Better weeks and not cracking...

Nice post Adam.

These are the things they don't teach you in school.

Good luck.

Hi, Adam,

I'm glad that things are going better for you. It sounds like you probably have high expectations of yourself, and may be putting more pressure on yourself than you need to. It sounds like you are a great nurse!

Take care,

Oldiebutgoodie

Hi Adam, Im glad to hear things are going better. Just remember that you cant take care of anyone else, until you take care of yourself.

Best wishes to you!

Thanks for posting some of what you've been going through. It is a relief to read how much new grads have in common the world over.

Thanks for posting some of what you've been going through. It is a relief to read how much new grads have in common the world over.

You are quite right Indy!!!

Thank you Adam, once again for an incisive and always optimistic post, even through the toughest of times.

Take care!!

Adam,

Just wondering, do you keep a journal... You should. You write well and I think that someday your experiences will help other newbies..

something to think about.

Happy New Year.

_________________________________________________________________

My new years resolution : To laugh more at myself...

As a new nurse myself getting off orientation next week, I've been thinking about writing a journal tracking my growth in nursing. But then I remember how tired I am when I come home from a 12 hr shift... and I cant even imagine giving myself any extra work. But then again, a day when I feel in control passes and I try to rememember how I would've felt only 2 weeks ago in the same exact scenario, and I wish I had a journal to compare to! =)

I think the best part about nursing, for me at least, is learning SO MUCH every day. Anytime I get a pt with an uncommon illness or disorder I'll go home and read up about it. When I come back the next day I feel like I see a whole picture and I'm not just pushing meds...

Bottom line - I still feel pretty slow, but hey, very normal considering the fact that a 1 1/2 years ago I barely had a clue as to what a nurse even did!!! (Thats the price of going to an accelerated BSN program...) :)

Thinking back to my lasy day at work - total of 8 pts, 2 vents, 2 trach collars, suctioned all day, 2 PEGS, ng tube, gave one pt 5 units platelets and 2 units blood, k-riders and more... Fun.......:chuckle

Yes, I do keep a journal, I started keeping one five years ago after a significant event in my life, and have kept one ever since. I use it to vent my frustrations. And also how I am feeling. It is interesting to see how much I have changed in the five years since I started keeping one. I just started a new one for 2006. And as I say, how will this year turn out? Well, just turn the page.

Adam, RN

Adam,

Just wondering, do you keep a journal... You should. You write well and I think that someday your experiences will help other newbies..

something to think about.

Happy New Year.

_________________________________________________________________

My new years resolution : To laugh more at myself...

Its funny that you write that as a New Years Resolution. When I made the decision to become a nurse, a friend gave me a Nurses cap to rib me. Well, when I start getting stressed out or start taking myself to seriously, I take the cap, put it on my head and go look in the mirror to get a good laugh.