Almost Off Orientation And Scared

AZNurse2015 · Feb 12, 2012

In my clinicals, I liked Acute Rehab, because it was a bit slower paced, you work with the patients for weeks (makes it easier), and because you have a slew of other workers to ask help from (PT/OT, speech therapy, etc.)

Besides that, the labor and delivery ward I was in was very slow. 2 patients max. Although I may have gotten a slow day (I only had one of them).

Nick

janice_c67, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2012

I have been at my job now for about 3.5 monnths, I had about 8 weeks of orientation and didn't feel ready to go on my own either. i get asked questions that I can't answer all the time too and I feel stupid to not be able to answer a question a patient asks me but there are just some things that we will just learn as we go along and one thing at a time will start clicking and one day there will be newer nurses than us and they will wonder how we ever got so smart and knowledgeable... at least that is my hope ;P

I have been very fortunate to work with very patient and helpful nurses, I am sooo thankful because I have not been the most confident new nurse, in fact I had a horrible time when I was coming off orientation and still felt like I knew nothing. I have had extreme anxiety on top of being super homesick (moved from CA to TX) but I will say, every day, things get a tiiiny bit better and I feel like slowly I am getting the hang of things. I am still a little shaky and slow but I am improving, so be strong and be brave... I didn't believe it when everyone kept saying " I promise it will get easier" but I thinkmaybe, just maaayyybee, it might be true :)

sleepRN, ADN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2012

Are there other nurses that you'll be working with who are more receptive to questions or helping a new nurse out? I am always flattered and excited to help a new nurse with a problem, question, anything. You don't have to have the most experienced or brilliant nurse for a mentor. As long as there is someone there willing to even look stuff up with you, check out your patient with you, or point you in the right direction, you'll feel more supported.

I get asked questions that I don't know the answers to too, and I've been a nurse for almost 5 years! It's okay to look stuff up. Use your resources and be diligent. You can't know everything off the top of your head, no one expects that.

I did not feel ready at the end of my orientation. My manager gave me 2 more weeks of orientation when I explained my feelings. I worked independently during those weeks while my preceptor agreed to only help when I asked her (she was just my safety net). I felt much more confident after that. Also, I started on the night shift (11p - 7a). It seemed more laid back, I could concentrate more than on days.

Good luck!

allnurses Guide · Feb 13, 2012

I am in my internship now and thus far it seems to be a good one. One of the things my instructor said to us and says pretty much every day is that on any given shift, identify your silver ape. He is referring to silverbacks - the apes who have been part of the tribe for a VERY long time and are respected by all. And then go to that person and ask if they will be your "resource person" during that shift. He says this does two things - makes you feel you know who your go-to person is going to be, and alerts that person that they are being looked up to and relied upon. Obviously this is a best case scenario, but he states it will likely make that person more aware of what is going on with you and more likely to check in on you through the shift. It will also make you more comfortable approaching that person if you have already alerted them to your "newbie" status and made initial contact. Every shift, every time.

If your preceptor is that silverback, then I think you probably need to get past the feelings of intimidation. I know it is awful when someone has poor interpersonal skills. But her knowledge remains valuable, even if it comes with sharp edges.

For what it is worth, there are tons of posts just like yours on this site from new grads about to go independent and feeling incompetent. There is nothing wrong with telling a patient or a coworker "Let me clarify that and I will get back with you" or "I do not know the answer to that, but I know where to find it. I will be back in a bit and we can discuss it/I will bring you reading material/I will let you know what I found out". And then take the time to go look up the answer or ask someone, print out patient education documents or what have you.

Hang in there! This time next year the world is going to look very different.

kittymom94 · Feb 13, 2012

Hello babysteps25,
I am just starting in nursing school, so I can't relate directly to your question just yet. However, I was a training officer in a jail. It's possible your preceptor is stressed from the responsibility of training you. Most of the time in that type of work there is so much potential for really bad things to happen if procedures aren't followed properly. In the jail those situations also have some potential for being life and death moments, and the trainer is held responsible for the actions of the trainee. Not sure how it works in nursing, but in the jail I was responsible and potentially liable for screw-ups made by my trainees for 7 years. It may be worth your while to buy her a cup of coffee, chat away from the immediate pressures of the job, and let her know what your struggles are in a respectful way. Good luck!

babysteps25 · Feb 14, 2012

Thank you all for the encouragement. =)