So glad to find allnurses.com

[Isitpossible, LPN, LVN]

As a new nurse I feel completely inept and incompetent at times (which everyone says is normal) . I am very happy to find this forum for us newbies , b/c we need the support of one another!! I graduated in Dec, passed boards in Feb, got hired in May in LTC... I am truly overwhelmed sometimes and forget alot of what I learned.. Many nights I come home and read my med surge book just to refresh my memory and it does work... Now when I read my textbooks it makes more sense b/c Im actually seeing things daily rather then every other weekend in clinical. Nursing is truly a profession where we continue to learn each and every day and I look forward to learning from my fellow newbies!

[PediLove2147, BSN, RN]

Welcome! I found this site while in school and it has helped me with every step of my nursing career. I couldn't imagine passing the NCLEX, starting my first job, surviving my first job, and so on without allnurses.

[LalaJJB]

I feel like an idiot every shift. For example, I was bringing a patient to the ICU and she was the kind of patient who's O2 sats would plummet if she was taken off oxygen... anyway, while transferring her from the ER bed to the in-patient bed, I unplugged her O2 and was trying to plug it into the O2 on the wall in her new room. Long story short, I couldn't figure out how to plug in the O2 to the wall in the ICU room...the pt's O2 sats went to 81%, she was breathing at like 34 breaths a minute, bells were going off everywhere.... Needless to say, EVERYONE in the ICU room hated me. I couldn't get out fast enough.... the patient was OK thank God...but still, basic nursing skills that I failed to recognize. Blah!

[elprup, BSN, RN]

I found this site when I was in school too and it has helped immensely. Just remember to not always tell every story. I have a habit I am trying to break about saying too much. Best of luck.

[CuteNurseUnl]

I found this site AFTER I graduated and started working. I wish I found it before I even had to do pre-reqs when preparing to get into nursing school. This site is SOOO helpful! Working in my current hospital wasn't all that easy when I first started here, but finding this site and learning that I wasn't the only going through the things I did was a huge comfort and better than seeing a psychiatrist!

I LOVE this site!

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Welcome! We're glad to have you :) I work LTC also, which I enjoy. It is overwhelming for the first 6 months, but as you become familiar with your residents, the job is much easier.

[Isitpossible, LPN, LVN]

LaLaJJB: that was hilarious!! thanks for the laugh... I just came home from a loong day at work, and that laughter felt great!! thanks for sharing. :)