Extra orientation days...feeling so discouraged!

[Robin1990]

Hi allnurses! I am one very tired new grad and I just need a little perspective!

My background is that nursing is a career change for me. I did an accelerated program so I never had time to work as a CNA. I was hired onto a very busy Med-Surg unit that takes overflow from the hospital, so there is a huge variety of patients and so much to learn. My hospital does six week orientations.

I just finished what should be the last day of my six weeks of orientation. While I'm certainly feeling a lot better than I did a few weeks ago, I've gotten consistent feedback that I need to work on time management. I'm trying really hard to focus in on that and I think it's getting better bit by bit...I think I just take too long in the patient's room. I think part of it is that I'm afraid of making a mistake so my perfectionist tendencies hold me back.

Today the manager called me in for a quick meeting. It was a very supportive meeting, but she said through feedback from my preceptors they are going to give me two extra days of orientation and see where we're at after that. She said that I am very safe and have good clinical judgment, it's just time management that I need to work on.

I know that I am going to get there....I am DETERMINED to get there, and I know that one day I'll be fast and efficient. I am just so weary and discouraged and frightened though. This past 6 weeks is the hardest thing I've ever had to do (besides nursing school hehe) and my unit works primarily 8 hr shifts so I'm there five days a week and I'm just emotionally and physically drained! I really despise feeling like I'm not good at my job...I'm giving it everything I have but I feel like I'm still not up to par. It's a little embarrassing to have the extra days, esp when my friends are doing so well comparatively....and on the other hand I feel like there's SO MUCH I don't know and I wish I had another month of orientation!

I guess I'm just reaching out for perspective....have any of you had to have extra days? When did this start to feel a little better?

Thanks for letting me pour my heart out :) I was thinking on the way home as I sobbed along to Christmas music that at least this job is worth it. There is so much purpose in nursing and for that I'm grateful and I know it's something worth working for.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I got off to a rough start and I think I actually had several extra weeks of orientation as a new grad ...and ours was 12 weeks to start out with (if I remember correctly). In the end, I ended up managing my time quite well. I think what I needed was to be on my own. With various preceptors supervising and directing me, I didn't really get a chance to develop my own routine.

Just from the way you've explained yourself, I think you'll be fine. Just keep fine-tuning and knowing that you're steadily improving.

[Karou]

How hands on are your preceptors? I agree that time management gets more fine tuned when you are on your own. It's great to learn your preceptors routine, but you really develop your own when you are set loose. Maybe they can have a day where they literally step back and intervene only when prompted by you?

One thing that helped me in the beginning was to set time expectations. All assessments charted by a specific time, routine meds by a certain time, ect...

Time management is difficult because we are constantly re prioritizing and organizing the shift as things come up.

[beckster_01, BSN, RN]

Nothing wrong with needing extra days. I precept new grads fairly frequently and everyone is a little different. If they didn't think you were worth the time they would be firing you instead of giving you more time. For perspective, on the floor our grads get 3months, and in the ICU they get 6. 6 weeks seems rather short to me for someone without nursing experience.

[Robin1990]

Thank you for the perspectives!

I have a feeling I might do better crafting my own routine and having to just fumble through things on my own as a couple of you said. I'm psyching myself up to leave for work in 2 hours for the first of my last two days on orientation. I guess all I can do is take it one day at a time and do my best. Thank you!!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Six weeks of orientation is not nearly enough. Management realizes this and they are giving you a whole 2 days more.

It's not YOU, it's them.

[MostlysunnyRN]

I think I understand how you feel as a new RN myself on a busy Med-Surg unit. I think the normal reaction after each shift is to focus on what went wrong or what you didn't do. This can make you feel so defeated after a while and increase your anxiety while decreasing your confidence. I'd encourage you after each shift to think about what went well, what good you did. Then think about what didn't work so well and what you can do better for the next shift. I found when I did this, I was actually motivated and ready to go back to work and implement my new strategy! I'd repeat this after each shift and my confidence grew accordingly. It sounds like you're on the right track. It certainly does get better with time and practice. Wishing you all the best.