help me establish my goals...

RNAnna · Jul 14, 2005

hi everybody, i am orienting at med-surg floor, surgical unit to be exact. my orientation is 6 weeks and i am a new grad...can you experienced nurses, help me with my goals each week so i can be a better nurse when i am alone on the floor after the orientation period? I am so nervous and i know there's alot to learn and so little time. what should i concentrate on during this week and how about for the next week and the coming weeks? what is your orientation like? please help!!! thank you all very much!!1 :)

Do you have a preceptor??? Your preceptor should be guiding you through the first few weeks so that you can start to make your own goals. I am also new to nursing, so take what I say with a pillar of salt, but I would spent the first week trying to find where everything is on the floor, learning the paperwork and taking a couple of pts. You can gradually take more pts. as you gain confidence (something I'm still working on) and become familiar with the routine of the floor.

Yesterday I went into work early and while in the med room I watched a new hire/new grad draw up a med. He looked so nervous, it reminded me how far I've come. Always keep in mind that every nurse there had a "first job" once upon a time, and they were nervous too. Not only that, but they probably made a few mistakes in their time too. Keep that in mind and remember to breathe now and again.

Anna

nursenatalie, ADN, RN · Jul 15, 2005

You wont be "alone" after your orientation. I work on a surgical floor and we use each other for a resource or second opinion often. Ask your preceptor for feedback all along. Dont be afraid to ask any question. Keep a notebook and write down "things to remember" you will be surprised how quickly it fills up. I still have my notebook and continue to write in it after 2 years. I have it organized with tabs indicating the topic but it started out as just a variety of info scratched out during a busy night. You will not learn it all after six weeks, six years, sixty years. I think the most important thing to learn is when you are over your head and when to ask for help. Good luck and congratulations!

hunny_pye · Jul 17, 2005

the first 3 days, i observed and assisted my preceptor with whatever she was doing, got to hang IV's and piggy backs, documentation, give meds etc... the nurse educator said that we should set our own goals each day/week, but i'm thinking that they should tell us what info's or what things we need to learn, am i right or what? there are alot of new gadgets / machines that i havent seen before. I ask my preceptor questions and i dont have problems with that. I wanna be confident on the floor especially when i am alone. well, i sure hope that they provide goals for us each day so i know all the things are covered, so in the 6 weeks i can act and think on my own.

THANKS FOR REPLYING!!!

grinnurse, RN · Jul 22, 2005

the first 3 days, i observed and assisted my preceptor with whatever she was doing, got to hang IV's and piggy backs, documentation, give meds etc... the nurse educator said that we should set our own goals each day/week, but i'm thinking that they should tell us what info's or what things we need to learn, am i right or what? there are alot of new gadgets / machines that i havent seen before. I ask my preceptor questions and i dont have problems with that. I wanna be confident on the floor especially when i am alone. well, i sure hope that they provide goals for us each day so i know all the things are covered, so in the 6 weeks i can act and think on my own.
THANKS FOR REPLYING!!!

Hi Hunny pye-

I just finished my preceptorship on M/S and here is kind of how my preceptors (had 2-3 different ones) worked on things.

The first week was all obs (just like yours)

The 2nd week I took a pt and concentrated on time management, med draws, working w/the pumps and various machines.

Week 3 I took 3 pts cause I was bored w/just 1 and continued to work on time management, and along w/ reg patients concentrated on admissions and d/c.

Week 4 was more of incorporating fresh post op patients in with my "reg" pts (this week was the most trying for me as a new orientee).

Week 5 I took 5 pts and the preceptors were more or less acting like back ups to me-which gave me some confidence b/c at the end of the week they would point out what I did that was good and what could use improvement-my biggest thing that week that needed improvement was that I needed to be taking my lunch at an earlier time (wee hoo-that made me feel good)

The last week again, the preceptor shawdowed me, had 5-6 pts, did more admission/d/c etc. and really felt like I was ready for this past week on my own.

Hope this will give a little direction on how it might be organized. The preceptor started with my goals, but I ended up knowing what I wanted to work on too so I intermingled them.

Good luck and keep in touch.