New to hospital-help with med-surg!

RN~in~CT · Sep 7, 2003

Congrats on your new job!! I was surprised that you will be actually starting on nights... no orientation/precepting on the day shift? I've worked 2nd shift (3-11) at 2 hospitals, and both required day shift orientation. Oh well...enough about that. :)

As for working nights, my one suggestion is COFFEE! It is very important to maintain adequate levels of caffeine :chuckle

Routine ~ this is what I try to do each shift...keeps me organized.

~ report, check meds and pull any due w/in the hour, round on pts, assess them ~ lungs, abd, drains, dressings, incisions...etc. Get vitals from cnas, check charts for new orders, check labs....etc. As you progress, you will develop your own system that works for you.

Never be afraid to ask questions. That is probably my best advice.

It will be an asset that you are bringing 10 yrs of nursing experience into the acute care setting. Best of luck to you!!

live4today, RN · Sep 8, 2003

:balloons: Good luck Barb on your first job in med/surg nursing! It's a great place to start brushing up on rusty skills and building critical thinking skills when working with many different aspects of patient diagnosis and treatment plans. I am a med/surg nurse, and have always enjoyed it for the variety of things I get to learn.

Keep us posted as to your progress! You'll find a lot of support here from the Allnurses family! :kiss

NurseBarb73 · Sep 8, 2003

I appreciate your responses!

I am orienting on days all week, then I start nights.

I used to work nights for years when my kids were first born, but I got so tired of it. I need to get my foot in the door, so I'll take what I can get. I start tomorrow, my uniform is pressed, notebook ready......

Hope they don't eat the new med-surg nurse on the 1st day, at least let me get to know their names first.... ha ha

RN~in~CT · Sep 8, 2003

Let us know how it goes!!

:balloons:

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Nov 6, 2003

Originally posted by NurseBarb73
I appreciate your responses!
I am orienting on days all week, then I start nights.
I used to work nights for years when my kids were first born, but I got so tired of it. I need to get my foot in the door, so I'll take what I can get. I start tomorrow, my uniform is pressed, notebook ready......
Hope they don't eat the new med-surg nurse on the 1st day, at least let me get to know their names first.... ha ha

Welllllllllllllllllllllllll................???

Haven't heard from you ! Have they consumed you ... eaten you alive ? Or are you still in shock of being thrown to the wolves all on your own now.... or WHAT ? :chuckle

Let us hear from you !

NurseBarb73 · Nov 14, 2003

I was nervous the 1st week or 2, never working in a hospital, but now I've got it down pat. If I ever have questions, there's always someone there to help. I am taking telemetry class right now, which I am glad to finally learn.

It is nice to have you check up on me-

I really like the hospital I work at, it's small and everyone helps each other.

They haven't eaten me alive, probably because I am not a new grad, and I never, ever talk about anyone there. I also try to help out when I am not doing anything.

I did purchase NSO Liability Insurance, which I never had. I suggest it to anyone who thinks their work will cover them incase of a boo boo. :eek:

Where do you work? Do you like it?

RN~in~CT · Nov 14, 2003

I am so glad to hear things are going well!!