Am I getting worse as my orientation goes on?

leslie :-D · Sep 22, 2010

i have no way of knowing if you are getting "worse", but i seriously doubt it.

have you considered sharing your concerns with your preceptor?

that would be my first step.

you are on orientation for another month+.

tell her you want to make the most of your remaining time...there is absolutely nothing wrong or shameful in asking for support.

best of everything to you...i mean that.:)

leslie

Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 22, 2010

Nights are a great way to start off b/c it allows you the less interruptions that you seem to need. There aren't as many visitors coming and going. There are hardly any drs making rounds, which is VERY helpful. And when you do your chart checks at night, it gives you more time to explore your pt's history, txs, and read the drs progress notes. That's what really helped me be able to give a great report in the am. Reading the drs progress notes and the orders they wrote that same day can give you a good picture of where the pt's tx is heading and what their prognosis is. I think a new preceptor will be a good thing too. It's just that after spending so much time teaching one person, you CAN get a bit over-judgemental of them. Good luck!

KaitRN · Sep 22, 2010

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback. I completely agree- I'm excited that I will have the time to read the Dr's charting and have a more in depth look into my patients' tx and care. Having a different perspective with a new preceptor will also show me different styles of how nurses do things also.. I know I'm not getting worse- I do feel as if I'm progressing.. and it will take time to get to that point.. So thanks for the encouragement guys :)

Minnie2006 · Sep 22, 2010

The answer is yes! Just when you think it is beginning to fall into place you will have a shift that will rattle you. It's the nature of the job. Have faith that you are not alone. Rely on those coworkers who are supportive when you need. They are an invaluable resource. There is just such an overwhelming amount of things to now. I've recently begun to notice that even the most experienced nurses will encounter situations that are new to them. Good luck!

himilayaneyes · Sep 22, 2010

Well I seriously doubt that you're getting worse during orientation....they would've let you go if that was the case. First and foremost, have faith in yourself. Days are killer and you're transitioning from a different specialty. Kudos to you. And definitely share your concerns with your preceptor...if she seems to be growing inpatient, she's probably just overwhelmed...if it's really that bad with him/her, you can always request a different preceptor. As someone who has done both days and nights, I must agree that nights are better when you're trying to learn something for the first time. Days doesn't give you time to think...so you definitely have to be confident in your knowledge and abilities as a nurse. Nights are slower paced although there will be some crazy nights. I think you'll enjoy nights better except for the whole sleep part. Good luck to you..and have confidence in yourself. You're already a nurse, just learning a different specialty. Good luck.:)

calledtodo · Sep 22, 2010

Hi all. So I started in August on a very busy cardiac step down/tele/critical care unit at a community hospital in an inner city. I had been working for the past year in a long term care/ rehab facility. Needless to say, it's been a big transition!! I'm so excited to finally be working in a hospital, on such a complex unit but at times, I find that I doubt myself. My preceptor has been very nice and she's a great educator but lately I've been feeling like she's becoming impatient with me. She basically lets me do everything on my own now that she has assessed my abilities, but we've been having some very sick, very needy patients lately, with multiple issues and at times like these, I still need to look to her for guidance. On Monday, it seemed like she was getting frustrated with me, but I was trying my best! We just had a very trying assignment. Also with family teaching especially, they throw me for a loop and I still need help!
Maybe I'm just doubting myself but I feel like I'm getting worse as my orientation progresses! I am officially on my own starting in late October and I just hope I'm ready by then. I don't know if its just me that needs a little push to reassess my abilities or maybe my preceptor is getting overwhelmed..
I'm looking forward to switching to nights in the next few weeks (I have been training on days- my supervisor thought it would be good for me to see the day process of admissions, special procedures, discharges, etc. that occur during the day before switching me to nights.) . I think nights will be beneficial because I will not only have a different preceptor (exposure to a different mind, a different way of doing things) but also I think less interruptions will benefit me. Coming from LTC, I know that I can manage my time efficiently, but I don't do well with tons and tons of interruptions. That's what drives me crazy during the day shift! My brain is in all different directions and so are my patients! I know nights will still be extremely challenging but I think nights will give me a better perspective.
Did anyone else feel like this when they first started? I'm sorry this is so long- just got home from work and it's been bothering me. I had to get it off my chest! Thanks :)

Calm down and try to make connections with the things you learn because you need to find a way that will work for you in being a nurse and delivering care. Be forgiving to yourself when you make mistakes and be careful on what makes you make. Small mistakes are wonderful learning experiences. You mainly sound overwhelmed not uncapable.