Frustrated New Nurse

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Hello all. I am looking for some feedback. I recently graduated and passed NCLEX. I was hired on in the ICU at one of the larger hospitals in my area. I am a few weeks out from finishing the internship and I am lost. I can't give report because I choke up. I don't have my drips down and the chatter from other nurses are starting to affect me. I had a preceptor but I feel as though everything was the way he wanted it and that was all. I do understand that I am new but I felt stifled. I was asked what could help me but I honestly do not know. I feel as though the things that I am taught was not anything I had in school and I need more time to grasp the concepts.

Any suggestions on how to turn this around. I will welcome all feedback.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

As for titrating the drips, you can ALWAYS ask your coworkers to double check the rates before, during, and even after you determine a revised rate...preferably before or during. Everything else is just going to take some time. The best way to learn anything is through repetition. Ask for help when needed, and continue to observe your coworkers, and offer assistance at each opportunity to learn.

They know that you are in a new environment and a new field. Trust and believe that they'd much rather help you in advance instead of running a code after the fact.:up:

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Please clarify. How long was you orientation? Are you expected to function on your own now?

A new grad starting out in ICU is a special challenge. Use of the SBAR format will help you focus.

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Can you write out the key points in SBAR to organize your thoughts before you give report? Think about what specific tasks or patient etiologies make you anxious and then talk to your manager about getting some more education. Can you take 30 seconds in the bathroom 30 minutes before shift report to do some deep breathing and collect yourself? Deep breathing, even while charting often calms that adrenaline cascade and might help with report too.

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