Completely Enjoying Orientation

babyNP., APRN · Nov 1, 2008

Awesome! I'm really liking where I'm working as well. My preceptors have been wonderful and put up with all of my questions.

Our program is divided into 3 phases and we have an exam after each one. I'm taking phase 2 exam next week and spent this phase learning how to take care of vents and

Next phase, I guess I'll get to do everything, which is a little scary! But I'm excited--I absolutely love my job!

Nothing too bad has happened during my weeks--only one time when a patient managed to pull out her PICC line. And she was like a 1.5kg. I still don't know how she did it-those things are taped on so well and I always try to make sure there's some slack. I think my eyes about popped out when I saw the bed.

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2008

Hi all! Tomorrow I finish the second week of my orientation on the floor. It has been a great experience. I feel welcomed by the staff. My preceptor has a plethora of knowledge and I am learning all sorts of things hourly if not more often than that. She is constantly questioning me and asking "what if" questions to see how I am doing with my critical thinking. I pretty much had 2 feeder/growers on my own for the past 2 days, but she was there to watch me and to offer help if/when I needed it. I got to do things I have never done before. On Monday we move to more serious patients. Kinda nervous but also very excited! I have 22 more weeks of orientation before I am on my own completely.
So far I am sure that NICU is where I am supposed to be!

22 weeks of orientation..WOW. Keep up the good work, I've read some of your posts and know how excited you were to get into NICU.

JdNNurse2B · Nov 2, 2008

22 weeks of orientation..WOW. Keep up the good work, I've read some of your posts and know how excited you were to get into NICU.

Yep. 24 weeks total. Its 12 weeks on day shift, then 12 weeks on night shift. Then I will stay on night shift once I move to being on my own. I am fine with a long thorough orientation. I am super excited to see what I will have next. Today was phenomenal for me. In the beginning my head was SPINNING! I had been with feeder/growers then today my preceptor and I had 2 seizure babies with multiple drips, HALS, lipids, all sorts of things. I inserted my very first NG tube (the little tyke was sedated), suctioned, all sorts of drugs and calculations and 2 RN checks, and CPAP, and GTs and lions and tigers and bears (oh my!)....... but like I was saying, my head was spinning in report then after a few hours I really started getting into it. My preceptor said I handled it very well given the jump in severity of patients we had compared to last week. So that made me feel good. She challenges the mess out of me. And though at times I feel like I am going to explode with nerves I just take a deep breath and remember what I have been taught in school, clinicals, and by her and dive in. I have a inkling that we will have a micropreemie when I go back on Monday. I'm so excited! I am extremely thankful that I get to experience so much now under my orientation so that either when I am on my own or close to the end of my orientation I don't feel like a deer caught in the head lights. I know I have SOOO much more to learn.

You guys who have been in the NICU for so long and have the hang of it are amazing! I admire every singel NICU nurse out there and can't wait until I have a better grasp. I think I am headed in the right direction so far!

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2008

Yep. 24 weeks total. Its 12 weeks on day shift, then 12 weeks on night shift. Then I will stay on night shift once I move to being on my own. I am fine with a long thorough orientation. I am super excited to see what I will have next. Today was phenomenal for me. In the beginning my head was SPINNING! I had been with feeder/growers then today my preceptor and I had 2 seizure babies with multiple drips, HALS, lipids, all sorts of things. I inserted my very first NG tube (the little tyke was sedated), suctioned, all sorts of drugs and calculations and 2 RN checks, and CPAP, and GTs and lions and tigers and bears (oh my!)....... but like I was saying, my head was spinning in report then after a few hours I really started getting into it. My preceptor said I handled it very well given the jump in severity of patients we had compared to last week. So that made me feel good. She challenges the mess out of me. And though at times I feel like I am going to explode with nerves I just take a deep breath and remember what I have been taught in school, clinicals, and by her and dive in. I have a inkling that we will have a micropreemie when I go back on Monday. I'm so excited! I am extremely thankful that I get to experience so much now under my orientation so that either when I am on my own or close to the end of my orientation I don't feel like a deer caught in the head lights. I know I have SOOO much more to learn.
You guys who have been in the NICU for so long and have the hang of it are amazing! I admire every singel NICU nurse out there and can't wait until I have a better grasp. I think I am headed in the right direction so far!

I think I'm jealous :clown:

NFB2008 · Nov 3, 2008

It sounds like you have a good preceptor. I am currently on week 14 of a 16 week orientation. My preceptor has been a nurse for a year (all of which was in the NICU). They were hesitant about putting me with her because she's only been a nurse for a year, but she is an excellent nurse and a great preceptor. I have some fellow orientees who did not get quite so lucky with their experienced preceptors. It sounds like you are already getting good experience. I have gotten assignments with my preceptor that other RNs who have been off orientation for a year or more say they are jealous of. We got to admit a 24 4/7 week baby who weighed only 380g a couple weeks ago. At the end of that shift I asked my preceptor to write a note for the charge to get this baby back. We had that baby all 3 days (in a row) that we worked that week (he only lived 5 days). So don't be afraid to ask for an experience or a chance to learn. I learned so much those 3 days (jet vent, dobutamine and fentanyl drips, UAC and UVCs, declotting a UAC using .1 N hydrochloric acid (EEK!!!), giving blood/platelets multiple times., etc)... Sorry for rambling. I think I just feel the way you do about orientation--loving every minute of it! Congrats on finding a career you love! I'm sure we could swap a lot of orientation stories!

JdNNurse2B · Nov 4, 2008

NFB:

Yes! I am sure we are both getting great experiences! I look forward to swapping stories with you! I got to do platelets and prbc's yesterday, along with drips. and i had a baby on versed. I am hopin to have the challenging patients now with this preceptor b/c she is awesome. she is constantly challenging. i dont think i could ask for a better preceptor! Keep up the good work!

NFB2008 · Nov 4, 2008

Sounds like you had an exciting day yesterday!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 4, 2008

Congratulations!! I'm on my second week off of orientation and loving it. I too, had a great experience with my preceptor.

24 weeks? That is AWESOME!!

caraway · Nov 9, 2008

glad you are enjoying it :)

my orientation is also 24 weeks ... i start this summer, after i graduate.

excited and nervous :)