Does it get easier????!!!

trulynurseatheart · Oct 9, 2009

It IS overwhelming at first. I had a difficult time, even after my 3 months of orientation. They only wanted to give me 8 weeks, but I took 12.

Ask questions!! figure out how other organize themselves and their day. Have cheat sheets for references. Remember ABCs for prioritization.

Review policies after work, copy them or print them out. You will get the hang of it eventually.

Make the most out of your orientation. Pick your preceptors or mentors brain. Ask whys and hows, even if you think you know. Observe. You wont be able to depend on others as much when your are off orientation.

Does it get much better? No. It does get better though. :) It took me 2 years to get somewhat comfortable at work. (Everyone is different, but I sure did struggle). And you always have allnurses to come to and vent.

cn2007rn · Oct 10, 2009

Being a new nurse is extremely difficult. It takes a while to get use to everything. There is a lot to know and you are burdened with a lot of responsible. Take it easy on yourself, things do get better but it may take longer then you think. As long as you keep your pt's safe, you are doing your job! Everything else will fall into place! Good luck and make sure you have an outlet for stress relief, you will need it!:loveya:

BB06 · Oct 10, 2009

Thanks for the great advices, my follow colleagues! :loveya:

nursenewbe · Oct 30, 2009

I just recently got hired at a near by hospital from where I live. I have been orienting for almost a month now and I find nursing to be VERY overwhelming. There are so many procedures to learn, so many protocols to know, knowing what to do with high and low lab results, and the lists goes on and on...I feel like I have no idea how to prioritized myself and that I am always behind on charting. I feel like I am not learning quick enough to be on my own. Granted, I have until December but I am scared I won't be able to go on my own. I am not saying I want to quit but I am asking for those of you that have been through orientation months, how was it for you guys? What did you do to make things easier? Does it get more simple as time passes? PLEASE HELP! Thanks!

It does get easier. One thing that I do to make my work night go better is I get to work early and begin to read my charts and take notes because the charts have the mars, tars, last notes, last labs, last consults and etc. Then I began to map out or prioritize which patient I am going to see first. It should be easier if you have the same group of patients for a group of days. Usually we keep the same set if we are going to be on for 3 12's in a row. Also while I am sitting there reading the charts the nurse that is leaving normally stops at the desk and gives me a quick report before I even clock in and let me tell you this information I am giving you has helped me to be a quick learner and already working on my own after only 6 days of orientation. I am putting in any extra time that I can to the best that I can be because I wanted to be on my own so bad. Now preceptor just hangs around to answer all my tons of questions and rechecks all that I do to keep me in line and that is fine with me.

Hang in there try to get to work earlier and read those charts because early bird gets the worm. :specs:

Jules A, MSN · Oct 30, 2009

YES it definitely gets easier. Hang in there.

Blackheartednurse · Oct 30, 2009

It does get easier. One thing that I do to make my work night go better is I get to work early and begin to read my charts and take notes because the charts have the mars, tars, last notes, last labs, last consults and etc. Then I began to map out or prioritize which patient I am going to see first. It should be easier if you have the same group of patients for a group of days. Usually we keep the same set if we are going to be on for 3 12's in a row. Also while I am sitting there reading the charts the nurse that is leaving normally stops at the desk and gives me a quick report before I even clock in and let me tell you this information I am giving you has helped me to be a quick learner and already working on my own after only 6 days of orientation. I am putting in any extra time that I can to the best that I can be because I wanted to be on my own so bad. Now preceptor just hangs around to answer all my tons of questions and rechecks all that I do to keep me in line and that is fine with me.
Hang in there try to get to work earlier and read those charts because early bird gets the worm.

Wow excellent advice,I'm a new grad and I have one question for you-how early do you come in,like half an hour before,hour? Thanks

IndyMitchell · Oct 30, 2009

:cry: I have "one" more week of orientation and them I am on my own. I do not feel like I am ready, my preceptor says I will be fine, I don't believe it.. I have been getting 3 pts. and the norm is 3-4. I feel if it wasn't for my preceptor I wouldn't even be able to do three. Like I said she is always saying I am doing well, BUT I don't believe it or see it. I am being honest with myself.:angryfire My orientation they say is 12 wks. BUT I had lots of hospital orientation and training in that 3 wks too. So I have been on my floor for maybe 24 shifts, some 8 hrs some 12 hrs.

I really like pt. care. I just don't know if I will be able to learn everything. I really feel like I didn't learn much in school.? Ya, I passed boards maybe by luck, not sure. I feel this is my calling. I am going to be 41 next month.

I just don't feel that others will be able to help me when I need help. There is soooo much to know and learn. What Dr. to call, they all have more than one. Review new orders in a timely manner.. I don't need to be telling you guys you all know this!! Family don't understand, some of my school buddies aren't working yet or don't have a hospital job.. I don't want to vent to my preceiptor all the time, she will think I am a whinner. I want to cry because I feel I should be farther along. I am they one everyone went to at my other job/career. I am a multi-tasker, I feel it shouldn't be this hard?!!

hELP

New RN (not sure I can fill these shoes)

nursenewbe · Oct 31, 2009

Wow excellent advice,I'm a new grad and I have one question for you-how early do you come in,like half an hour before,hour? Thanks

If I can I get to work like 2 hours early and I ask or see what set of rooms I am going to have, from there I go down the hall and read the charts. All of the charts are in the wall a roo outside of each patients room so I read them and peak in and see what the patients look like. I usually see the nurse working in the room and if she can she or he will give me a quick report, anything to get them out the door quicker. The days I don't get to work early I feel the difference because I feel like I am walking into the room blind. I picked up this habit from watching doctors, they almost never go into a patients room without grabbing that chart first. Especially if they are filling in for another doctor. Try it, you should have been doing the same thing in clinical. That was part of our assignment was to go to the floor and get the heads up and a create a care plan for the patient we would be working on. Follow that same technique if you can. Good luck

tdrynelle · Oct 31, 2009

I have "one" more week of orientation and them I am on my own. I do not feel like I am ready, my preceptor says I will be fine, I don't believe it.. I have been getting 3 pts. and the norm is 3-4. I feel if it wasn't for my preceptor I wouldn't even be able to do three. Like I said she is always saying I am doing well, BUT I don't believe it or see it. I am being honest with myself.:angryfire My orientation they say is 12 wks. BUT I had lots of hospital orientation and training in that 3 wks too. So I have been on my floor for maybe 24 shifts, some 8 hrs some 12 hrs.
I really like pt. care. I just don't know if I will be able to learn everything. I really feel like I didn't learn much in school.? Ya, I passed boards maybe by luck, not sure. I feel this is my calling. I am going to be 41 next month.
I just don't feel that others will be able to help me when I need help. There is soooo much to know and learn. What Dr. to call, they all have more than one. Review new orders in a timely manner.. I don't need to be telling you guys you all know this!! Family don't understand, some of my school buddies aren't working yet or don't have a hospital job.. I don't want to vent to my preceiptor all the time, she will think I am a whinner. I want to cry because I feel I should be farther along. I am they one everyone went to at my other job/career. I am a multi-tasker, I feel it shouldn't be this hard?!!
hELP
New RN (not sure I can fill these shoes)

IndyMitchell - You are not alone. I'm 43 and in the same boat, coming from another career (where I was the expert and knew everything) to now knowing nothing, feeling overwhelmed at times and feeling like it's just me that is not getting it. From all the posts I've read and all the nurses I've talked to - this is normal. I'm coming to the conclusion that all the other new grads on my floor (who are all way younger, and this is the first career) feel the same way (to a degree), but no one wants to talk about it in person to admit how they feel (cuz they don't want to look like they are struggling too).

I am lucky in that I work a weekend program night shift, so I'm always working with the same core group of nurses - who are all awesome and very team oriented (which I don't see during the weekdays). I ask them tons of questions - even things which I think I should know, but I doubt myself and ask anyway. They are all very patient and willing to help me - without them, I'm not sure how I would be handling all of this.

One bonus to being an "older" new nurse is that patient's often think you are a seasoned vet - even when you don't have a clue what you're doing. I think that helps to put patient's at ease, making your job easier, as they aren't watching your every move wondering if you're doing things correctly (so when you do make an error or miss something, you can just nonchalantly go back in the room and redo whatever without your every move being scrutinized).

Trust in yourself (I know, easier said than done). Get help when needed. Ask questions (I've decided it's better to have me look like a fool asking a question than risk hurting a patient). Plow through. I've been told it will get easier - someday. Personally, I can't wait for that day to arrive! :yeah:

JayVArn · Oct 31, 2009

I would reccomend making a "To Do Checklist" with your meds, assesments and notes etc to write. I started doing that in the beginning and made it a habit, now I don't use a checklist unless I am super busy. As you get better and more experienced you will learn and it will get easier. This month I will be an ICU RN for 1 year and 3 months (and I still stress about forgetting things and being labeled as a new grad by those "mean other nurses")