An Angel's Prayer

[Tink7586]

First of all, let me tell you a little background and give you the reason why I wanted to start this blog.

Reason for the blog: I need someone to talk to. I could start a journal, but who reads that besides me and quite frankley, I don't want to be the only one reading my woes; I like people, I like to talk to people and get their opinions on my life. I love feedback, I love CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. But mostly, I am not the type of person who likes to keep her feelings inside. I have to let them out, them go of them and move on.

Being a new nurse is not at all what I expected. To be honest, I'm a little scared. I had 2 weeks of orientation, I have 20-25pts at one time to care for (but they are not acutely ill so its a doable task). I feel like everytime I go into work I'm going to be criticized for something. I'm going to be scolded for not charting. And that's another thing: I forget to do certian things. Last night I forgot to chart on a woman with swelling in her legs that she was concerned about. I addressed the issue, called the doctor and received orders for medication to help with the swelling, but I forgot to chart about it.....and its really weighing in on my heart that I didn't chart on it. When I walked in the door yesterday, the charge nurse from the previous shift (infront of everyone) said "Dr. ****** was really upset that you didn't get the blood sugar on this patient." I explained the situation of the night before, however I did not chart that the patient refused me checking her blood sugar. Charge Nurse: "well, from now on...chart it." and then I had another LPN (which is lower on the scale than an RN, explain to me the importance of charting everything. For some reason, I was almost in tears. I am not stupid, I am not careless...but these events are making me think that I really am, however I know that I'm not.

I don't care what anyone says, nursing is HARD...school doesn't even prepare you for the real world. Not even close.

[cherubhrt]

Dear Tink,

I know it's difficult in the beginning, but you have to give yourself time to adjust to all the demands that are placed on us. It will take at least 6 months to a year or so to really get your bearings...to have a routine that you are comfortable with. The best advise I can give you is to make a brain sheet with all your patients with room to jot down quick notes of things you have to do. I could not survive w/o my brain sheet. Yes it takes additional time to write the necessary info, but it definitely makes my life easier in the long run. It keeps me focused on things I have to accomplish and document on, as well as important information that you may want to pass on to the next shift. I also find multi color pens a must. I use black to take report at the beginning of my shift, red to make changes on PT's assessment from previous shift, green for meds and new orders. If you find that writing a brain sheet is too time consuming, you could also write on the back of each PT's kardex. I hope this helps. Good Luck and try not to be too hard on yourself.

Wendy

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

Oh Tink,

Any nurse who has worked for any length of time in a setting such as yours, has been there, done that. No, I'm sure you are not stupid.. There is, however, a fine art to getting and staying organized. One thing that always helped me was to be organized in this fashion:

1. I would literally write down every pt and give them each plenty of space on my paper to write down particulars that I received from the previous shift.

The report I received was color coded on my paper in Black.

2. After each one of my assessments, I would write down those findings in blue.

3. When important issues came up thru-out the day, and I know charting was needed on that issue, I would write that down on my paper in RED.

The paper that I developed for this purpose had one large square for name/room/age/DX. Then, it had two smaller squares after the large one where I wrote down my two VS for the shift. Then after that it was nothing but lines in which to keep me from from "scribbling" all over the paper :-)...

I do write small, but I was able to get 10 pts/assessments on one sheet of paper.

Don't know if this will help, but just know, it will get better.

[Tink7586]

I do use a brain sheet, infact thats what I call it. I do refer back to it throughout the shift. I think...like you said...I just need to give myself time to adjust to everything and figure out what works for me. Thanks for the encouragement.