Bad nursing tech?

RN403, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2014

What specifically makes you feel like you are not good at your job?

"I feel I can never catch up with all of the work." Look into ways to develop and enhance your time management skills. You can find tips here on AN.

Annehen92 · Nov 5, 2014

I'm just trying to figure out how to manage my time I guess?

When my nurses ask me for specific things like certain dressings or other medical equipment...and I don't know what it is- it makes me feel like I know absolutely nothing.

But...the other day I had to take a manual BP and couldn't get an accurate reading. The one RN that probably already thinks that this job isn't for me got it on the first try and just glared at me afterwards...

RN403, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2014

I'm just trying to figure out how to manage my time I guess?
When my nurses ask me for specific things like certain dressings or other medical equipment...and I don't know what it is- it makes me feel like I know absolutely nothing.
But...the other day I had to take a manual BP and couldn't get an accurate reading. The one RN that probably already thinks that this job isn't for me got it on the first try and just glared at me afterwards...

Well, you are still learning and these things take time. You might try buying a BP cuff and practicing on your family and friends. The more you do it the better you will get at it...that goes for everything.

When you don't know what a dressing is ask. That goes for all things...just make sure that once you ask a question you write down the answer so that you don't keep asking the same questions.

Did you get a proper orientation for this job? Is there a nurse tech that has been there longer that could act as your mentor? The more familiar you get with your job and duties most likely things will seem easier.

Nur2016 · Nov 5, 2014

You have to believe in your capabilities otherwise you will never be able to take and read something as simple as a Temp. If you do not ask questions or if you do not ask for help when you need it, you will end doing the wrong thing and never learn the correct way to do it. Why do not you ask the other techs how to do things or where to find the things you need? Do not give up, give time to yourself to get adjusted and learn new stuff. YOU can do it!

RunBabyRN · Nov 5, 2014

Ask questions for sure. Practice skills you can at home. Take some time to lean about wound care, for example, and learn about the different dressings and when they're all appropriate. The more you can research this stuff, the better you'll be as a nurse, too! Don't let people intimidate you. If they see they can, they will. Do you have a preceptor?

Ask a couple of the nurses you see working well how they manage their time. It takes practice and time to learn how to prioritize and organize your day so that you can get everything done, even the fires that crop up throughout the shift. Manual BPs take time to learn as well. So few nurses do them frequently, and it really is an art. Practice, practice, practice. I am grateful that at my old job, we ONLY did manual BPs, so I am very good at them now, which is good, because most of my BPs are manual!

No one should expect you to be some expert, especially halfway through nursing school. Be patient with yourself, and utilize your resources. Research where you can, and then ask if you can't find the answers. Practice your skills with your friends, your family, and your dog. You can do it!

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 5, 2014

Don't make assumptions about what others are thinking about you. That frown may just be an indication of sore feet or a reflection of problems at home, lack of sleep, etc. Not everything is about you - LOL.

Great advice about practicing. If you're leaning a physical (psychomotor) skill, this is the only way to become proficient. It's also great time to improve your communication skills - VERY important for nurses. Learn how to ask for help and obtain feedback on your performance. Most nurses enjoy sharing their expertise even if they claim they don't like to "teach" newbies. There are some magic phrases that you can use, such as "I have noticed how quickly and easily you take manual blood pressures - I am still struggling with this. Can you give me some pointers to help improve my skill?"

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 6, 2014

When I was a student nurse tech I floated to ICU one day. The nurses knew I was a nursing student so they thought I knew something. One of the nurses asked me for a bag of "D5." I think I brought her D5NS or something. I didn't know that "D5" referred to 5% Dextrose in Water. She ended up smiling and getting it herself. It doesn't mean she thought I was stupid, although I could have misinterpreted her smile as a smirk. I think you need to find ways to organize yourself better and ask the techs for tips. Be friends with the techs. They have lots of great tips for handling a boat load of patients and they will love giving you advice especially since you're in nursing school. What do you think is slowing you down? Is it spending too much time in each room? Not knowing who has more frequent vitals or who requires glucose checks? Is it from not asking for help when you need it (turning,toileting, or bathing a heavy patient)? Not documenting as you go? Evaluate yourself and you'll find out what's slowing you down.

hegster · Nov 12, 2014

As others have said, if you don't know something--ask. I changed careers to healthcare this summer, and started working as a tech on a hospital floor. I had no idea what anything was when they asked me to get it out of the utility closet for the first few months, and there was a lot I had to learn how to do.

So first, go into your utility closet and look at all the bins. There is usually a method to the madness--all the IV supplies will be in one section, all the dressings in another, all the respiratory-related care in another, etc. If you know that something is a dressing and you know what the name of it is, you can focus your search in the correct area, at least. Second, don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry, I don't know what that is. Can you tell me where to find it?" and/or grab the first nurse/tech you see that isn't busy and say, "So and so asked me for ____, but I'm not sure where to find it. Can you help me?" Some things you learn the hard way. I had a nurse ask me for "D5 half normal saline", and it took the run around with Materials before I realized that it was in our utility closet all along and the nurse just didn't know where to find it. Now I know and I also know that it's right between the normal saline and the D5. Method to the madness, see?

About the BP... it takes practice. I've never done a manual BP on our unit. I don't even think we have a manual cuff! When you have some downtime, find that nurse that had no problem getting the BP on the patient and say, "Hey, I noticed you're great at getting a manual BP. I'm having a hard time with it, would you mind teaching me if you have some time?" This goes for any tasks you may be given--ask for help. If a tech isn't available, the nurse knows how to do everything you do. You'd be surprised how happy people are to help when you ask for it. For those that are nasty about it: be pleasant, smile, be quick to apologize for your lack of knowledge.

Basically it boils down to: be humble, admit when you don't know something, ask for help. It is not a failure that you don't know, you just haven't been taught.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2014

to the OP: There are too many details and identifying information in your post. HR departments have bots that scan the web for posts by possible employees. You may want to contact the admin desk and ask to have your personal information removed. It is not worth having to explain what you have written here to your administrators.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2014

OP do you have a brain sheet? These skills take time. ((HUGS))