Yeah, I believe nurses eat there young! I'm a new nurse and to me everyone is all nice to my face but then I hear things. One nurse coming on after me acts like she has to double check everything I do. If I'm not doing something correct - tell me so I can do it right, but if you don't like it because its not the WAY you like it then leave me alone! It was 2am I was in the breakroom on my cell phone and another nurse came in and was like who are you talking too? and who would be up at this hour talking to you on the PHONE? Like it was really any of her business! These older nurses I worked with were SO nosie! Too in to my business for comfort!
Yeah, I believe nurses eat there young! I'm a new nurse and to me everyone is all nice to my face but then I hear things. One nurse coming on after me acts like she has to double check everything I do. If I'm not doing something correct - tell me so I can do it right, but if you don't like it because its not the WAY you like it then leave me alone! It was 2am I was in the breakroom on my cell phone and another nurse came in and was like who are you talking too? and who would be up at this hour talking to you on the PHONE? Like it was really any of her business! These older nurses I worked with were SO nosie! Too in to my business for comfort!
She does have to double-check because you are new. Did you ever possibly consider that she may be trying to help you by doing so...catching a minor oversight before it turns into a major error?
I simply don't understand some of the posters here. Some gripe about not getting enough supervision, others gripe about any supervision. It makes it very difficult for experienced nurses like myself to try to figure out what it is new nurses want. It seems that no matter what we try, someone is going to kvetch.
And as far as the phone call, it could have just been more an expression of, "Wow, who would be up at 2:00am to talk on the phone?" Maybe she was just surprised and blurted that out, not necessarily grilling you.
The hostile tone in your posts speaks volumes for why you're having problems.
It has nothing to due with "paying" their dues", and everything to do with the fact that many new grads have never seen the business end of a foley catheter; and now we want them to concentrate on titrating epical gtts?
It's simply not fair to them, or the nurses who are charged with teaching them.
Learning is a curve; give these new grads a chance on the bunny slope before you shove them down the black diamonds.
Perhaps the problem is that "regardless of what we think, new grads are being sent to the ICU".
Maybe we need to get our collective heads out of the sand and stop the process of sending our best and brightest to a frustrating and often futile
I've always believed you graduate from nursing school with a license, not to take on the world as a nurse, but to learn how to be a nurse.
Time management, critical thinking skills, just figuring out what the real world of nursing is all about.
For that reason, I don't think its fair to put new grads in critical care areas. For the same reasons others here have mentioned. A new grad is not ready to take care of critically ill patients straight out of school.
Of course, the fault is not the new grads, but management who allow this.
Having said that, happytobe here, I have nothing against you, or the fact that you work in CCU. I just feel sorry for you being in an area where the staff may well resent a new grads presence. That is not your fault.
I'd suggest hanging in there, being friendly, but knowing when to keep your mouth shut (like when your preceptor is stressed out), and not giving up unless you decide it is not an area you really want to work on. If you can put up with it for now, it will get better. Really it will - and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you stuck it out. Good luck!
Hmm........... I really wanted to go into ICU nursing after I finished school. I would like to clarify something please. My understanding is that there are generally two types of "programs" (for lack of a better word) that new grads would utilize to enter the ICU without any previous experience. One would be to work with a preceptor to get on the job training. The next "program" is to have a sort of internship where new grads start out with classroom training then proceed on to a structured preceptorship which lasts about 3 to 6 months.
I guess my question is do most of you have the same feelings for both types of trainings for new grads? I have been under the impression that new grads might struggle if thrown in to the hustle and bustle of tagging along with a nurse and trying to learn. However, if they have a structured internship they can do quite well. What are your thoughts on this. This is directed to everyone.
Our unit recently hired many new grads. (10 to be exact). The first 2 wks they were in general nursing orientation. Learning how our IV pumps, feeding pumps, PCA's worked, they also had a skills validation on the crash cart, IV starts, venipuncture among other things.
They then went to unit specific orientation which included a critical care class for 5 days. They then came to the unit. They are assigned one preceptor to work with. They begin by doing small things, then progress to doing almost everything by themselves. One patient alone at first, then both patients alone.
We do have one new nurse that has made the comment that she "isnt going to work hard as long as she is on orientation". And has also said that she is going to let others do her work until she comes off orientation. Which of course, has made others a little disgruntled with her.
Another new nurse, has not grasped the concept that you cant take forever to do something, that she needs to speed up some.
The others are flying and doing great. All of them have a EKG class that is 2 days coming up, then they have the critical care consortium that includes all the hospitals in the city that is 2 days a wk for 3 wks.
They are on orientation a total of 4-6 months. With the right preceptor and support new grads can do well. Not all of them are cut out for critical care. They have to develop their critical thinking skills, they have to look at the whole picture of the patient and anticipate what could happen.
I do see some nurses giving the new ones a hard time. The way I look at it, I was new at one time too, so I try to make them feel welcome. I quiz them to make them think about what they are doing and why. Some of them like it, some dont. Dont be afraid to tell your preceptor how she makes you feel. If you dont tell her, she wont know.
Our unit recently hired many new grads. (10 to be exact). The first 2 wks they were in general nursing orientation. Learning how our IV pumps, feeding pumps, PCA's worked, they also had a skills validation on the crash cart, IV starts, venipuncture among other things.
They then went to unit specific orientation which included a critical care class for 5 days. They then came to the unit. They are assigned one preceptor to work with. They begin by doing small things, then progress to doing almost everything by themselves. One patient alone at first, then both patients alone.
We do have one new nurse that has made the comment that she "isnt going to work hard as long as she is on orientation". And has also said that she is going to let others do her work until she comes off orientation. Which of course, has made others a little disgruntled with her.
Another new nurse, has not grasped the concept that you cant take forever to do something, that she needs to speed up some.
The others are flying and doing great. All of them have a EKG class that is 2 days coming up, then they have the critical care consortium that includes all the hospitals in the city that is 2 days a wk for 3 wks.
They are on orientation a total of 4-6 months. With the right preceptor and support new grads can do well. Not all of them are cut out for critical care. They have to develop their critical thinking skills, they have to look at the whole picture of the patient and anticipate what could happen.
I do see some nurses giving the new ones a hard time. The way I look at it, I was new at one time too, so I try to make them feel welcome. I quiz them to make them think about what they are doing and why. Some of them like it, some dont. Dont be afraid to tell your preceptor how she makes you feel. If you dont tell her, she wont know.
Good luck!
Sounds like you have a fabulous new-nurse orientation process. Good.
Now...take one of these nurses and cut her loose (when your fabulous orientation/introduction is over)...and compare her with a nurse who has worked on med-surg, or tele, or etc. for a year or more and has moved into a critical-care unit (after, i'm sure, a much-less costly and time/energy/money consuming orientation)...and compare the two.
It's almost a no brainer.
Anyone who thinks the new-grads will be as proficient/adequate/GOOD as one with prior experience in another unit is a numb-skull. sure there will be exceptions. sure, new-grads can do it...and eventually do it well. But, experience will WITHOUT A DOUBT mean more than a super-duper orientation for new grads.
I dont dislike new-grads. I dont eat them. i think they can, in some situations, do fine. It's just my opinion that experience elswhere generally translates into a smoother (for everyone) transition into icu.
90% of icu nursing is like nursing everywhere. If a new icu nurse can concentrate on the 10% of nursing that is unique to ICU, rather than a grad who has to develope/concentrate on 100% it's easier to understand why experience elswhere is a very good thing.
And...if there were a nursing 'glut' instead of a nursing 'shortage', i guarantee management everywhere would almost invariably hire experienced nurses over nurses without any at all.
Since I am the new grad in the unit, there are some things that I wanted to practice as soon as I started ( 2 months ago)
I had heard of critical nurses having thick skin, I appreciate them because nursing is one of the hardest things I have ever learned. I walked into this unit with a good attitude and an eagerness to learn. I introduced myself, told everyone I was a new grad, and opened up the communication to accept constructive critism. I want to learn, I also understand preceptors have it rough because baby nurses ( what I call myself) are constanly asking, and need to be shown. Sometimes I even irritate myself.
BUT nursing is a skill, and I have been treated so poorly by the other nurses. If I had a nickle for every time I was told that I should have started med surg first I would be able to buy myself a prada bag! Med surg seems hard to me also, in fact nursing altogether scares me to death!
I get it, med surg is where a lot of people say I should have started, but in reality, what is good for some is not good for all.
There is absolutely a feeling of resentment for me, and I have held my head up, but it is now making me feel the sting of being a nurse.
I have talked to my manager about what is going on, and I hope that when I come back to work things will not be worse.
basically,,,, we are not only new grads but people! It is not our fault there is a nursing shortage, or that we end up in the units.
Please teach us, and tell us when we are doing things wrong, because we feel very unsure ALL THE TIME!
okay i've rambled.... thank you everyone for the comments, they are very helpful
down to business. Why do you think new grads are being sent to the units? Is there a reason this is becomming a hot debate? nursing shortage, money, training time?
Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.
So how does someone get to ICU/CCU from Med/Surg? I don't mean this to be a sarcastic question, but an honest one. I will be a new grad in August & I know without a doubt that critical care is where I want to be. However, I also know myself well enough to know that I feel more comfortable with the idea of "getting my feet wet" (as in Med/Surg) in nursing first. Not that I feel I couldn't handle learning CCU, but I just feel a good foundation in floor nursing first is the best for me. I'm just curious as to what steps to take to apply for a specialty unit when I feel I'm ready to do so.
down to business. Why do you think new grads are being sent to the units? Is there a reason this is becomming a hot debate? nursing shortage, money, training time?
Simply put: you cost 22 dollars an hour, not 32.
To me, it's sort of akin to the hs grad that enters 'real life' thinking they should own the 250,000 dollar house and lexus that their parents worked hard and long to achieve.
The nurses that have 'been there and done that' KNOW that their skills and experiences didn't just 'fall on them'. And there IS some resentment at the 'hubris'. It's easy to say you wouldn't be there if management hadn't allowed it.
But complaining about management and the decisions they make is almost an artform.
Now, in reality, we KNOW that you are only their because management loves what they are paying YOU instead of us. But, that is another form of resentment. Just wait till you get a little experience under you belt and start competing with these nurses for their sacred overtime.
Management will love you. Your co-workers, mmmmmm, not so much.
I really wanted to go into ICU nursing after I finished school. I would like to clarify something please. My understanding is that there are generally two types of "programs" (for lack of a better word) that new grads would utilize to enter the ICU without any previous experience. One would be to work with a preceptor to get on the job training. The next "program" is to have a sort of internship where new grads start out with classroom training then proceed on to a structured preceptorship which lasts about 3 to 6 months. 
NoWaNrN, ASN, RN
219 Posts
Yeah, I believe nurses eat there young! I'm a new nurse and to me everyone is all nice to my face but then I hear things. One nurse coming on after me acts like she has to double check everything I do. If I'm not doing something correct - tell me so I can do it right, but if you don't like it because its not the WAY you like it then leave me alone! It was 2am I was in the breakroom on my cell phone and another nurse came in and was like who are you talking too? and who would be up at this hour talking to you on the PHONE? Like it was really any of her business! These older nurses I worked with were SO nosie! Too in to my business for comfort!