Clinic nursing, normal to have so much paperwork?

[bsn2b2013]

I am a new grad LPN currently on week 2 of a new job working for a clinic. We have numerous sites, although I have only been at a couple. The staff are amazing, supportive, and they really do make an effort to help me transition so I am extremely grateful for this. However, I have some concerns. The first being that I was told that as a new grad, I would never be the only LPN in the clinic yet I feel as though I am currently being trained to take exactly that role. Perhaps I am looking too much into that, I sincerely hope that they wouldn't stick a new grad lpn in a clinic all by herslf (with a MA but still..) I am actually very comfortable with performing the nursing skills that are required of me there but I am taking on a lot of paperwork and such and it is there that I am concerned about my learning curve. I am an overachiever and I know I expect a lot of myself but I find it frustrating that I am not completely understanding all of the paperwork after 1 week there. I understand a decent amount of it but forget details here regardless of taking notes on what I need to do. Is this just part of the normal learning curve? Am I just expecting too much of myself? And does anyone have any tips on how to organize all of the paperwork (prescriptions, speaking to patients, etc.) so that things flow better?

Thanks in advance!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

There is a ton of paperwork no matter what nursing job you take. I have found that you need to "triage" your work. ASAP messages and referrals stay on top. Things that can wait go on the bottom. There is nothing "easy" about clinic nursing. It is just different stress and requirements than those at the hospital setting. You will figure out what works best for you. My best advice is to get organized. Use folder/dividers/etc.