Some words for new grads.

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Critical Care.

A fair warning: I am by no means articulate or expressive. I hope my spiel does not induce a coma!

Well, I've been a nurse for a little over 1.5 years now.

I came into nursing extremely scared and humble. I came with fear in my heart and worry on my mind. I endured sleepless nights and crying fits in the utility closet. I was a young, quiet, shy, and naive nurse.

All that began to change at about the year mark. My confidence began to blossom. I was steadily relinquishing my fear to the past. I reflected on my mistakes and rather than allow them to undermine my self esteem as a nurse, I integrated valuable lessons into my practice.

My communication with physicians improved. I noticed that I began to suggest interventions. This in turn increased my confidence. I began to become assertive when needed for the wellbeing of my patients.

I remember, once as a new grad nurse I hung up on a physician - not because I was being rude intentionally but because I was frozen with fear and forgot what I was going to say. I couldn't imagine this occurring now. Rather, I speak with poise and confidence and openness with my colleagues.

Reflecting, I'm also astonished at how many near misses I've caught. How many deterioration I have halted. How many times I climbed the chain of command until my patient was safe from harm.

I just want to tell all new grads that matters will improve. Do not give up. Find a trustworthy mentor.

Your new grad status is NOT permanent. You will GROW. You will BLOSSOM. Before you know it you'll be a preceptor to student nurses AND registered nurses.

Please remember that you are NOT the only new nurse to cry on the way to work. You are not the only new nurse to question your intelligence or abilities.

I'm proud to conclude this post by saying that I'm currently cross training on heart transplant/VAD unit. Being able to learn to titrate drips and learn all the beautiful things about cardiac has inspired me once again. I DO feel like a new grad all over again - but I will refer to MY very own post and remind myself that this too shall pass and that I can & will.

Oh... and my awkward and nerdy love for cardiac has finally pushed me to apply for my spring classes again so I can finally become the Cardiac Nurse Practitioner that I SO want to become.

Cardiac Dork, RN

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Thank you for posting this very timely reminder. Hopefully newer nurses will read it and be instilled with a sense of hope for their futures in the nursing profession.

Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

Many thanks for posting this. It is great to see that nurses are happy in their careers. I am coming up on 7 months and am loving it.

Specializes in Emergency.

Thank you for this! I'm a fairly new grad in a very busy ED (aprox 100k+ visits per year) with high acuity and just finished back-to-back 3p-4a 13-hour shifts. I love it so far, but there are moments where I simply have too many important things to do at once and things get really stressful. For example, we receive a lot of Pt's in medical that should be in acute care and they end up being ICU consult/admits... The ratio is 5:1 so you can imagine what happens when you receive a Pt in DKA or is suspected to be Septic ...

I hear it takes 1 year to become comfortable and 2 years to become confident? I hope that is the case!

Specializes in Critical Care.
Thank you for this! I'm a fairly new grad in a very busy ED (aprox 100k+ visits per year) with high acuity and just finished back-to-back 3p-4a 13-hour shifts. I love it so far, but there are moments where I simply have too many important things to do at once and things get really stressful. For example, we receive a lot of Pt's in medical that should be in acute care and they end up being ICU consult/admits... The ratio is 5:1 so you can imagine what happens when you receive a Pt in DKA or is suspected to be Septic ...

I hear it takes 1 year to become comfortable and 2 years to become confident? I hope that is the case!

Definitely sounds like a task to manage, it seems that controlling appropriate acuity for each RN can be a task in the ER considering that things may go south or a patient that may seem stable is in actuality pretty critical. I work in General Surgery and while the acuity is no where near ICU at times it would be handy if I could just clone myself - especially in those situations where we do have emergencies. I've been in situations where I've had one bleeder, a trach patient desating quickly, and someone having chest pain. This has happened to me, it is so NOT fun. 😕 Nope. That's when you pull ALL your resources calmly wave your "I'm drowning flag". Always always ask for help. You don't have to be super nurse.

Another tidbit:

Never let your pride or fear of being labeled as weak keep you from asking for help. In the end it is your licence and the patients life. If you are in a toxic social environment, still ask for help. The gossip will go away but losing a life or your licence will not.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

I needed this today. I am in month 4 of a 5 month orientation as a new grad in the ER. For the last month, I have been questioning myself often: did I pick the right profession, right unit, right hospital? I am also getting to know some of my coworkers better & finding some of them to be unprofessional. I worry about coming off orientation.

Ultimately, the ER is not where I want to stay. But I am excited to learn while I am here and develop myself as a nurse. I can't wait for the confident feelings you have now and to see some growth in the next year. Thank you for this!

Specializes in Emergency.
Never let your pride or fear of being labeled as weak keep you from asking for help. In the end it is your licence and the patients life. If you are in a toxic social environment, still ask for help. The gossip will go away but losing a life or your licence will not.

Definitely, and I've had to on more than one occasion upgrade the Pt's acuity and move them over to Acute care or have charge float another RN over. I never hesitate to ask questions/help and luckily our ED has a really great team.

Specializes in Critical Care.
I needed this today. I am in month 4 of a 5 month orientation as a new grad in the ER. For the last month, I have been questioning myself often: did I pick the right profession, right unit, right hospital? I am also getting to know some of my coworkers better & finding some of them to be unprofessional. I worry about coming off orientation.

Ultimately, the ER is not where I want to stay. But I am excited to learn while I am here and develop myself as a nurse. I can't wait for the confident feelings you have now and to see some growth in the next year. Thank you for this!

Don't sweat it. You will question both your sanity and career choices on some days and nights. I did today! I discharged my entire assignment and received an entire assignment in return and NO tech. Today I was back on my home unit (gen surg). Suddenly.... I really miss the step down ICU... lol. Every unit has perks and drawbacks.

:HUGS: I'm sorry your environment is toxic and unprofessional. Stay away from the radar! However do NOT allow anyone ever to bully you. If I had to count how many bullies I'd had to fend myself from.... I'd probably only use one hand... lol. But my point is bullies aren't that common but they do exist. Stand your ground. Be assertive.

Message me anytime you need to vent.

I hear it takes 1 year to become comfortable and 2 years to become confident? I hope that is the case!

I worked in med/surg/stepdown about a year and it was so much better at the end of that year!

I've been in the OR 3+ years and it was about a year in I felt like I knew kinda what I needed to know. 1.5 years in was better still, 2 years even better than that, and 3 years in I feel like I really actually know things. I don't rely on my cheat sheets that much, and I'm comfortable in almost any situation - any type of case (of the ones I usually do), elective or emergency, and day or night. I feel confident precepting in most situations now.

Specializes in Critical Care.
I worked in med/surg/stepdown about a year and it was so much better at the end of that year!

I've been in the OR 3+ years and it was about a year in I felt like I knew kinda what I needed to know. 1.5 years in was better still, 2 years even better than that, and 3 years in I feel like I really actually know things. I don't rely on my cheat sheets that much, and I'm comfortable in almost any situation - any type of case (of the ones I usually do), elective or emergency, and day or night. I feel confident precepting in most situations now.

That is great! Do you feel OR has become your niche? Message me sometime if you don't mind. I'd like to know your thoughts on OR vs floor.

Specializes in 6 yrs LTC, 1 yr MedSurg, Wound Care.

This is wonderful! I am currently in nursing school and can see that light at the end of the tunnel and it scares me to pieces thinking of being out there in charge of my patients and not knowing what to do or handle a situation.

This gives me hope that with some time, I will be ok!

Thank you so much for writing this!!!

Thank you for the post. I am not a new grad but a seasoned Rn who recently transferred to another unit and feeling completely overwhelmed by the change.

Your post has encouraged me to stay the course. Thank you

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