Re: I just don't know anything!
It does come with time. When a MD orders something a test etc, get out your old book and read what it is for, anticipate the questions the MD/RN will ask you about the test. Make yourself some index cards for various tests that could be ordered. See a pt on a med, read about it, find out the side effects, monitor for those, without being told to. Chart on the possible s/e. I brought my med surge, and skills book with me to work at LTC, and when a resident came in with a diagnosis, I read up on the diagnosis, or med, so I would have a refresher on what I should be doing/looking for. If your bored ask the PT or RN can you do some ROM excercise, can I find out of this person is incont and try a B/B training. Can I improve the quality of this persons life. Read the chart, look at the care plans, see if there is something some one overlooked or anticipated, by going back to your text book and double checking. Read up on wound care, I bet you could help out with that. The wound care nurse could use some help with dressing changes, or the mound of paperwork she has to fill out. The MDS nusre, if you have one, could use your help in finding out some billable things that the nurses do, but omit putting on the chart. Just because you have the certificate does not mean you know anything/everything. You still have to learn, when I got a pt with renal failure, I would go home and re-read the book, same thing with diabetes, CHF, HTN etc. You will be fine, I worked with several classmates after graduation, I would remember something, that they didn't, and vice versa. My first code, i forgot everything, but my class mate remembered, thank God and helped me through. Good Luck
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