Everything is under control until...

[R.NICU]

...I get a new admit! I'm a new nurse chugging along through my orientation. Things seems to be going well, i started with 2 patients at the beginning of orientation and had 4 today + a new admit, so 5. I think i'm catching on nicely. Things were going pretty smoothly today until the new admit arrived. In the past, I've done them with my preceptor, but today she felt i was ready to try it alone. So I did. This was the first time i went through all the paperwork with the admission on my own. Omgoodness, if you want to be thorough, this process can take a good hour...or atleast it did for me. The patient was HOH, speaks slowly, had a daughter who kept putting in her two cents ((or two dollars)), patient was a nurse for 60 years and questioned a med I gave her, wants all her meds divided in 4 instead of just crushed in apple sauce [[***!!??]]...i'm sure you've all been there. it just seemed like i couldn't get in and out like i wanted to. and of course, all the while, i hear the symphony of call lights ringing in the hallway. i can still here them as i type this thread. Finally, forever and a day after meeting my patient, it's done. Advanced Directives copied, paperwork filed...done. Back to reality, where i'm way behind. I have to help with a max x4 patient who keeps trying to slide out of his chair every so often, a demented woman who hates and fights her nurse so i have to reorient her and administer her meds and call her daughter up to occupy her time. Then, i have to deal with my patients! The fun never stopped. Wow, is it shift change already? I haven't even begun to write a note...*sigh*

[prudence09]

Welcome to the world of nursing!

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Yes that is nursing....however, you will need to take control of the admission process...move the questions along especially if you get a long winded relative...just be polite...".tx for the added info but I really need to move along now"..anything you can assess for faster and get the same info ..do it that way especially when the pt is slow....if you have to excuse yourself to do something that can not wait...do so..then return...you have to take control of the day and your time management.