Anxious about first real job....

[andreasmom02]

Hey all, I'm new to the forum. I'm 29 years old, a wife, & mom of 2. I just recently got hired as an LPN for a large after hours clinic about an hour away from my house. I looked for a more local job, but couldn't find anything. I did several interviews, & finally got hired at the end of September by this company.

I'm a new nurse, and nervous about this first "real" job. I graduated nursing school in 2007, but didn't start working because I was pregnant at the time of my state boards, and I had to stay home with my kids. So I didn't get to come straight out of school and start working like I had planned. I also did an accelerated nursing program that briefly covered pharmacology, so I didn't feel like I got a good pharmacology review. Plus, the nurses where I did my clinicals were absolute b*&^%$# and wouldn't let us students help with anything. So I really didn't feel like I got to do a lot at clinicals, even though I tried to jump in as much as I could. I aced my NCLEX-PN exam, but didn't feel like I had the best labs/clinicals in nursing school. Our nursing program was tough though. We had to have a 78/c to pass, and our written tests were hard.

But anyway, I finally have my first real job, and want to make a good first impression. I have been doing orientation this week & have been learning the company's computer system for charting. So now I not only have to learn about nursing procedures & medications that are new to me, I have to learn how to chart on the computer! I need experience bad, so that's why I accepted the job. I tried starting out in LTC, but it wasn't for me. So now I'm really nervous about my first day, which is this Monday! Any other LPN's in the same spot or have any advice? I'm so nervous I'm going to be the really dumb new girl, and get fired quickly! lol

[Kevin RN08]

Relax!

They know you're a New Grad 2 years after school and they still hired you. Obviously, they saw and heard things that they liked.

It may be a harder transition for you because of your extended lay off, but the knowledge is there it's up to you to refresh it. Pull out your books and go over the basics before Monday. No manager in any profession wants their new hires to fail, period.

[andreasmom02]

Yeah, I did my first shift there last night. It was CRAZY busy... we seen over 200 pts. in 11 hours. I don't know if urgent care is for me or not. I'm going to continue to try to work there until I find something more local.

[jcgrund]

Hi! I am a new LPN at 29 too. I start my first real job on Tuesday, at a community health clinic. I am excited and a little nervous. But more excited! I'm just trying to focus on the happiness of getting a job, and looking at everything as a learning experience. I'm sure if you do your best, you'll do great! Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither were really good nurses.

[Kevin RN08]

I made a "Lessons Learned" after my ED experience that, there is more to it but this may help you and hopefully others. Throughout this experience I felt that I understood upon review, I just did not feel competant on the front end of things.

Be prepared:

- Self study is key; you have days off each week to study. DO IT. It doesn’t have to be every day, but it does need to be done.

- Review the cases of the day with the preceptor each day before going home. This is will help on multiple levels.

o (1) It opens a professional dialogue between the you and the preceptor.

o (2) It aids in the processing of “what just happened?” while it is still fresh in both of your minds.

o (3) Helps the new RN to grasp the larger concepts and to anticipate actions in the future similar situations.

Be assertive:

- You are a Registered Nurse. Take the lead don’t fall into the ancillary roles that you are comfortable with.

- Ask questions of your preceptor and others until you understand.

o “What did you see that led to this action/condition?”

o “How are you preparing for this incoming patient?”

o “We did XYZ for him why wouldn’t that be done for her?”

- Don’t take or make criticisms personal, they are professional comments.

o However, if the new RN and the Preceptor are having difficulty functioning as a “learning-teaching team” management must know so adjustments can be made before it is too late.

o In other words, don’t be afraid to make changes if progress isn’t being made, just keep things professional on both sides.

- You are part of the team, not an outsider. You chose this place and they chose you. Trust that they will hold up their end of the bargain and always hold up your end.