First night working alone... NERVOUS!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, I'm not a nurse, but a respiratory therapist. I have been a "lurker" on this forum for the past two years and I hope I'm not intruding, but It's my first night alone as an RT and I am sooooo nervous! :uhoh3: I was just wondering if anyone can give me a few words of advise. Thanks in advance!

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Take a deep breath! You've got this, and if you weren't nervous you wouldn't be normal!!! Be sure to take breaks, and stay hydrated and eat snacks. No matter how bad a shift can get, it always comes to an end. :)

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P.S. It always helps me to read a devotional or something positive before work. I also pray. It helps me remember that I am not alone in this big bad world.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Know the Rapid Response Team's phone number by heart? :jester:

Seriously, you'll be fine.

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Thank you for the encouragement :redpinkhe I dont pray, but maybe I should start.

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ChuckeRN - I AM the Rapid Response team!!! It's a small hospital :)

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Specializes in Delivering Quality Patient Care :).

CONGRATS IN YOUR NEW JOB!!:yeah:I am a former Respiratory Therapist,, so I am always excited to meet someone from my old stomping ground!!!!! Your nervousness will go away with time. It helps if you have supportive co-workers. I was young when I started my new job and I felt all alone. However, I had co-workers who always checked on me to make sure I wasn't overwhelmed. In addition to the co-workers, I had a supervisor who was always over my shoulder. Honestly the shift went over better than I would have expected. With that being said, I didn't have any patients that crashed. Hopefully it will go well for you.

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Oooops... Just noticed I spelled "advice" wrong :o

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.
Oooops... Just noticed I spelled "advice" wrong :o

I just assumed you were Australian :)

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Try not to think that you are alone.

Even though it is the "night" shift you can, must, call your ?boss? co-workers at home?, what ever resource people you have when, if, the you know what hits the fan.

I found night shift employees in small hospitals to be very helpful. Even though as I said you can call for help, we do try to help each other, problem solve.

You don't have to know everything, all the answers, don't be afraid to say, "I don't know about ...." There are reference books, computers, is there an ER doctor or any doctor or anesthesiologists in house at your small hospital during the night shift?

Learn about your fellow night workers. You may find a RN who for whatever reason knows a lot about RT stuff. Or other staff from housekeepers to the the night supervisor can be a resource, from doing "gofer" work to calling your boss for you.

When you get report from the 3 - 11 RT don't feel you are being stupid to say, "I don't understand, or I don't know..." about anything they report off to you.

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