NEW US Nurse on first hospital job orientation

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Cardiac,Progressive,Med-Surg,Hospice&Pal.

Hi!I am feeling so low I started my orientation last Feb.1 on my first hospital job in US.The hospital has a magnet award and the working environment is excellent.I have 15 days orientation on the floor which is a medical surgical unit and got 12 more days left.I am feeling so inadequate because my anxiety is so high whenever I give IV bolus meds and in fact there are nursing procedures that I am not competent of doing because I am a foreign nurse and the practice here in US is totally different but surely know the principles in all nursing procedures.To name these nursing procedures that I am not so confident to do are NGT insertion,foley cath insertion,peripheral IV insertion,.I am just wondering IF I can catch up and learn all of these within 12 days.I am so anxious right now I am feeling so low.On my day one I just shadowed,on my day two I handle 4 patient but with my preceptor following me and on my day 3 I handle two patient with my preceptor.Please let me know what you think...

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Specializes in ICU, Surgical Services.

Hi! Congrats on your new job. First be sure that it's normal to be anxious about your performance at a new job especially if it's nursing and in a completely new environment/country. One thing I'll suggest is to speak up. If you are not sure how to do something, speak up. Let your preceptor know what procedures you need practice with, when you're comfortable enough, ask him/her and others on the unit to let you assist with or perform these procedures when they have patients that need them. You'd be surprised how many people enjoy teaching.

Orientation is the best time to get as much practice and clarification as you need before you get put out there, if you don't think 15 days is enough, tell your manager that you need more time. If you can, get some nursing clinical textbooks and look through them (you could even ask the nursing students on your unit what books they're using for clinicals).

Good luck!

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Hello! Congratulations on your new job in us! Do not be overwhelmed with the situation nor be intimidated of what you see knowing you are from the foreign land. The reason why you have the orientation is for you to somehow be familiar on how things are done in us compared to your foreign land. The preceptor is there to guide you along the way but you have to be honest so his/her plans of precepting you will be organized. There is an evaluation period after your orientation and you are the only one who can say if you are comfortable working by yourself or not. It is better to correct mistakes now w/ a preceptor than being alone. Speak up... Assert yourself & you will never go wrong

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i am also a foreign educated nurse. grab every nursing procedures that you will encounter at work. ask help of other nurses whenever you are unsure of what you are doing. i also do my own researches when i get home.dont be scared. be confident.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I'm not so certain that 15 days is adequate orientation for a new RN. Is that standard for your facility? Are you certain that your understanding is correct of the orientation timeframe?

I would be inclined to guess that 90 days is standard, especially for a busy Med/Surg floor.

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Specializes in Cardiac,Progressive,Med-Surg,Hospice&Pal.

Thanks scrub I will do all your suggestions and try to be more outspoken.

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Specializes in Cardiac,Progressive,Med-Surg,Hospice&Pal.

Thank you all for your thoughts..yes I only have 15 days orientation on the floor.Officially it is 5 weeks but I am only working 3 days a week on a 12 hour shift.So if you will count the days it is not really 5 weeks.

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Specializes in Cardiac,Progressive,Med-Surg,Hospice&Pal.

Thank you all! I am working on my own now hihihihihii....been a month since I worked on my own....floor still crazy big time!GOD bless US all!!!

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