First day in pcu/tele!

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I’ve been a home health RN for 6 years, Monday will be my second interview with a hospital in brooksville, I know I know I’m getting into the hospital game late! (I had a son and life happened in between) .. I’m so nervous because I have no experience at all... what are some pointers you can give me that you wish someone had told you? 

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Specializes in Dialysis.

That the hospital "ain't all that"! 

Good luck, ask for a decent orientation, as an "experienced nurse", you may not get one. Listen, listen, listen. And learn from your mistakes when you make them, don't let the mistakes defeat you

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5 minutes ago, Hoosier_RN said:

That the hospital "ain't all that"! 

Good luck, ask for a decent orientation, as an "experienced nurse", you may not get one. Listen, listen, listen. And learn from your mistakes when you make them, don't let the mistakes defeat you

Thank you!! Yes I never was pumped to get out of school and go straight into the hospital like my comrades but then here I am 6 years later with almost no experience except a Gtube! I’m going to take it easy but any top tier advice you can think of? 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Absolutely. Don’t peg nursing competence to equipment and tasks (“no experience but a Gtube”). You’ll learn those as you go along. Remember what nurses have that nobody else does— the nursing process itself. The topmost tier of top tier advice is to remember:

* assessment (learn what special assessments are priorities for your pt population)

* analysis (what do those findings mean for this population?)

* nursing diagnosis (we already know you’ll be implementing parts of the medical plan of care based on medical diagnosis; what are the nursing diagnoses that define what you will do for which nursing is independently accountable?)

* planning (what nursing will you do or delegate?)

* implementation and

* re-evaluation 

Congratulations!  You’ve got this!

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Specializes in Dialysis.
5 hours ago, Ladylpn123 said:

Thank you!! Yes I never was pumped to get out of school and go straight into the hospital like my comrades but then here I am 6 years later with almost no experience except a Gtube! I’m going to take it easy but any top tier advice you can think of? 

Exactly what @Hannahbananasaid

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Specializes in Rehab/Nurse Manager.

I had a brief stint a similar healthcare setting after nursing school.  For various reasons, I no longer work there.  However, some things I can suggest and/or wish I had done differently: 

1. Make sure you study outside of work for awhile.   PCU is much different from home care and the patients are sicker than you might think or realize.  Your preceptors can teach you some things, but you will also need to develop a way to enhance your own learning, on your own time, whether it be through additional classes, reading books, watching videos, etc.   Make sure you express a willingness to learn during your interview and orientation.  

2. Be willing to stay after work or come in early to work on new skills or skills you are struggling with.  Again, be willing and put in effort to learn the skillset needed. 

3. Make sure you have a supportive preceptor.   The preceptor should be able to give you both praise and constructive criticism in a respectful manner.  They don't have to be your friend, but you should feel safe in asking them questions without fear of retaliation or humiliation.  If you find that it just isn't working with your current preceptor, it would be in everyone's best interest to ask for a different one if need be.   Find a way to work together if at all possible, but sometimes the preceptee/preceptor combination just isn't a match.  

4.  Make sure you are receiving regular feedback.  Ask if needed.   Do not let concerns "build up" until it is too late.  Work on correcting any concerns or issues early before they escalate too far.  

Good luck to you! PCU/Tele can be a tough environment, but I know many nurses who have been successful.  Best wishes! 

 

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Specializes in Progressive Care, Sub-Acute, Hospice, Geriatrics.
On 5/22/2021 at 6:17 AM, Ladylpn123 said:

I’ve been a home health RN for 6 years, Monday will be my second interview with a hospital in brooksville, I know I know I’m getting into the hospital game late! (I had a son and life happened in between) .. I’m so nervous because I have no experience at all... what are some pointers you can give me that you wish someone had told you? 

How was your orientation? How was your transition? I am trying to transition from SNF/LTC to hospital setting

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