Last day of orientation was today...WHAT A DAY!

[pink2blue1]

Well baptism by fire or what!!! Today was my last day. I had the load of 5 patients. Not bad, I had 4 of them the day before. Well we had no charge nurse, only 1 CNA for 24 patients on a very busy med-surg/ortho floor. I WAS SO BUSY! Not because I was behind or drowning, but just because it was CONSTANT! My preceptor tried to act as charge, since she is charge a lot and I also helped other nurses on the floor with IV starts. It was just a terribly busy day. No one got breaks and the CNA gave attitude. Now before any CNA's out there may be reading this comment, I was a CNA for 4 years before I became a nurse and I KNOW how hard it is to be the only CNA. But she flat out gave attitude, not even through her body language, but when I asked if she was going to do I&O's on her assisgned patients she responded "Nope, uh-uh, ain't gonna do any I&O's" I asked if she was serious and she said "Oh yeah, I'm serious" It was BAD! Np biggie, if I do them, then I am SURE to get the charted.

None of us got lunches or breaks, it was the first day ever I didn't get to even go sit in the break room for 5 mins. One of the other nurses husbands brought us all Cars Jr because we couldn't even leave the floor to get our food! All in all it was a good day, just a constantly busy day.

Next Tuesday I AM ON MY OWN and SCARED!!! OMG!! Exciting and scary! AHHHHHHH Hey, I'm a NURSE! :-)

[ertravelrn]

Congratulations.......you survived. I hope your first day on your own goes good. Enjoy being a Nurse, look for the positives.