Does every new grad experience this???

Yes, I am afraid to say yes, and you are not paranoid.

Sometimes nurses that are well-seasoned in their jobs can be that way, simply because they get their work done quickly and have more time to chat or critique other people that are still learning.

It makes it rather difficult to "stay under the radar" and quietly do your job, because they tend to notice and inquire about everything that goes on, even if it doesn't concern them. (I think everybody knows one, they are sometimes called "busybodies")

I've experienced this too and have been trying my best to tune it out...I was inserting a foley before a case the other day and noticed it was rather quiet in the room. LOL...EVERYONE was watching me, the surgeon, anesthesia, the tech, my preceptor and the med student! Good thing I did a good job and the foley went in without a hitch.

Glad to hear that! Even as you are charting the charge nurse or the supervisor is hovering around! It makes me very uncomfortable that I sometimes drop something accidentally...LOL...Woo! I have a very good preceptor. After the first 2 weeks, he just let me do my things most of the time and doesn't even watch my "every" movt. like the charge nurse does. They don't come inside the pt's room with me (except my preceptor, sometimes) BUT once I'm outside talking to the doctor, charting, literally anything, they are watching! ..LOL...I'll get over it! I think they are trying to do their job...

Most of the time it actually makes me feel good to know that my coworkers care. If nursing school taught us everything we needed to know, no one would ever graduate, so sometimes it's important to have that experienced person looking out of the corner of their eye.

I admit though, the hovering does make it more difficult. Then there's that awkward moment where the pt (or family in my case, since I work with babies) realizes that people are watching you for a reason. 'So, uh, you in training?' :)

My side from a secretary standpoint - I have been a unit secretary for 3 years while going to school. Where I work, I honestly don't see people staring at the new grads. My floor is a very crazy, fun floor, so alot of times we are just trying to figure out the "new person's" personality so we don't offend them!

I've experienced this too and have been trying my best to tune it out...I was inserting a foley before a case the other day and noticed it was rather quiet in the room. LOL...EVERYONE was watching me, the surgeon, anesthesia, the tech, my preceptor and the med student! Good thing I did a good job and the foley went in without a hitch.

I work at a teaching hospital and see A LOT of med students and residents. Most of the time they are watching me to learn..... I actually had a resident that wanted me to teach him to insert IVs, draw blood with a butterfly, and draw out of PICs and central lines! The following week I watched him flawlessly insert a subclavian central line - I gave him two thumbs up for that!

You had toilet paper hanging out your pants. Didn't anyone tell you!

You kill them with kindness! Compliment them on their good work (we need good unit clerks), and make them your friend. They just don't want you coming into their hospital and not recognizing their importance.

You had toilet paper hanging out your pants. Didn't anyone tell you!

Tweety, did you skip your meds AGAIN? :)

Tweety, did you skip your meds AGAIN? :)

I'm in my own little world. It's o.k. they like me here. They told me I don't need my meds. :)

ALA TWEETY lol lol