New Grad Stupids

Nurses General Nursing

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Mijourney

1,301 Posts

Hi bbqchick. Yes, I have experienced the trials and tribulations of a nurse from the crawling stage. I have also worked with new grads. The dumbest thing I feel is to not ask that question that may be knawing at you or ask for assistance. I don't care how well one did in nursing school, what nursing program one graduated from or how short, hot, bothered, and hurried the staff is, it's never dumb to ask a question and ask it again even if as a last resort you have to page the supervisor, the house physician, the ER physician, the on call physician, or former nursing instructors. Your license, the welfare of the patient and facility may depend on it.

I also feel that it is vitally important to keep your knowledge and skills current. Being a new graduate does not mean your education ends. Even now, I always make sure that I have access to the resources I may need to look up something or ask something that would help me better serve my clients and myself. I still look up things familiar to me to make sure that there have not been revisions and updates. The complexity of health and medical care justifies that.

Through your career, you will do things that you find afterwards you could have used another, maybe better, approach for. This is why continual learning and staying current is so important. And as JillR indicates, you will find that as you progress in your work, your experience will kick in. Best wishes.

[This message has been edited by Mijourney (edited October 14, 2000).]

sasan555

4 Posts

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Regards,

Susan,RN

Harvard Medical School

Specializes in GI,Rehab, Ortho/Neuro.

Don't sweat it. My brother once told me that if they did not think we could do job, they would not let out on the floor. I doubt that sometimes still after 6 years. Experienced nurses are not perfect in any means. I can't even remember all the things I have done over the years.

teamrn

73 Posts

When I was a new gread, I was so sure of myself(that was BEFORE I began practicing. I remember having a patient w/ an NG tube who c/o being nauseated, bloated stomach, green-at-the-gills(you get the picture!). It wasn't until he began projectile vomiting and I called my preceptor that I found out the common sense in this instance-hook up the NG to suction!!! All stopped as the stomach contents were emptied and the bowel decompressed, but did I feel like a fool. I've forgotten (probably conveniently!) most of my new grad follies, but give yourself time, develop a sense of humor, and NEVER be afraid to be honest about doing the right thing (i.e. ask for help).

MD_Rn

30 Posts

Hang in there. You are not stupid. We have all done stupid things, we either don't remember or won't admit to smile.gif Eventually, it will all "click" for you and you will be an excellent nurse. It is an adjustment period and given the circumstances you describe on your unit that adjustment may just take a little longer. Have faith in your knowledge base, your training and yourself. There will always be bad shifts, days... weeks. But just remember why you are there.

Nurse- do you know what day today is?

Patient- Um, can't quite remember...

Nurse- do you know who the president is?

Patient- John F. Kennedy

Nurse- okay, do you know where you are?

Patient- I am right here.

Okay, so not a great question to assess patient orientation. But it was great for a laugh in a stressful day.

profjan

2 Posts

This is my 16th year as a labor nurse... BUT I can still remember my funniest experience as a student nurse in labor. I was told to " go shave all the hair you can see down below" on a patient having her third baby, I wanted to be a really good nurse, so I started to shave very slowly and carefully, well....the baby started to crown and I shaved the top of the baby's head before I realized what was about to happen! Lucky for me, the mom was amused by the "reverse mohawk" haircut I gave her baby.

I have NEVER forgotten being a new nurse-hang in there-we all need all the nurses we can find!

Mona

13 Posts

When I was in nursing school, I worked as a tech on the peds floor. I was taking a rectal temp on an infant (one of the first times) As I inserted the thermometer, the baby passed gas. Not realizing this was what had happened, my busy 'nursing school brain' thought I perforated the infants bowel(i only had it about 1/4 inch in)Got the nurse in to check the baby out.

Recently I went into one of my many favorite CF patient's room. She had collected about a weeks worth of OJ cups - you know, the ones with the foil top you peel back to open - and stored them in her cubby. By the time I found them, they had all gone so sour that the foil top was a tight dome ready to explode. As I picked one up and warned her not to drink any, I began shaking the OJ. It exploded all over my hair, face, scrubs - luckily it only got my patients legs. We were on the floor rolling and laughing our butts off!!!!!!!!!!

tcolleen

15 Posts

When I was a new grad I had a patient who was a bit confused and quite uncooperative, and receiving NG tube feedings. I worked night shift, and when I changed the tube-feeding bag, I put blue food color in the formula. I didn't realize that just a few drops would be enough, so I ended up putting A LOT more in than was necessary. The solution turned REALLY blue, but I figured that the food coloring was harmless and there was not point in throwing out good formula just because it was too blue (it was actually kind of pretty). I came back to work the next night, and the nursing assistant called me in to help change Mrs. X's diaper. Well she had very loose stools that were neon blue (they practically glowed in the dark). Not only was her poop blue, but it was in very generous quantities and all over the place. In the bedding, on Mrs. X's legs and rear, on her hands(?!) To make matters worse, Mrs. X weighed well over 300 pounds, and was completely unwilling to assist in turning while we cleaned her up. The color would not come off her skin, and her rear end was stained bright blue. This scene was repeated several times during the shift. In the morning, Mr. X had the gall to accuse me of failing to turn his wife or clean her up all night. A few days later I noticed her husband giving me dirty looks, and the aide I worked with that night mysteriously was not assigned to any of the same patients with me for months coincidence?). My advice now is: just a few drops will do it!

LRM

25 Posts

Your stories are all great, gave me some great tips on what NOT to do. bbqchick, you sound like you are really stressing! I finish my degree in ONE WEEK, have 2 more lectures this week, one more assignment to finish by Friday & one more exam next week so I am getting a little anxious now. I am always the one hardest on me, I put high expectations on myself. I will never forget what one facilitator said to me on my last clinical placement. It has helped me alot. "its ok NOT to know something, as long as you know where to find the answer" Use the other staff and your procedure manuals. Set yourself tasks to look up stuff in journals or on the net. I know I will be stressing too and the first time another nurse rolls her eyes or sniggers I'll probably want to bury my head in the sleuce, but I am prepared and will keep asking myself what the rationales are for what I am doing, at least it gives me a moment to think before I do something stupid. cheers Lee

Zee_RN, BSN, RN

951 Posts

Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

Actually, you're a step ahead in knowing that you don't know everything. The nurses I know prefer the new employee who is willing to ask questions rather than the one who walks on the unit like he/she knows it all. Find a mentor, if you can; doesn't have to be an "official position" but just someone you can trust who will help you over the rought spots. Despite how some nurses act, NO ONE was born with an RN license in their hand! As far as stupid things I have done as an RN, there are many but I have blocked most of the from my brain! I remember, as a student, about to change a bag of IV fluids from one type to another and simply unplugged the IV bag while it was hanging on the pole....and provided myself with a D5-1/2NS shower! The patient and his wife just stared at me like I was a complete idiot (which was pretty much how I felt too!).

dragonLPN

3 Posts

I have a good (or sick, depending) story about clinicals during my time as a student.

First, I am a guy, and that in itself is grounds for a multitude of stories...

I was "finished" with my two patients, and was moving around to see if anyone else needed help with theirs...I was asked by one of the other students (very prissy girl, by the way...princess we ALL called her) to help her with her patient...I said sure. We go into the room and there is a woman in her early 40's sitting up in bed....she looked a little pale, and asked for the emesis basin. I handed it to her, and she said she was going to throw up. She genly held the basin to her lower lip and started to spit.....she blew like Old Fathful. It hit the bottom of the basin, did a perfect fanning from the shape of the basin, shot out across the room in a fanning arc, and hit the left wall, back wall, the curtain between her and her roomie, got me, the "princess", and the nurse walking in the room at the perfect time. The nurse turned around and walked out of the room, "princess" started heaving and ran out of the room, and I was trying not to laugh (real nurses have demented, sick senses of humor, of course). She was very embarassed, and said, "I think I missed.". I said, "Ma'am, I don't think you missed a darn thing. We both started laughing, and the tension was broken.

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Phil (DragonLPN)

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