Stressed New Nurse

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am a new LPN, soon to graduate with my associate in nursing. Throughout school I have worked as a Unit Secretary, CNA and now I have been given the chance to work the floor as a LPN. So I said yes and had four weeks of weekend orientation. I began working on my own 4 days ago and Im starting to wonder , can I really handle this? Three outta four of these days I had & patients and had a hard time keeping up. By day four the load had lightened and I felt like I was getting a routine going. Today when I arrived for work I was confronted by my boss telling me that i might not be right for the facility because of all the documentation errors and missed information. I had the option of getting another day of orientation and going from there. Everyday I leave in tears, I dont feel i have adequate time to take proper care of my patients, and to top it off the other nurses act put off when I ask for help or don't know something. My question is : Is this how it is every where? and Does everyone start off having a hard time?

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

If I'm understanding your post correctly you had EIGHT DAYS of orientation?? Sweetie, no wonder you're in tears most days!! That's not enough time to learn the ins and outs of nursing. And is the "&" supposed to be a 7?? You had SEVEN patients on your own after just days of orientation? Sounds like a toxic work environment.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

If the above poster is correct in her assumptions, and I assumed the same thing (eight days of orientation, seven patients?) then I can safely say that would be enough to put any new nurse in tears!! Both of my orientation periods have been 8 weeks, 3 days/week, to equal 24 total orientation days. After orientation, the nurses are VERY supportive, instead of getting attitude when asked for help, they actually OFFER to help new grads, knowing that it can be hard to ask sometimes. And the fact that your boss is now dogging you for doing a poor job?? Well they should look at their orientation policy instead of looking at you to blame. If I were you, I'd consider looking elsewhere, but I know this economy is tough and that may be easier said than done right now :(

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Specializes in ED.

I agree, 7 patients after 8 days is too much for a new nurse. Even experienced nurses get 2 weeks at my facility. You should try somewhere else.

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I am a new nurse and I can totally relate to you! I had 8 patients (11 between admissions and discharges) on my first day with only 4 weeks of orientation to a hospital in a different state than where I had done my training. I would have to stay en extra 2 hours (after 12 hour days) just to finish my paperwork. I almost cried in front of a group of nursing students! I'm 6 months into it and I think I would not have survived if I had not had the support of my staff. You HAVE to have a supportive staff as a new nurse. Maybe where you are does not have your best interest in mind. Remember it is ultimately your license that is on the line! Keep your head up! We can do it!

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thnk you for all the replies..it makes me feel much better to know that im not just being a whiner..i will continue to do my best and hope that it gets easier with time...in the mean time i will be looking for other employment options...just knowing others experience simular experiences helps a lot.The area that i feel is the hardest for me is definatly the paperwork aspect, any suggestions are appreciated.

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