I am a new grad hired on L & D and absolutely loving it..... except for today. The staff is wonderful , the unit is great and my preceptor is awesome.
But today I felt a bit overwhelmed. Today was my 7th day on the unit, and we do 12 hour shifts. There were deliveries going on back to back and everyone was basically running. We had inductions, c- sections and several just walking in the door ready to deliver. My preceptor and I started out w/ an induction on pit, but I went in to help another nurse with a laboring pt and stayed with her until after she delivered about 1 1/2 later.
My preceptor then sent me into another room to help the nurse with her delivery. That went well also. I continued monitoring my original pt and charting under my preceptors supervision. She has told me that I am a quick study and am doing very well. All the nurses ask me where I have worked before and are surprised when I tell them I am a new nurse. I try to carry myself with confidence and will do what I am asked if I know how. Inside I am scared and worried but constantly remind myself that I am an RN and I can get through this.
My preceptor left early today and I was with another nurse who asked me to do many things that I have not gone through yet, just things that were discussed, such as testing for ROM and d/c from triage among others. she kept saying "oh , so you dont know how to do that". I also noticed some of the girls who were more talkative in the beginning with me seem very quiet now. Maybe Im paranoid or just trying too hard but can carrying myself with confidence be rubbing people the wrong way. I just want to fit in and learn everything I can.
Thank you soooooooooooooooo much everyone. You are all amazing and I appreciate all your responses.
I do think I need to get "thicker skin", not internalize everything and take it too personally. I dont think I am coming off as cocky but I need to maybe allow some of the others see me as needing a bit of their help also. I let my preceptor know how vulnerable I feel at times. It's just that I know how fast paced and intense L & D can be, and I want them ( and to reassure myself ) to feel that I do belong there.
I also think that sinces the other nurse I was with didnt know where I was in my orientation or what I had done yet, she didnt know what to expect from me. So when she told me to do things I hadnt done I felt overwhelmed. I did tell her later on that if I didnt know how to do something that I would tell her and if did know how but never actually did it myself, that I would try.
There is another orientee on the unit thats been there 3 weeks longer than me. Everyone is really nice there and receptive to new grads, for the most part. I really am happy to be part of their team and ecstatic to start my career in L & D.
Thank you all, I feel so much better after reading your responses and having a good cry last night. I will try not to be so hard on myself.
alluvme
14 Posts
Thank you soooooooooooooooo much everyone. You are all amazing and I appreciate all your responses.
I do think I need to get "thicker skin", not internalize everything and take it too personally. I dont think I am coming off as cocky but I need to maybe allow some of the others see me as needing a bit of their help also. I let my preceptor know how vulnerable I feel at times. It's just that I know how fast paced and intense L & D can be, and I want them ( and to reassure myself ) to feel that I do belong there.
I also think that sinces the other nurse I was with didnt know where I was in my orientation or what I had done yet, she didnt know what to expect from me. So when she told me to do things I hadnt done I felt overwhelmed. I did tell her later on that if I didnt know how to do something that I would tell her and if did know how but never actually did it myself, that I would try.
There is another orientee on the unit thats been there 3 weeks longer than me. Everyone is really nice there and receptive to new grads, for the most part. I really am happy to be part of their team and ecstatic to start my career in L & D.
Thank you all, I feel so much better after reading your responses and having a good cry last night. I will try not to be so hard on myself.
alluvme