Any advice for a new RN?

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Hi everyone :)

I am fairly new to this board. I am a new RN, and will start work this week. I am trying to be confident about this, but truthfully i am terrified!

I trained on a medical ward, and by the end of my training was able to take a full patient load with no problems. However my first rotation as an RN will be in an orthapaedic surgical ward, and i feel that i know nothing about this type of nursing. I have tried to read as much as i can, but really have no idea what i am in for. Also on the medical ward where i trained i was expected to care for 4-6 pts. On the orthapaedic surg ward they team up one RN and one EN with 10-12 pts. While this will be good to have an EN to work with who knows about the surgical ward, i am worried about having that many pts under my care, especially when i don't have any experience in orthapaedics, or any kind of surgical nursing for that matter! I feel totally lost and don't know where to start.

I would really appreciate any tips or advice if anyone has any,

Thanks :)

Skye

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Congratulations on the beginning of an exciting career. First off, you will NEVER know everything. It is important to ask questions, even if you feel like you are a pest, because that is how you will learn. Concentrate on getting the meds right first, then work on unit protocols and policies. Believe me, people will tell you when you do something wrong, but if you pay attention, you will hear mature nurses being told things too, so do not take it personal. If you can keep your pt. clean and comfortable, and comply with the MD orders, then you will learn all the rest as time goes by. GOOD LUCK.

BTW: In your dept. the one thing I learned was not to put a hip FX pt on a regular potty. They need a higher seat. Gee, that wasn't much was it? But it is to the patient and kept me from getting yelled at by MD.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Congratulations to you and welcome to nursing. Be a sponge, learning all you can. Find a mentor (s) and follow them......emulate their good habits. Ask questions, lots of them and remember NO question is stupid. Do NOT ever pretend to know what you don't. ASK!!! Best wishes and good luck to you.

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Good on you! and congratulations!:)

Question: Are you on a grad program? If so you will be looked after. If not, everyone will realise that you are new and cut you some slack. Use the senior level 1 and level 2's for info and advice. Your level 3 should also be willing to help with settling in to your new job and ward. Have a chat with him/her often about how you are coping, and ask them how they think you are going, and if they have any ideas on how you can improve.

In regards to team nursing, you can rely on your EN to do their bit with the obs and hygiene cares while you deal with the meds, treatments etc. So you won't have to do everything for all of the patients. I have found that most EN's are wonderful sources of info as well.

I know it is hard just starting out. But please try to relax a little, and try to enjoy your new profession:rotfl:

Good luck

MsHB

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