Encouragement for New Nurses

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I've been working with a lot of new nurses lately, and it seems they all share a common bond: that of being eaten alive by more-experienced staff, MDs, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, even housekeeping! It's almost as if we go sniffing out the weak, and attack them from every possible angle until they either collapse under the emotional burden or quit in frustration.

Yesterday I spent what seemed to be the greater part of my shift coaching two "newbies", one an LPN, another an RN, both of whom have been treated with varying degrees of contempt and outright disdain, and I learned some interesting things from both of them. In particular, the LPN had a patient who had been vomiting dark brown fluid on & off all day; the RN she was working with had basically said not to bother her unless someone crashed, because the RN had enough of her own problems. Now, this LPN is 22 years old, less than a year out of school.......she'd had a bad feeling about this patient all day, and when I came on at 3 PM she'd already made several calls to the MD who pooh-pooh'ed her concerns. So she asked me to check on the patient, and when the patient vomited again, I smelled both fecal material and blood. Gastroccult was POSITIVE! Of course, when we called the doc yet again with these results, he leaped into action.........but in the meantime, this patient had vomited over 1000cc, since the early morning, and who knew how much blood she was losing while doing it.

Now, for all you new nurses out there, the lesson in this is: Your instincts are just as good as anyone else's. All you lack is the experience of seeing the same health problems over and over again until you know, just from the look or smell or feel of something, what's probably causing the problem and what to request from the patient's doctor. That will come with time and experience; until then, you will need to be assertive with your co-workers. Don't let anyone intimidate you; you worked hard to get where you are, and you deserve assistance in becoming the best nurse you can be. If you have questions, ask; if you can't get someone to answer you, find someone who WILL.

Above all, know that although your co-workers are busy and may be a little gruff from time to time because we, too, are stressed out, we've ALL been where you are, and even if we pretend not to, we remember what you're going through. Nursing is not something one learns in two or four years of school; nor is it learned within the first five years of one's career. We are constantly learning and changing and growing, just like you; and if you have co-workers who act as though they practically invented nursing, you can take comfort in knowing that NOBODY knows it all........not even that crusty old RN who probably took care of Jesus as a baby.

Hang in there! :kiss

[nekhismom]

Thank you! Those words are much appreciated by this new grad RN!

[gaulkari]

That was a great post. I am in my forth week of orientation and I have a great preceptor and the other nurses have been really supportive also. Your post was an added boost to what has been a positive experience.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I'm glad.:)

Seriously, I wonder where the next generation of nurses will come from if we don't lose our reputation for chewing up new nurses and spitting them out. There are enough dog-eat-dog attitudes in the business world; I have yet to figure out why on earth so many people who choose an occupation associated with compassion and caring, act like corporate raiders as they step all over others in their climb up the food chain. I'd think more experienced nurses would welcome new ones, that they would WANT to share their knowledge and wisdom.......after all, we too will need care someday!

[tymomrn]

Most new grads need some direction, and I love to teach and tell war stories. But others who may have had some prior experience come out thinking they already know it all. I was an aide for 10 years before graduating and I was still scared of all the respsibility. I was always able to tell the nurse what was going on, and it was out of my hands. Now I AM the nurse, it's all on me. Others, however feel that their prior experience makes them the s***. One nurse I work with in the ER is like this. She was an EMT, a lousy one at that. Now she gives attitude when other nurses try to help her with critical pts(she's been here 1 year, only ER). The other day she took an intubated pt to CT then right to the unit. No CXR for this pt tubed by medics. And SHE got peeved because the ICU nurse gave HER attitude about it! It's just those new grads who already think they know it all that need to be taken down a notch before they kill someone. Sorry for the rant, but this chick REALLY gets on my nerves!

[findingmywayRN]

mjlrn97: Thanks for the thoughtful post. For me it seemed that I had to walk on eggshells around the more experienced nurses when I was a student and sometimes still as a new nurse. I remember in school at one clininical one crusty nurse referred to me (loudly) as "Nursing Student Whose Name I Don't Know" at a crowded nursing station, as she handed me a telephone reciever to hang up for her! In front of doctors and nursing staff alike!

Maybe it is a rite of passage that many nurses had to endure themselves, and the "hazing" simply continues. But once you do get the chance to work with a nurse or two that really love teaching the new nurses - they will stay in your heart forever. To all experienced nurses just remember that taking the time to teach even one thing to a new nurse will make a lifelong impression on them. And they may remember that kindness when it is their turn to teach.

[hbscott]

Originally posted by mjlrn97

It's almost as if we go sniffing out the weak, and attack them from every possible angle until they either collapse under the emotional burden or quit in frustration.

Ouch! We are a "caring profession" - right?

-HBS

[RN-PA, RN]

Great post(s), mjlrn! I am unable to fathom why some nurses act the way they do toward newbies. Yes, we're all stressed to the max, but I have such a soft heart for the new nurses-- whether new grads or returning to their careers after a period away. I had it SO tough in my early years as a med-surg nurse. School didn't prepare me well enough and I'd never worked as an aide or in health-care prior to graduation from nursing school 10 years ago. I had lousy preceptors and had to learn most everything on the job. I had no mentors or encouragers (besides husband, family, and friends) on the job, so was a real late-bloomer.

I now look for and am open to opportunities to mentor and encourage the newbies, and always tell them not to apologize and they aren't bothering me when they have questions or concerns. The pain and struggles I experienced are still way too fresh and memorable, and it helps me to heal as I help others.

[hmccartn]

Thank you, I am going to print this thread and refer to it often. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

[Dixen81]

Marla, you are a precious doll. I hope to work with someone like you after I graduate, but I doubt that's possible because you're definitely one of a kind. Many hugs and best wishes to you. :kiss

[momof38160]

That was a great post. I don't start nursing school until next January but I hope that when I graduate I have supportive experienced nurses to answer any of my questions! It makes for such a better working environment also!

[nurseshanti]

Thank you so much mjlrn97 for such a wonderful post! and thank you to everyone who replied so positively also. This is my biggest fear for when I graduate and am at my first job. Like RN-PA, I have not ever had a part-time job in the hospital (although I am looking for one now) and, although I get good grades and I get positive clinical evaluations, I know that there will be a steep learning curve when I get out in the "real world" and I am so fearful that it will be made worse by the nurses and doctors and other HCP's I'll be working with. I so hope there's at least a few who will be kind and respectful enough to teach me some of the ropes!!