my first 2 weeks

[mei.smith]

My first 2 weeks at my new job has been the toughest experience I've ever dealt with. I came from working as a home health nurse to having 38 patients on my own. As a home health nurse I'm literally getting paid to check vital signs. I decided to challenge myself for the new year and more to post acute care. I went in confident and excited for the new opportunity. The first few things that my coworkers kept reminding me during orientation was that "it's okay to cry" " you will definitely cry here" I just laughed it off because I've never let work stress me out to that point. So skipping past orientation WHICH WAS ONLY 3 days for me .. I was on my own all by myself. Let me tell you ... the first few days alone I did actually cry. Why did I cry? Because I was feeling so overwhelmed by so many patients, not knowing where exactly all my medications where, running back and forth from talking to coworkers and doctors and just in general being lost in this new environment. On top of all of this I have a time frame where all these tasks need to be completed. These 2 weeks I've been working I had only one night where I could just sit down for 30 mins and take a break. Being super busy and on my feet for 12 hours straight has really messed up my eating habits. I've learned a lot from my first two weeks working, which are time management, memorization skills, packing snacks and healthy food choices, learning medications and new skills, crying feels good. It's a hate love relationship at this point. I'm excited to see what this job has in store for me but please can my stress level decrease by 50%!

[LessValuableNinja]

Part of the stress in a new LTC or LTAC position without experience in the environment is alleviated when you know the org, coworkers, and longer term residents better. It'll come. In six months you'll feel like a new person. My first couple weeks, I'd go in the med room for 30 seconds, close my eyes, concentrate on breathing, then head back out and conquer. It gets better...ish.