feeling a bit awful

[Isitpossible, LPN, LVN]

Recent grad working in psych (not quite 6months in facility) I only work every other weekend. I picked up an extra shift working the overnight. Just received a call from my nurse manager, and I feel just terrible. The nite I worked the overnight, I walked into a new admit, then got two more new admits. To say I felt overwhelmed is a understatement. But I finally got thru it, (or so I thought). Nurse manager calls and gives me a laundry list of things I did wrong. I feel soo saddened that I made that many errors (paperwork errors). Some were careless, some unfamiliar because I never worked or was oriented to an overnight shift. Manager repeatedly stated that she would "note it", but not quite sure what that meant. After crying, and replaying that night, I typed a list of all the things she said I missed. I will carry it with me every time I go to work, as I rarely get admissions, and dont wish to make the same mistakes on paperwork. I do want to be a good nurse, and will just keep trying. Please say a small prayer for me! thanks

[Hygiene Queen]

I've done the same thing. There is so much paperwork that it's hard to remember to do it all when you are new. Some paperwork you didn't even know about!

Chances are you won't forget again after these things have been pointed out.

Make a list of the paperwork you need to do and keep it with you. You might even want to have a more experienced nurse look over your list and ask if it is complete.

Admissions suck and I would rather do a thousand discharges than one admit!

Hang in there because it will get better because you'll get a system down with each experience.

Good luck!

P.S.

I forgot a whole bunch of stuff on my first admit. I felt like a dolt, but heck, if I wasn't told I had to do it, how was I to know? Next time, I didn't miss it.

Learning is fun

[ChelleNurse]

So Sorry you have been beaten down like an old rug.....I know how you feel....I also am a new nurse grad, graduated last year, and currently in my 3rd month of my Psychiatric nurse position.

I am primarily a night nurse, but didn't want to end up in your position, so I asked my managers early on if I could train in every shift, days, evenings, and nights so I know how to work in case I ever pick up a day shift or have to deal with something I wouldn't normally see on my night shifts. I also thrive on critique, probly not a long list of corrections like you got..but I encourag emy coworkers to give me corrections and tips for how I can be better at paperwork & such.

I think you printing out a list of your corrections is good. I save every email I have from my QA departments and from my administrators about corrections I have had to make.

Don't be afraid to ask for more training on day shifts, its SOOOOO very different from nights Its definitely worth it.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

Oh my! All of those admits and you were never trained to the noc shift? I hope your NM notes that!! I hate admits myself and I agree with the idea that you made the list and carry it. I too, would ask for another nurse to look over an admit to make sure everything was covered. I stil miss info once in awhile because I rarely get admits. I feel like it takes me forever to get through the huge packet and then care plans! Making me shiver just writing about it Try not to get too down because we are all human and are always learning!

[Jayesse7]

If only I could count how many times I cried after a bad shift for the first couple of years (maybe more) after I graduated... Listen here, ease up on yourself. You made paperwork mistakes! Nobody died. Take the reprimand from the nurse manager and vow to do better the next time you are put in such a bad situation and let it go. It upset you because you care, don't lose that... but don't take it personally. Make yourself an admission checklist or ask for one so you can refer to it the next time. Next time you have a bad day make yourself feel better by asking some other nurses what their worst nights were. You will find it happens to all of us and you might spark a memory in someone who may have forgotten they were once a new grad too.

[Jayesse7]

If only I could count how many times I cried after a bad shift for the first couple of years (maybe more) after I graduated... Listen here, ease up on yourself. You made paperwork mistakes! Nobody died. Take the reprimand from the nurse manager and vow to do better the next time you are put in such a bad situation and let it go. It upset you because you care, don't lose that... but don't take it personally. Make yourself an admission checklist or ask for one so you can refer to it the next time. Next time you have a bad day make yourself feel better by asking some other nurses what their worst nights were. You will find it happens to all of us and you might spark a memory in someone who may have forgotten they were once a new grad too.

[Isitpossible, LPN, LVN]

thanks for the understanding and tips!!! I did decide to not beat myself up anymore, instead focused on my mistakes and learning from them... I did make my list and I was ready.... I worked another overnight shift (she was unable to take me off as I requested)... of course got an admit, but this time I had all the errors that she mentioned and made certain to do everything correctly... i guess it was okay, b/c I did not get another phone call!... still learning..its a difficult process, but I am determined to get it right... thanks again :)

[neliztanee]

reading this just somehow encourages me. I am a new grad with very limited experience on psych. I am on my 3rd day of my orientation at the psych unit. It is very overwhelming especially i am not really into psychiatry. Aside from that i just came from another country so being so new to the american culture and system adds up to the stress.