A little re-assurance HELP!

[emmie08]

:oToday was my second week on a busy oncology floor and I am feeling completley, I don't even know the word, just stupid. And maybe I'm being hard on myself but I'm a new grad with minimal to no experience in the adult world as I did my preceptorship in the NICU, but decided to work with adults in the end thinking the experiene would be more beneficial in the long run. But I feel so behind! It's a totally different world than premies! The regimens, the assesments and of course the meds...pretty much everything. And my anxiety from being on the new unit, being in a 'new world', and being a new nurse all together impairs the flow of my day. My preceptor is wonderful and helpful but I just feel like she must think I'm a complete idiot. I forget silly little small things like how much I flush with, the tubes in need for different labs, the flow and setting up for certain procedures. Even things as simple as remembering how much to dilute 'x' medication with and getting a band aid for sub c inj., un clamping or clamping for that matter. I just get so task oreiented I forget the common sense things. And on top of this when I'm trying to concentrate on whatever procedure I'm trying to do the patient is wanting my attention and I'm wanting to give it and not come off as pre occupied...but I am!! And the paper work! uggghhh. How do I remember all the different paperwork and protocol initiations and parameters. It's just sooo much and sooo new for me! It makes me feel like maybe I wasn't cut out for nursing. I mean I can't remember the small things, how am I ever going to develop a routine!? I want to help people and make a difference in peoples lives but I'm so busy trying to just get a grip on things myself how am I supposed to make any kind of an imapact on my patients besides the obvious. I am able to keep up and be done on time but I have to still be prompted to do certain things which I have done a few times....is this normal. I feel ridiculous and I feel like I'm just annoying my preceptor. Maybe I'm just over thinking it but I needed to get this all out! Anyone have any advice or anything? Thanks for bearing through my rant!

[bubbly]

(((HUGS))) I think you are feeling like a typical new grad, or at least how I feel during my orientation. Learning everything there is to know about your job and unit puts you in information overload and always task oriented because you are afraid to miss anything or do something wrong. Most of the remembering things and looking at the big picture will just come with practice. What helps me with all the information is writing it down when I get back from work, or just trying to imagine in my mind all the steps I take to do certain procedures. I know thinking about work is probably the last thing you want to do after coming home, but it is a trick that helped me do better at remembering things for the next time. My hospital has an easy to access policies and procedures manual on their website that I will look at if I have any questions. And, you will never know all there is to know about your job and unit. What I like about nursing is that I learn something new each day. On the bright side, remembering all those tasks, where to find things, etc., has gotten easier and I am still on orientation. Just keep persevering and don't be hard on yourself. Learn from your mistakes and laugh off the dumb ones. :)

[Michelle123]

I'm not a new grad yet, I have another 12 months before that, so the only advice I can give you is based on other things I have read, or from other jobs I have had.

It takes a while to get settled into a new job no matter which industry you go to, and this is your first job as a nurse outside of school, so of course it is going to be crazy to start off with. Chances are the only time you have done anything like this is during your placements/clinicals and even then it isn't as a full blown nurse, just as a student with someone with you.

Nursing is difficult! But that is one of the reasons it is so rewarding. Take your time and don't be so hard on yourself! You aren't the first person to feel this way and you certainly won't be the last.

Going over things after work sounds like a great idea.

When I started as a nurses aide, I borrowed a few books on time management and looked at the way my ward was run (ortho) and read up on techniques etc. Maybe you could get some books that may help you with routines?

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Oh, I also forgot, you could subscribe to an online journal which might help with hints and tips for you.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

You definately are being too hard on yourself. We all feel like complete total dopes when we first get out of school and hit the real world. It's o.k. You're doing fine and you're right where you should be. There's too much to know, but you had enough about you to get this far, and you're going to make it.

[leslie :-D]

time will be the greatest gift you give yourself.

i was so anxious starting out as a new grad.

with repeated exposure to the unit, p/p's, tasks, my confidence slowly grew.

nothing worked in terms of moral support.

only time did.

be patient.

find a mentor, if able.

and take care of yourself.

i'd love to hear from you, 6 mos from now.

with peace,

leslie