First Solo Nursing Shift was a "Drive By"...

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Finally had first solo shift. At shift change, by seasoned nursing replacement referred to it as a "Drive By" shooting because everything that COULD go wrong, DID go wrong! He said he was going to put a wander guard on me to be sure I came back in tonight! lol

I know now why I was advised not to do PRN as a new grad. I had seen these rehab patients twice...and that was 15 days ago (I was off for 10 before my first solo shift). I walked into all kinds of issues. Even though I am not PRN anymore, having so little experience 1) as a new grad and 2) with an almost new group of patients really helped me to see what PRN would be like.

At one point, five of my twenty patients were playing 'ping pong' with me...one would put on their light, then the one across the hall would put on theirs then the volley went back and forth!!! (I couldn't get anything done!!

Even the fax wouldn't send and the stapler jammed!! I won't even go into the key chain with the fifteen unmarked keys...and the door that was jammed, even though I was using the correct key!!

On the up side, I really like the team. They were nothing but supportive and encouraging through out it all. And, the facility is really nice. Even the patients are really nice, most of the time. (Bet they will be happy to see me come back in tonight! "Uh, it's that NEW nurse!" lol)

When I arrived home in the wee hours of the am, I was so wired I couldn't sleep. And, still haven't been able to sleep. The things I could do differently tonight keep running through my mine. I keep reviewing all of the time wasters from last night.

What is the FIRST thing I am going to do when I go in tonight? I'm putting pieces of tape on the main keys on that *%&@ key chain! That's one problem solved...ninety-nine more to go! lol

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