first job experiences

[pikina87]

i'm sorry if this is an obnoxious post but i am kind of curious about how other peopls first nursing jobs went.

i recently graduated from an lpn program and was offered my first job in a long term care facility as a float nurse. (i am trying to get into an acute facility but jobs are limited currently) i was given a short orientation (4 shifts between 10 units) and now seem to be struggling in ways that i never did during my school experience. I am only a few shifts in and already forgot signatures in the MAR (i went back and corrected as soon as i knew) and made a minor med error. (again, i handled it immediately and did the appropriate documentation and notification) Not only is my manager frustrated with me, (understandably I suppose) but I am beyond irritated with myself. I somehow made it through my entire school experience without a med error but now, in my new job, in effectively the first week, I do? I know it sounds dramatic but i am wondering if maybe i am not cut out for this. somehow in acute facilities i was doing better than ltc- but there arent any acute jobs around...

has anyone else experienced this? is it normal? is there some hiccup between nursing school and working? i am so mad at myself right now!!

[loriangel14, RN]

Four shifts of orientation for a new grad in their first job is not nearly enough. Don't be too hard on yourself for making errors.The transition from student to working on the floor is not easy. I would ask for more orientation and/or look for another job. For a manager to expect no minor troubles right out of school is not a fair expectation at all. Working as a new grad is overwhelming enough even with the appropriate supports in place. Do not be mad at yourself. This is not your fault.

[pikina87]

Thanks so much! I'm sure my manager doesn't see it that way, but I'm glad it's not just me! I'm trying to stick it out until I get something somewhere else, but my manager definitely isn't making it easy. (She told me she didn't know why she hired me when I missed the signatures) hopefully something opens up soon! I guess j just expected things to be easier once I was done school. Live and learn I guess.

[loriangel14, RN]

It takes time to become comfortable in your own practice. There is no substitute for experience. It's not easier after school, just different. I would advise you to ask for some advice and support at work. Are there any coworkers you can ask for help? I really hope you find something better soon. Four shifts is really not enough orientation.

[pikina87]

Thanks, and yes there are a cpl co workers that have been helpful. It's tough as a float too bc I really don't work w many of the same people very often. But I'm already noticing there are some nurses who have been there a long time who are far too eager to blame the new nurse for their mistakes. (Even from a unit I haven't set foot on)it makes you kind of nervous to approach people so I tend to only ask for help when absolutely necassary. way too much drama and politics here. Hopefully something comes up sooner rather than later.

[Fiona59]

You got an average orientation. Mine have only ever been three days shifts and two evenings (the shifts I worked).

Orientation isn't about teaching you skills or time management. It's about learning the unit routine, paperwork, where supplies are kept and how the area works.

Your final placement/consolidation hours are meant to finesse your skills and demonstrate your ability to work as an LPN. It was considered a failure if you couldn't manage your preceptors work load, in my case five patients on an evening shift, all meds, woundcare and documentation.

It just seems that in the last 2-3 years that new grads are expecting longer and longer orientations to the real world. We were just talking about this at work today that new grads are almost treating their first job as an extension of their consolidation. Med errors happen, we have all done it (especially in LTC).