Starting My 1st Nursing Job Monday

Nurses New Nurse

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I am having a hard time believing this is reality but I am starting my first nursing job on Monday. I know the first few days will be orientation and nothing clinical but I am just starting to really get nervous that this next chapter of my life is about to begin and I am not sure what to expect.

Does anyone have any insight as to how New Grad programs are structured?

Thanks!!!

NC Girl BSN

1,845 Posts

Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Started mine 9 weeks ago. Hospital Orientation was one week. Brush up on dose calculations because they will probably give you a test. Also we had computer training on the last day. Orientation was extremly boring. There were several people from various departments that can in a spoke.

The second week we had unit orientation. It was a long week. We were oriented to our unit polices. We also had to do about 100 learning link modules on the computer. The last day we shadowed our preceptor for a 12 hr shift. The next week we started precepting and learning the nursing thing.

Congratulations and enjoy orientation. Nursing is hard but its what I chose to do. The only thing that I don't like about my preceptors is that they want me to do everything when they want me to do it. I can't wait to be on my own so I can establish my own routine. Its gonna be tough but everyone is supportive and willing to help so I think I will do fine.

Specializes in ICU.

I'm also starting next week!

The first week is just classroom/clinical skill checkoff stuff. The next 5 weeks will be spent with my preceptor on a med/surg floor.

Should be scary/fun/exciting/intimidating/scary/fun!

Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

Hi there. I am a new grad RN that has also just started working my first RN job on a med-surg floor last week. I was so nervous. I never imagine myself as a med-surg nurse, but with the way the economy is, I wanted to get a job in the hospital first before I decided to specalize in maybe pediatrics or labor and delivery. Who knows I might like med-surg.

My first week was hospital orientation. I work for Kaiser Permanente (California based hospital and insurance company) so they introduce me to the insurance and the hospital history. Then I had computer training for about 3 days before I had orientation on the unit. My training is very informal. It is not like a residency program like Versant or something with a strict contract and classroom session, precertorship/mentor. I will just get training for 6 to 8 weeks and then I will be let loose to the nursing world.

My first day on the unit I shadow a nurse. The second day I did assessments with my nurse preceptor. Then the rest of the day I went over unit policies and procedures and more orientation training, modules, and video. The 3rd and 4th day I had my own patients, 3rd day 1 patient and 4th day 2 patients. I did my own assessments, pass meds, talk to doctors, teach patients and discharge a patient. If my nurse preceptor or other nurses had a procedure for me to do, I was able to do it so I can get signed off on my checklist. Also since I am now licenses, I had to sign all my orders, meds, and progress notes with RN at the end. My frst week was pretty awesome. Cant believe I am not a student any more. I am the "registered" nurse. I can check the PCA, and blood product with the other RN. I can pass the meds with the 5 rights of med administration, without the other RN hovering around me.

I got urine, and blood splash, and a confuse patient all on my in my first week. It made me nervouse at first because I was no longer the student, but it nice to know that after all the hard work in nursing school and studying for the NCLEX, that I am actually working as a RN now. It is a good feeling, very accomplishing feeling! I dont really like med-surg, but I think I could learn to enjoy it. I will enjoy working as a RN= real nurse!

Jules A, MSN

8,864 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

They are all different. I did a week of general orientation with all new hires and then was on the floor with a preceptor for 6 shifts. Many congratulations!!

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