Going Off Orientation

As a new grad I was on orientation about 4-5 months. I was also very nervous about going off orientation since I was so used to having my preceptor there when I needed her. During the last month or so of orientation I took a full assignment of patients and my preceptor also took a close to a full assignment, so when it was time to come off orientation it wasn't that different! I was surprised at how easy the transition was, and all the nurses on the floor were still there to answer my questions and assist me when I needed it. I know you'll still be nervous but don't be afraid to continue to ask questions and for help when you need it! I have found that most nurses are more than happy to help :)

You should be taking a whole patient load....but while it is nervous to be "on your own"...you should be able to still ask questions to each other, and know that the other nurses will help. Plenty of the nurses on my floor ask each other and some have been there for 17-18 years....

Good luck, you'll be fine.

Its has been one year already since I started my first Lvn Job. It is going great. I have learned so much and great staff to work with. Boy has it been busy but grateful I have good days off. I never work 4 days in a row. Thank goodness with it being busy and all No Way.

I will be off orientation in 2 more days and I am really nervous. My preceptor says I will be fine and so does everyone else. However, I knew I would be nervous and it is to be expected. My question is this, how did you deal with your first day(s) off of orientation as a new RN? I am sure I'll do ok, but I thought this might help other new nurses as well?

Well I am an LVN and when I got off Orientation I had to organize my day. What do I do first and what comes next. But whenever I get a CHANCE i put my pen to the chart. Things will come up and you wish you would have spent those few extra minutes in those charts. We now have hourly logs by Jhaco and trying to make sure every hour was logged. Thats just extra that Im trying my best to get use to. Yeah we go in there often but to stop for a minute or two to jot things down is like oh no when you have other jillion things to do. Once my charting is done like my assessment then I know I can tackle things and my meds are done at a good time. I don't know how many patients you have. I have 5 but we have feed tubings and blood sugars. It seems alot. But good luck!

I will be off orientation in 2 more days and I am really nervous. My preceptor says I will be fine and so does everyone else. However, I knew I would be nervous and it is to be expected. My question is this, how did you deal with your first day(s) off of orientation as a new RN? I am sure I'll do ok, but I thought this might help other new nurses as well?

I was nervous to come off orientation too. But, it really will be okay. On the last day of orientation, I had my preceptor drill me with questions and "what ifs" to make sure that I was on the right track. Also, know that you are not alone! There is always someone there that can answer your question! And do ask lots of questions! I always run new things by another nurse or the charge nurse just for my own piece of mind and to make sure that I'm on the right track. I'd rather ask then do something that could harm my patient. And lastly, just have confidence in yourself! Think back to all the things you've learned since you began working. Know that your boss would not allow you to come off orientation if she/he didn't feel that you were ready! And it's also important to be confident in front of your patient (even if you're shaking on the inside!) Once you're on your own the first day, you'll see that nothing's changed-you still have people there to support you! Good luck!!

I concur with most of the replies you have already received. You will be fine. If they did not feel you are ready to be on your own, they would have extended your orientation.

I remember my first day off orientation: 1 week before Thanksgiving. I clocked 13.5 hrs to do my shift. Why? I'm slower than everyone else because I was nervous! :smackingf

The other nurses on your unit know that you just got off orientation, and they should not mind assisting or answering your questions. You should already be taking a full load assignment near the end of your orientation with your preceptor so there should be no surprises. Keep your confidence and remember you have been trained to do this job. And when in doubt, just ask other RNs or your charge nurse.

Find what works for you. You do not have to do exactly what each "teacher" tells you to do to make your routine flow better and be an effective nurse. You'll be fine! Good luck!

I feel the same way...I am LPN and I have 5 shifts left of orientation and I am kind of nervous too. My preceptor has also started telling me to go and do my thing while she just hangs in the wings making it easier for me when I do transition. In a way I will be glad when it is over because I am ready to show my skills and work on my own...but Ii am not sure I will be saying that on my 1st day and I feel alone!

In my orientation, The first couple of days I observed and helped out then day after day I'd pick up a patient till I reached 5 the whole group. I work rehab and the most we have is 5. Then if the'd tell me the 2nd day before orientation was to be over if I needed more time then no problem. They wanted me to be ready and comfortable being on my own. It worked out great.

Toward the end of orientation (Yesterday was my first evening on my own) my preceptor just hung back and let me do my thing--was there if I got really swamped or overwhelmed, but was basically "invisible". I was "the nurse" for the last 2.5 weeks of orientation, so when last night came, I knew what to expect. I work 3-11 & was there until 1 am finishing my notes because I had gotten an admission. I shaved 35 minutes off my time today & clocked out at 12:35 (also had an admission today). I work TCU/rehab, so we take 11 beds to 1 nurse...so if you have an admission, you still have 9 or 10 other patients to take care of, depending on how full your side is. (we'll be going down to 8-9 beds to one nurse starting monday). God save me if a day comes where I have more than one admission, lol. Thankfully, everyone at my work is great...we all help each other as much as we can...even something as simple as another nurse taking the 5 seconds to flush my pt's PICC when her abx were done made a huge difference while I was busy doing my admission assessments.

Good luck going off of orientation. Remember, you can still ask questions, b/c we never stop learning!

Thank you all so much for your wonderful encouragement and support. Today was my first day off orientation. I was soooo nervous and at the same time excited. I had 6 pts, discharge 4, had 2 admits and got to go home an hour early ( low cencus ) . The other nurses who had not been so nice during orientation were very nice and supportive today. WooHoo!!!

My only suggestion is to ask questions, even if it seems stupid. I usually ask the charge nurse, but everyone I work with is great about helping each other out and answering all my questions.

Wow even 8-9 pts is still a whole lot to handle. Its hard to really keep an eye on everyone. What if one has an emergency and then you still have all the others left that need you and then if you have an admit too. Too bad they won't go down to 5:1.