Going Off Orientation

Nurses New Nurse

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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?

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.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.
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.

TCU is a different sort of environment...since it is rehab, my patients are not typically on deaths door like the might be in an ICU, or even nearly as sick as they are on a med-surg floor. If someone starts to go bad, we send them out. It is tough to keep an eye on that many patients, but it's been ok for me so far.

As an example, while 1 or 2 of my patients may have IV abx I need to hang, or others may have dressings that need changing or are medically complex, they get balanced out by my one or two stable walkie-talkies who don't need as much nursing time as some of the others might.

5:1 would be nice I guess, but I'm comfortable with what I have because I have great co-workers and we all help each other.

When it comes to admissions, ours are not surprises--we know they are coming, and while they typically show up on the 3-11pm shift, the 7-3 nurse will anticipate their arrival & do as much as they can ahead of time ...on Thurs. when I had an admit, the nurse I was taking report from (my preceptor, actually) knew I was coming in on my first day off orientation, and the admit had shown up at 2, so she did all the assessments, admission note, and put a call out to the doc for me so that all I'd have to do is confirm orders & get them into our system so the pt could get her meds.

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Well thats good it works out for you. At least you don't get worn out with that much of a load. Yeah, I found out at my work we use to be 8-9:1 4 years ago. Our rehab people can be alot of work but with other nurses to help out it really helps to have a good team. On admissions most nurses will get most work done if they come late to help the other shift. I prefer rehab to SNF. Their are some patients you just want to keep. But you know got to go. I work 12 hr shifts. I don't mind at all cause I have more days off to rest before the next days come on. So you just got off orientation? How is going for you?

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