When I first got out of nursing school 15 years ago I received my first job at a nursing home. I was called all sorts of names by my preceptor. Incompetent, stupid. I'd leave the orientation crying..
I stuck it out for a year. Even after orientation the other seasoned nurses were just MEAN. Over worked probably played into the equation. But perhaps there wouldn't be such a revolving door if nurses were NICER. I just always felt stupid. If I asked for help, a nurse would tell me I should know it already and just curse me out and I got to the point I didn't want to ask for any help...Heck, I was scared to say good morning to most of my coworkers.
One Christmas I came into the nursing home to find out the 5 other nurses were "sick". (there were 3 floors, 2 nurses to a floor). 50 residents EACH floor. I cried the whole shift. I remember calling MY DON, and she was telling me that agency nurses were coming. They didn't show up until an hour before my shift ended.
I left there and for the past 14 years-I got a nice cushy job at a methadone clinic. This pretty much means my skills got rusty while I dished out methadone from 6a-3p. I had great hours,(great for me since I am a morning person)great pay, actually got to sit down and use the bathroom when I wanted, and was pretty complacent. What I should have been doing is done some floor nursing on the weekends, and been prepared for when funding was cut to the clinic.
And then the clinic was closed. 15 yr Lpn with basically no skills. SCARY. It was either pay my bills or go out in the street. I had to relearn. I couldn't be scared even though I was. I wondered if I would feel stupid and incompetent like last time.
Well, I applied to a different nursing home and my experience was VERY different than last time. I let her know I had worked methadone and was VERY rusty. At first I thought she'd give me a hard time, especially being an LPN for so long and yet being so rusty. I had my tissues ready for when I would cry afterwards. Didn't need them. Actually she WAS SO Patient. SO NICE.
I fell in love with bedside nursing again.
All the skills I was afraid of? I felt like a VERY different nurse the 2nd time around. Soon I was running circles around the other nurses.
Well, I am now doing home health nursing dealing with primarily vent dependent patients every other wekend(if you had told me I'd be doing this 2 years ago I wouldn't have believed it!) and doing my nursing home gig M-F. LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
What a difference a kind nurse preceptor makes! Sometimes the administrators at the nursing home get on my nerves..but this time i get along with my nursing coworkers, unlike last time. That makes all the difference to me.
Well, at the home health nursing agency I also work at- they sent me to a new assignment a few months ago. Patient had round the clock nursing and also a round the clock nurses aide.
While I was working I found out the aide that was working with me, the aide I was delegating duties to - was an RN.
I wanted to know why was she working as an aide (under me!) when she could be working as an RN??!!
She told me she graduated a year ago, and felt incompetent. Cried every time she went to the hospital because other nurses would yell at her.
She said she decided to work as an aide to feel more comfortable. But still, she felt horrible. Her self confidence was torn down.
I saw myself in her. And i realized this was one less nurse on the work schedule so that the rest of us really have to bust our ****!
So I let her observe me doing things, talking to her about why I did so and so,etc. without tearing her down.
She now left work as an aide and is working as an RN. I hope she remembers me...she may be my boss one day!
I'm so glad to see this post. I work in a fairly busy ER as and LVN. I had the benefit of having worked in this department as an aide while in school so I alredy knew the RNs I was being precepted by. I can tell you it would have been a vastly different experience had I not known them.
Having said that, I think a lot of it goes back to how we treat students as well. I get students here all the time and I make the effort to always treat them with respect. I remember how hard it was to be a student and have the RNs not want to teach me. I try to set an example and spend the time with them... I mean how are they really going to learn if nobody helps them?
Anyway, I guess my point is we really should just be nice in general because someday that may be you needing the help. :0)
dixeechicken
11 Posts
I'm so glad to see this post. I work in a fairly busy ER as and LVN. I had the benefit of having worked in this department as an aide while in school so I alredy knew the RNs I was being precepted by. I can tell you it would have been a vastly different experience had I not known them.
Having said that, I think a lot of it goes back to how we treat students as well. I get students here all the time and I make the effort to always treat them with respect. I remember how hard it was to be a student and have the RNs not want to teach me. I try to set an example and spend the time with them... I mean how are they really going to learn if nobody helps them?
Anyway, I guess my point is we really should just be nice in general because someday that may be you needing the help. :0)