How do I become stronger clinically?

[alexamasan]

I work on a surgical floor (with occasional medical patients), for a bout 2.5 years now and there are many colleagues on my floor whom I admire very much. They seem to know so much about everything, able to talk to physicians, PA's, NP's on their level about possible causes for a patients symptoms, possible treatments. They know what s/s to look out for so many conditions patients come in with. They know medications seemingly inside and out.

I don't at all feel inadequate at my job and I feel like I provide safe and competent care to my patients. But some of my colleagues are on a whole other level, it's like they are former ICU nurses that are now working on the surgical floor.

How do I become like that? Are there any resources you guys recommend I study? I'm sure experience has a lot to do with it since they have seen so much over the years (they have been nurses for a while), but I don't want to be passive about my improvement as a clinician. How should I go about improving and learning?

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

Use the resources that the physicians used when they were learning...

Harrison's is a great place to start.

[Argus333]

I agree HelloWish. Every time one faces a difficult case or feel dumbfounded or incompetent, one has a choice- to avoid further thought about it, or to engage it head-on and learn it. This is often something that will need to happen either in the middle of a busy shift, making the shift even more hectic, or on your own free time, unpaid. I recommend the hybrid approach- always seek explanations and guidance on the spot, don't spend forever during your shift, but be sure to research it that same day either during lunch, after work, or at home. I often find a youtube video and let it play and listen to the audio on the drive home, then watch the video when I get home, then stop thinking about work afterwards. Another thing I do is find a CEU within my subscription service and add it to my list of courses to take later, and try to take it that weekend. That's something you can do from your smartphone the moment you realize you are lacking knowledge somewhere. Setting learning goals in this way can be a good defence against that feeling that you are stagnating or falling behind.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

Seek out opportunities to learn from your coworkers. Ask to be assigned to assigned to cases you would like to learn about. I always offer to take patients dumped on us from other areas so that I can learn. Take advantage of chances to float to other units. The more you do, you will get stronger.

[shiftingtides]

I love this thread so hard.

[Just-floored]

Every time I come across something new I research it. For me it helps to understand the pathophysiology of a condition because it will point you in the direction of what really is important to assess for. It is also super helpful I have found to go to the physician and just ask questions. Typically I would let them know what I am already looking for or assessing for but then add I haven't had to many patients with this condition is there anything else you think I should be on the lookout for.

[ana010]

Your desire to learn and evolve into an experienced nurse will drive you to seek out opportunities and develop the communication skills you envy in those colleagues you admire. The advice already given is great. Emulate a colleague or 2 you admire, ask questions and NEVER be afraid to say you don't know. I don't know, but I will find out, ask, etc. is the best thing you can say. You can fake it til you make it with your confidence level, but do not feign knowledge. I am in my 19th year of nursing and I still learn something new everyday. I love medscape!

[anewsns]

I often just listen to the doctors and read the progress notes and if I'm really stumped on something, I look it up on our work nurse education website. If im super interested, I go do medscape or something similar.. having to teach other nurses helps me too, motivates me to look up more stuff.. also, sometimes I ask the doctors or other nurses what's going on if I'm unsure and can't figure it out.