Feel like I don't know anything

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 28, 2018

Now I understand. I only meant "dumb" questions in the sense of I always thought my questions were dumb until I found out experienced nurses didn't know the answer either. I didn't mean her questions she asked here were dumb.
The only dumb question is the one you don't ask is something I struggle with to this day!
I can ask my "dumb" questions here anonymously

I'm going to respectfully disagree about the "dumb" questions. Despite what I've heard over and over, there IS such a thing as a dumb question. Asking dumb questions is one of the things that gets new nurses "picked on" at work. But it's so easy to ask a smart question instead of the dumb one.

A dumb question is "Mrs. Pee needs a Foley!!!!! What do I do???????"

A smarter question would be "Dr. Uro has ordered a Foley for Mrs. P. I have looked up the procedure and I'm pretty sure I have everything I need, but I've never done this before. Could we go over the procedure together before we (assuming you're talking to your preceptor or to someone who has agreed to help you) go into the room to do the procedure?"

A dumb question is "What's the number for the blood bank again?" The smarter question would be "Where can I find the numbers for the most frequently-called departments?" or better yet ask the number for the blood bank once, write down the answer in a little notebook you keep in your pocket (or on your phone) and not have to ask the question again.

As an experienced nurse, I don't know everything either. I am not afraid to ask questions. No one -- even the best nurse -- knows everything. But I try not to ask the dumb questions.

hawaiicarl, BSN, RN · May 28, 2018

I've been doing this for 30 years and still learn something new every shift .... just when I think I've got it figured out evidence based practice decides we were doing it wrong the whole time! I think your biggest problem is knowing every line of Robin Hood: Men in Tights, because The Princess Bride is obviously a superior Cary Elwes movie. "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!" - Inconceivable!

Cheers

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 28, 2018

I didn't see a specific new grad forum, so I'm posting this here.
I start my first job in two weeks, and I'm absolutely terrified. My first month of orientation is going to be on the same floor I worked on as a CNA, and I'm scared they're all going to think I'm a terrible nurse. I'm scared I'm not going to know what to do. I'm scared I'm going to somehow kill someone or not recognize something vital.
I've been in school for two years, and I feel like I don't know a damn thing. I'm pretty sure you could ask me a nursing related question, right now, and I'd tell you I don't know. Two years of school that I managed to graduate from, managed to pass the NCLEX exam, and I feel like my brain is full of nothing but 90s song lyrics and every line in Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
Should I keep studying while I'm waiting to start? Go through my Saunders book? I keep envisioning showing up to my first day of on the floor training and winding up fired or my preceptor hates me because I don't know something I should know.

There is a forum entitled "First Year After Licensure" or something to that effect, and it's a great resource for new nurses. A lot of the questions such as "I'm starting my first job and I'm terrified" have already been posted and answered there. That said, this is an OK place to ask, too.

The fact that you're terrified of hurting someone or missing some vital piece of information is actually a GOOD thing. Your fears are going to keep you from doing something stupid that might hurt someone. There is nothing more terrifying to an experienced nurse than a new grad who has more confidence than is justified. And it's hard to teach anyone when they already think they know everything!

A nursing license is just a license to learn, and we all had much to learn, especially when we started. Don't study now. Take a break from the studying. When you start your new job, there will be lots of things that you're going to need to study at home before your shift, after your shift and sometimes during your shift. Please don't be that new grad that refuses to study at home. You'll be doing yourself and your patients a disservice.

mindiianajones · May 28, 2018

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and reassurance AND advice! It's really appreciated. I, at least, know the best way to ask dumb questions now and to remember to bring spare paper with me to write things down and take notes on. I'm working on relaxing, and I'm hoping I'll manage to achieve that for a few days, at least. Maybe I'll try watching Robin Hood: Men in Tights instead. OR Princess Bride!

audreysmagic, RN · May 29, 2018

Well, I'm glad even the seasoned pros still have questions about things. It's hard for me to let go of the notion that I spent all this time in school so I should theoretically know things? Note taking, though! I'll remember to do that for sure. And try not to care about feeling or looking stupid when asking questions.

Trust me, as an educator, I would MUCH rather someone ask then worry about feeling stupid and not ask. I expect that my new grads don't know everything, and one that acts like they do sets off a few red flags in my mind. Be confident about what do you know (because you graduated school and passed the NCLEX!) and ask about what you don't. You'll get it. Experience is the best teacher, honestly, especially if you're a hands-on learner.

And if it's any consolation, I'm working on my MSN now, and in "review" of areas I have not worked in during my career, I still have that "wait how did I not know this" sometimes. I know MY specialty well, and when I'm exposed to something unfamiliar, I know who to ask and where to research. That's what I look for in a nurse - not someone who knows everything (you will NEVER know everything, but you WILL come to know your chosen specialty well, in time), but someone who knows where to look for answers when they don't have them.

audreysmagic, RN · May 29, 2018

I think your biggest problem is knowing every line of Robin Hood: Men in Tights, because The Princess Bride is obviously a superior Cary Elwes movie. "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!" - Inconceivable!
Cheers

You keep using that word...I do not think it means what you think it means.

audreysmagic, RN · May 29, 2018

I'm going to respectfully disagree about the "dumb" questions. Despite what I've heard over and over, there IS such a thing as a dumb question. Asking dumb questions is one of the things that gets new nurses "picked on" at work. But it's so easy to ask a smart question instead of the dumb one.
As an experienced nurse, I don't know everything either. I am not afraid to ask questions. No one -- even the best nurse -- knows everything. But I try not to ask the dumb questions.

Ruby Vee, as usual, telling it like it is...but dang if she's not right! Dumb questions do exist. They very much do. I get them all the time as the educator. "How am I supposed to know how to do ____?" is one of my pet peeves. It's SO much easier and better for all involved to just admit you don't know how to do something and ask for help.

Also, you'll need to learn to ignore what CPI (a de-escalation program we use a lot in psych) calls challenging questions - from patients and sometimes fellow staff. Those are the ones designed to do nothing else but get an emotional response. "What do you mean, you don't know how to ___? Where did you even go to school?" Sometimes, people are having a bad day or are rude. This will happen and does NOT automatically equate to nurses eating their young; please remember that. Just learn to identify difficult people. Actual bullying does happen, but it's rarer than people would have you think. There are nurses I wouldn't want to work alongside because of their personalities but I'd absolutely trust them to save my life.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · May 30, 2018

( in response to brownbook ) Why so hateful? These are valid questions from someone who perhaps needs a little boost of confidence or reassurance, not for you to be confounded and invalidate these concerns merely because you did not have access to such a tool as this forum. Shame on you; I hope you never precept new RNs.

Wait...what? I didn't think brownbook was hateful at all. I thought brownbook was cool.

This might be a cultural thing. I think you misunderstood brownbook.

LovelyInPink · May 31, 2018

Mindiianajones, congratulations on your new position! I recently graduated last month and started working as a nurse on the same unit where I worked as a CNA for years. If your unit is anything like mine, the nurses are not going to expect you to know everything. Heck, they really are not going to expect you to know much aside from the basics of the unit (such as where certain things are located, names of other staff members, etc). They KNOW you are a new grad so please do not feel as if you have to try to impress them. Ask tons and tons of questions! The nurses at work always tell me they are afraid of any new grad that doesn't ask questions. Make sure to bring a small notebook or index cards with you to scribble down important information such as various policies, numbers, medications and procedures to look up, and anything else your preceptor shares with you. On your days off, look up the information and keep all your notes in one place. I like to organize mine into various folders on the app Evernote. Anyhow, I just want you to know that I completely understand where you are coming from. Hang in there and show them you're eager to learn. Keep us updated!

mindiianajones · May 31, 2018

Ruby Vee, as usual, telling it like it is...but dang if she's not right! Dumb questions do exist. They very much do. I get them all the time as the educator. "How am I supposed to know how to do ____?" is one of my pet peeves. It's SO much easier and better for all involved to just admit you don't know how to do something and ask for help.
Also, you'll need to learn to ignore what CPI (a de-escalation program we use a lot in psych) calls challenging questions - from patients and sometimes fellow staff. Those are the ones designed to do nothing else but get an emotional response. "What do you mean, you don't know how to ___? Where did you even go to school?" Sometimes, people are having a bad day or are rude. This will happen and does NOT automatically equate to nurses eating their young; please remember that. Just learn to identify difficult people. Actual bullying does happen, but it's rarer than people would have you think. There are nurses I wouldn't want to work alongside because of their personalities but I'd absolutely trust them to save my life.

I'm not even going to lie, I'm worried about overhearing that type of talk. I try REALLY hard not to take things personally, but I'm one of those people who values intelligence while also feeling like I don't make the cut. So I get super hurt and defensive when I feel like my intelligence is being questioned, and those types of comments I'm worried are absolutely going to succeed in getting an emotional response out of me. There was a post on here recently about a new grad overhearing a coworker say "how did even let her graduate nursing school? How did she even pass her boards?" And even just that post made me upset because 1. that's an awful thing to say and 2. I can so easily see myself in a situation like that.

I'll do my damndest to ignore it.

mindiianajones · May 31, 2018

Mindiianajones, congratulations on your new position! I recently graduated last month and started working as a nurse on the same unit where I worked as a CNA for years. If your unit is anything like mine, the nurses are not going to expect you to know everything. Heck, they really are not going to expect you to know much aside from the basics of the unit (such as where certain things are located, names of other staff members, etc). They KNOW you are a new grad so please do not feel as if you have to try to impress them. Ask tons and tons of questions! The nurses at work always tell me they are afraid of any new grad that doesn't ask questions. Make sure to bring a small notebook or index cards with you to scribble down important information such as various policies, numbers, medications and procedures to look up, and anything else your preceptor shares with you. On your days off, look up the information and keep all your notes in one place. I like to organize mine into various folders on the app Evernote. Anyhow, I just want you to know that I completely understand where you are coming from. Hang in there and show them you're eager to learn. Keep us updated!

Thank you for the advice! I think the unit I work on will be okay, for the most part. Nights are usually pretty chill there, and I've got along with MOST if not all the nurses that work nights. I'm more worried about other floors because my unit is known amongst the hospital as being the best unit to be on, and I've been hired for float pool so that's not going to be my full time home, anymore.

I'll definitely remember the index cards. I was thinking of getting one of those storage clipboards to keep all this stuff in, but I'm worried that'll be too bulky to be hauling around all day.

audreysmagic, RN · Jun 1, 2018

I'm not even going to lie, I'm worried about overhearing that type of talk. I try REALLY hard not to take things personally, but I'm one of those people who values intelligence while also feeling like I don't make the cut. So I get super hurt and defensive when I feel like my intelligence is being questioned, and those types of comments I'm worried are absolutely going to succeed in getting an emotional response out of me. There was a post on here recently about a new grad overhearing a coworker say "how did even let her graduate nursing school? How did she even pass her boards?" And even just that post made me upset because 1. that's an awful thing to say and 2. I can so easily see myself in a situation like that.
I'll do my damndest to ignore it.

It's not always easy, especially if you're sensitive about how others perceive you. I still struggle with it occasionally, myself, but it gets easier with time and practice. But knowing where your emotional weak spots are is half the battle. It hits you a lot harder when you're blindsided. Part of the psychiatric crisis teaching we do at my facility is aimed at that, specifically asking people to examine what their own emotional triggers are so they know when they might need to walk away from a situation and take a deep breath before responding.