Please help!! Need nurse for short interview.

SHELLYBELLYRN · Mar 25, 2002

1. Initial work experience was AWFUL. VERY short orientation period at a long-term care facility.....was expected to know everything already........

2. stressors.......not knowing everything already........no back-up......overloaded with patients (about 30 at a time, including skilled patients with IVs, G-Tubes, etc.)............no other nurses willing to teach me, mentor me, or help out............a DON who had never done long-term care, but felt she needed to change everything about the facility in her first month on the job........also I was the only RN in the building on the weekends, and so had to do the "supervisor" duties and responsibilities (i.e. take all the flack for whatever happened), but without the title of supervisor or any pay increase for being the supervisor, and also without any supervisor training...

3. unfortunately, i did not develop coping strategies.........my coping was to leave and find a new job

4. Advice.......make sure you find out about the orientation period of a facility......is it a formal policy to make sure that you are ready before left on your own? also, don't be afraid to keep looking for your niche.......send out resumes, go to interviews, change jobs if needed, and find out what you enjoy..........

kittyw · Mar 25, 2002

Wow... doesn't sound like a good first job experience!

I can't thank you enough for helping.

NurseAnge · Mar 26, 2002

1. Recalling your initial work experience after graduating from nursing school, what was it like to be a new nurse?

It was scary! I was excited and nervous and

eager to learn all I could, but above all else

I was scared.

2. What stressors do you recall from your initial practice experience?

Patient identification-difficulty some of the

arm bands were smeared and it was difficult to

find someone who knew the patients to help me.

I also encountered nurses who were unwilling to

help me-but I did find one who trained me and

was wonderful-she and I ended up remaining friends

and still are for 12+ years.

3. What coping strategies did you develop in response to those stressors?

Problem solving techniques: ask lots of questions

Discuss problems with nurse manager-if she/he is

unwilling to help I strongly suggest looking for

other employment- patience with yourself-you

are just learning too. If you are unsure about

something especially if you are trying to give

a patient meds and you can't determine if that

is in fact the correct patient don't give the

medication without making positive identification!

4. What advice would you give a new nurse?

Ask questions, Ask questions, Ask more questions.

Ask about the orientation time period and if you

don't feel comfortable with your job at the end

of the shift request a little more time-some employers will some won't.

Learn who your patients are: at a minimum how they take their medications, how they interact with nursing staff and most of all take time to learn from your patients-they are the reason you are there.

Agnus · Mar 26, 2002

Scarry, wondering if I am in over my head. Weird feeling signing med sheet with no co-signer. Signing New initial after my name. Realizing I was the nurse. Having RNs ask ME questions and advice.

Being asked tough questions by patients and families.

I coped and still do by relying on my collegues and other professionals, like pharmasist, doctors, therapist ets. to support me. I ask questions. Be assured I get very high respect for asking questions when i have even the slightest doubt about somethnig. Even when I am right I will ask a question just to get reassurance. I have been told over and over that others would have me ask these questions than to make a mistake.

Realize we all have brain farts at times. It's ok just ask. It's ok to forget. Just ask. ask. ask. Realize the idiot who criticized you for asking is the idiot. You can never ask too many questions in this line of work.