Difficulty Orienting with Younger Nurse?

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Is it just me or has anyone else had trouble during orientation with a younger nurse? I am over 40, been a nurse for 15yrs, just moved to a new area and starting a new job on a med-surg floor. The nursing care I am comfortable with but the computer program is taking time for me to learn. The nurse I am orienting with seems like a very good nurse but when it comes to teaching me the program, her patience is being tested. I feel like an idiot!!!! She clicks away so fast and thinks I should be able to follow. Is there something unique about brains that grow up with computers? I sware there is a direct link between her fingers on the mouse and her brain! I have explained ot her that I need to actually do it and have her walk me through it to retain it but that doesn't seem to be happening. I would like to orient with someone on the same wave lenghth..........help!

While I love the use of the mouse, there is a small reminder on our computers at work which say. Remember use the tab key, not the mouse. That is for our clinicomp program.

I recall in 1989, being encourage to play solitare on our work computers, of course the premise of to have people become comfortable with using the mouse features. Click, point, drag.

I directly attribute the mouse and to some extents the gui for the lack of 'computer learning.'

People don't even know the CTRL functions anymore. Even the Print Screen button on the keyboard is a mystery to most users...

What's funny is most programs follow the same similar conventions and computers and software are usually designed to be intuitive. It's funny when someone can use say Word but lose their cookies when presented with Excel.

We recently removed Internet Explorer and installed Firefox on our network (finally) and people threw a fit. A fit I tell you. Umm it's practically the same thing. :chuckle

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

Stanley, Our software used in the hospital is not intuitive at all, one simply has to memorize as there are no cheats to to use helpers as to what to do next. It is so much different than simply being able to use microsoft.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I have too been in the super user role a few times. I have done it when they brought out a computerized care plan and computerized flow sheet. It can be so frustrating when the person you are trying to teach doesn't want to learn. But the best way to do is by learning, so if you preceptor wont stand back and guide you maybe you need to work with someone else. I had some staff I had to pratically force them to do it themselves. I also had some so anxious that their fear kept them from wanting to learn. We had great resistance from nurses that have been in the field for 30 years. They would gripe and moan. One even had her own personal superuser one night and that person had the patience of a saint. I am still sought out on the unit when there is a problem. Sometimes it is as simple as the number lock isn't on. Sometimes I even have to call IT. They know me by name since I have had to call so many times because I am asking about outages and downtimes.

I do agree that a computer class might be a good idea.

Those that were taking classes got a total of 8 hours training in 2 sessions of 4 hours. I had a 8 hour and a seperate 4 hour session. I was also repeatedly exposed when the program went live in spurts. I was able to use it. So by the time it was live on our unit I was really comfortable using it. We were also able to get into the pratice mode at anytime in the hospital.

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Stanley, Our software used in the hospital is not intuitive at all, one simply has to memorize as there are no cheats to to use helpers as to what to do next. It is so much different than simply being able to use microsoft.

Unfortunately old software has that problem. It would not be that hard for them to make tutorial videos (on the computer) kinda like the video they had here for the new redesign.

I'm will to bet thought that the computer people have no trouble and the Luddites are still just not getting it.

I will also bet that many of the computer people just 'figured it out.' On their own.

ETA: My main point thought is that a large portion of those than 'have trouble learning computers' or 'just can't learn' choose that. It's hard to teach computers. Especially if you have to repeat the same thing over and over.

I literally have had to teach someone 8 different times the difference between Cut and Copy. It gets frustrating. Especially with there being soooo many resources.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
Stanley, Our software used in the hospital is not intuitive at all, one simply has to memorize as there are no cheats to to use helpers as to what to do next. It is so much different than simply being able to use microsoft.

Exactly. Mainframe is a program that has me spurring all kinds of words that will get me banned from this site. It is all memorization. This isn't a common home program like word or excel.

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Specializes in ER.
Sometimes it is as simple as the number lock isn't on.

LOL! The infamous Numlock virus. :smokin:

Before I was a nurse, I pulled some regular duty filling in as secretary in our department, thus being forced to learn the program. Nowadays, when we don't have a secretary scheduled for that night ( a neccessity in the ER), I try to fill in as best I can while taking patients because, well...I know how. But we have one nurse who has been in this dept for almost 5 years that insists on trying to do it herself. That's cool and all but geez...you've been here for 5 years and still don't know how to put in a simple order for a CBC? I've tried to teach her in slow times, but she would rather do it when we're full and have criticals that need it done now. It's a beating.

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Exactly. Mainframe is a program that has me spurring all kinds of words that will get me banned from this site. It is all memorization. This isn't a common home program like word or excel.

We have one similar. AOD. Makes absolutely no sense. Whoever coded it was a #$%#$ errr bad programmer and needed to be fired.

That said, there is a definite gap between those that get it and those that don't.

I'm not sure how it happened but 2 months after getting employed I became the 'go to' guy for the software because I supplanted the admissions person whose job it is to know the software.

I'm not sure if I am conveying my thoughts well.

Computers aren't a skill, it's a way of thinking. Like languages. When you start learning a language it's hard and you have to think and translate in your head. If you give it enough time you are able think in that language at will and the translating becomes an automatic process.

The same goes with computers. You have to spend time with them. Break em. Fix em. Install software. Learn where to get your own answers. Play with things.

One day you look at a new program or some crazy error and BAM. You understand how to plow right through it.

The first step is actually wanting to learn and taking the time to do it.

I would wager a months pay that I could look at your program and have it down in 4 hours or less. Why? Because it's just a program and they all follow the same basic format. Commands, Results. You just have to learn the commands. Then you get the results. Something goes in, something comes out. It isn't rocket science. Heck, I'm telling you microbiology was harder than any programming or computer class I've ever seen.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

The term ludite ( one who is adverse to technology ) is not a term to generalize I hope to those of us who are older. Some of us embrace technology and computers. I have seen older have no problem. just as I have seen some younguns who did. It just all depends. I would not say people are so much adverse to technology as their learning styles are different. Some pick up quickly some do not. Some people can teach someone how to use the software programs, and any other new technology which comes along and some cannot.

Find the way each person learns best,

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.
Unfortunately, the time is soon coming when lack of knowledge of computers is not going to be tolerated.

Try thinking about from younger people's POV. Personal computers have been around since the late 1970s.

I mean really. Upwards of 30 years. It's time to stop iththe I just don't understand computers bit and learn them.

If you can pass the NCLEX you can figure out how to use a computer.

It's the future. Stop being Luddites and get with it. ;)

The problem with 'older' people is not that we are afraid or have a lack of knowledge. As a parent and a teacher and now a nursing student ( I am extremely capable computer-wise BTW) I notice that many younger people click very quickly and don't always read everything on the screen, they simply go through much faster. Sometimes they miss important things. Think of something you are so good at that it just becomes second nature after awhile. The only way to become competent on the computer is to do it on a regular basis. That said you deserve to learn at your own pace and have someone who is willing to show you how to do it, not they do it and you watch. YOU should be the one at the keyboard and the instructor looking over your shoulder, not the other way around. Learn by doing in this situation. Good luck,

New in NY

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The only way to become competent on the computer is to do it on a regular basis.

You nailed it. But go farther. You can't just do it for 30 minutes at work. You have to do it at home as well. It's not just one software package. It's the whole shebang.

I use Luddite to refer to the people the resist the technology. We have quite a few Vintage Technophiles with us here. :up:

Heck, the majority of the pioneers in the computing world are 'older.'

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Specializes in ICU.

I don't think it is an age thing at all. I have always been a bit of a technofile, so I love "playing" with computers. I manage an eviromental laboratory (until I finish nursing school), and have a number of 20 something college students working for me. I have not been impressed with any of their computer skills. They know how to surf the web, and download music, and that is about it. When presented with spreadsheets, and manipulating text documents I have to sit down with them and show them how to do it, and it takes a while for them to get the hang of it. The first time anyone is exposed to new technology there is a learning curve involved. It helps if the person knows how to use a mouse already, or if the program is laid out in a manner that is similar to one already being used, but it still takes time to become adept at using it. Age is not really a factor in my opinion. It takes a little bit of patience and some practice, that is all.

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Specializes in ICU.

although the younger generation are more comfortable with computers and what they can do, us older folks can easily make them our friends. i actually do better than some of the younger ones. it's a matter of teaching your hands to work, like anything else. perhaps you are just one of those people that learns by doing.....like me, someone can talk me through it a million times and i know nothing in the end.....let my hands learn and do it, i'll get it in a snap. usually a hospital has a "practice patient".....fred flintstone is ours. you can bring him up whenever you have a chance and just play all you want, learn the program and get quick with the clicks and life is good again. check it out, i bet your hospital has a practice patient too and you'll marvel how quick you picked it up. :smokin:

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