Forgetting things as a new nurse

[CCURN87]

Hi there! I'm a very recent new grad and i work in a MICU. I am only 4 months into working and i've been off orientation close to a month now. The first 2 weeks of being "off orientation" i only had one patient or i had another nurse who also had my patients but i was still doing all the work ( i don't mind i think it helps my learning). Nursing has so much paperwork involved in it though as I've recently realized. I had my second admission off orientation the other night, but i still got out late that morning (I work night shift). However, I guess my getting out late was due to the condition of my patients b/c i had to clean my admit 4 times during the shift and i helped clean him up again at the beginning of the day shift. My other patient was pretty stable, but needy and kept taking off his pulse ox and it was impossible for me to get a good reading after he took it off. Anyways, there so much stuff that has to go into a new patients chart, and it's so easy for me to forget what i need to do, especially when i'm busy trying to do things for my patient. I just fear that if something were to happen down the line and (God forbid) one of my patients decided to sue the hospital, that i could get in trouble b/c of not having everything in the chart. Has anyone else ever felt like this when they were a new grad? I mean feeling like your always forgetting things to document or put in the chart? Any words of encouragement or insight would be greatly appreciated.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Three words:

That is normal.

Oh yeah, and four more:

It will get better. :)

There are others far wiser and more articulate than I, but you really do not need to be worrying yourself into a tizzy. Yes, some of those things that you mentioned could happen - but they probably won't. You have two arms, two legs, and one brain; you do the best you can with them and hand the rest off to the next shift. Don't apologize for it. You will get stuff handed off to you as well....that's why hospitals run 24/7.

Best to you in your new career.

[Straydandelion]

I would talk with other nurses as far as new admits, get their ideas on what needs to be done aside from the immediate, but a general overview then make yourself a cheat sheet i.e. New admit list to follow.

[al7139, ASN, RN]

If you are like me, you are human and therefore, you are not perfect. As a new grad I was so paranoid of doing something wrong, or forgetting to chart something or having to leave something for the oncoming shift.

I would exhaust myself trying to do everything right, and still miss something.

I luckily work on a unit where most of the nurses are really helpful and when we have a new nurse fresh off orientation we look out for them to make sure they are OK (they did it for me, and now I do it for the newbies).

I used to beat myself up if I missed something, but now I take it as a learning experience and move on. I have made mistakes, and have forgotten to chart something, but I always own up to it and there is a way for us to chart "late entries" if I need to.

When I was right off orientation, I thought a good shift was one where I did not kill anyone through my lack of knowledge. All nurses that I have talked to agree with this.

I have been a nurse for 2 years now, and I still miss stuff sometimes, or have to pass things along to the next shift. I hate to do it, but most realize that it happens, especially if you have had a crazy shift.

Don't let it get you down. You are not "Supernurse", just a new nurse trying to learn your job. If you need help, ask, if you don't know say so, then find the answer. Never do anything you are not comfortable doing. If you have a gut feeling that a patient isn't right, get another nurse to assess the patient also. that's what your ClinII or team leader is there for. Don't be scared to question orders that don't make sense.

I learned to use my "brain sheet". If I didn't have time to chart, I would jot it down with a time, orders, outcome, etc. and chart later when I could. My brain saved my butt with charting. I would at the end of a shift usually have time to chart, and would rely on my notes to give me an accurate sequence of events on a patient for my shift. If your hospital doesn't have a standard brain they utilize, develop your own to use in addition to your Kardex. If you are on a computer system, it is still effective so you can go back and chart your assessment and any unusual events later. I started my shift by looking at orders that pertained to my shift and when to give meds, etc. and put it all on my sheet by time to refer to. Then I could check it off as it was done, and follow up with the CNA's for turning, labs etc. I also write down my vitals and sugars as well as what I did for them if they were abnormal. It helped me to get organized, then when an unexpected problem comes up, I can get back on track. This also helps when I need to call a doctor, so I can have all the info they need at hand...docs HATE to wait for you to look something up!

I swear it gets easier, and you will get better at managing your time. I am a preceptor now for new nurses on my shift, and I see now how when we are new we are very task oriented. It takes alot longer than orientation to get to the critical thinking/nursing judgement that makes things easier.

You will get there!

Amy

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

oh yeah, that is so normal its not even funny. I am going through the same thing. I forget everything! And won't remember till an hour before my shift finishes. >_

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

remember when you took psych and learned that people who are anxious do not have good recall? That is where you are now. You have SO MUCH on your mind, and you want to do the right thing, so there is a level of anxiety there. Eventually some of the things you do will become routine. Then you will be able to recall and even learn new things. Meanwhile, take that rock out of your pocket. It is loading you down.

[pink85]

Make a check off list! it really helps. It will cut down on the anxiety and before you know it you will have it memorized!