the icu? That's a lot and I understand your fears. I'm also a new grad in icu and off orientation.

Know nights are easier. It's just calmer. Don't get me wrong lots of stuff can still happen, and does, but generally, the night flow is not as crazy as days. I for the most part can get all my charting done, and I love that!!!

Find out who your resources will be during nights and seek them out. Do this ahead of time!!! Will you have a strong charge nurse around? Any mentors work nights? Find this out ahead as I doubt they will let you drown.

Its scary, but you can do this. You have the knowledge, I promise.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2016

How long was your orientation on day shift? Is 3:1 always going to be your ratio? 3:1 is not safe even for experienced nurses.

I would stick it out for the year, while searching for a better position. It will take you that long to find another job.

In the meantime, take note of who you can count on. The ICU resident, house supervisor, and especially travelers. I was a traveler, I had 30 years of experience and would share that with any nurse/ patient that needed it.

Best of luck, let us know how it's going.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2016

Wow, 3 in the icu? That's a lot and I understand your fears. I'm also a new grad in icu and off orientation.
Know nights are easier. It's just calmer. Don't get me wrong lots of stuff can still happen, and does, but generally, the night flow is not as crazy as days. I for the most part can get all my charting done, and I love that!!!
Find out who your resources will be during nights and seek them out. Do this ahead of time!!! Will you have a strong charge nurse around? Any mentors work nights? Find this out ahead as I doubt they will let you drown.
Its scary, but you can do this. You have the knowledge, I promise.

Nights are NOT easier.Patient care is 24/7..patients crash around the clock.There is much less ancillary staff available on nights. Fewer doctors,transporters,lab techs, and pharmacy support,to name a few.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 28, 2016

How long was your orientation on day shift? Is 3:1 always going to be your ratio? 3:1 is not safe even for experienced nurses.
I would stick it out for the year, while searching for a better position. It will take you that long to find another job.
In the meantime, take note of who you can count on. The ICU resident, house supervisor, and especially travelers. I was a traveler, I had 30 years of experience and would share that with any nurse/ patient that needed it.
Best of luck, let us know how it's going.

There are ICUs and there are ICUs. Three may indeed be an acceptable ratio in a community hospital where they ship their sickest patients to the tertiary medical center in the city. It's not acceptable at that tertiary medical center.