Help! Scared. Is this really happening?!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am starting my first night with no orientation. ITS my first job in the USA!

My boss just text me and say, we are understaffed, night CSS supervisor will show you around and help anything you need, but no one to precept you. =O

Trying to breathe! Okay calm down Remy. We've been through some crazy stuff before. Nothing we can't handle.

But did I mention this is a totally different field of nursing, not just different country? I was SIV?VMER in Portugal, meaning travel trauma/ER nurse, and HERE I am going into SNF now ALONE. Wow. I am not anxious person but I am terrified now. Help!

That's scary. I would not want to go in for my first shift like that

Specializes in SIV/VMER Nurse [Portugal], SubAcute [US].

They found someone to precept me. I am going to see how it goes

Specializes in SIV/VMER Nurse [Portugal], SubAcute [US].
You are an experienced critical care nurse, you will find better opportunities

Thank you Sally! I unfortunately don't think I can do trauma nursing anymore. I thought about EMT a new days ago and my husband and I agree its best to look for other specialty. When I did SIV nursing in my home country I traveled with medical team and there was so much tragic things happen, I have PTSD now. I hope I find a specialty here. I love elders. I hope this job works because it could be the speciality I love and need. If this place doesn't work for me I think maybe for me to try other place with geriatric.

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

To quote a famous line from Amityville Horror: "GET OUT" Run, don't walk

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
They found someone to precept me. I am going to see how it goes

Hmmmm, wonder where this person magically came from? Stay on your guard. Won't be surprised if this happens on your next shift also.

Specializes in Unit Nurse.

"A hell to the naw, naw, naw". I would call in and then tomorrow quit. If they are already trying that with you, things can't be good at said facility.

They found someone to precept me. I am going to see how it goes

What will orientation consist of?

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
"A hell to the naw, naw, naw". I would call in and then tomorrow quit. If they are already trying that with you, things can't be good at said facility.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

Huge red flag! The fact you are thrown into a situation with zero precepting, should tell you how poorly this is run. I don't care if staffing is an issue, someone should be there to help you. Get a new job fast, as it will only get worse.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

That is a lousy situation to put a new nurse in regardless of your prior experience. I see they did manage to find somebody to work with you tonight so you are not totally on your own, but it is still pretty bad that they were willing to just let you sink or swim without help if you hadn't stood up for yourself.

I would take the opportunity to look around at other facilities if you really want to make a career in LTC. There are actually good places out there that would never do something like that to a new employee. I know they exist because I work for one that would never, ever think of doing such a thing. A better place is out there, so go find it.

It doesn't matter how experienced a nurse you are in other fields, LTC is a different beast. If you don't have LTC experience, you can't just walk into LTC and function with no orientation, any more than an experienced LTC nurse could walk into trauma with no orientation.

Maybe you won't need a whole ton of orientation, but the priorities, charting, etc. are very different. You need something.

If you don't feel your needs are being met, do look elsewhere. Experienced nurses who want to work in LTC are relatively rare. You can find a facility that will treat you better. When I started at my second job, I got six shifts of orientation, even though I had several years of LTC experience at that point.

Specializes in SIV/VMER Nurse [Portugal], SubAcute [US].

Update

I went to work last night and unbelievable to me, I had a very good night. I still have my guard up! But I had very good orientation for first night and it went by very fast. Lot of work to do and not easy at all but staff there VERY nice and helpful. When I told supervisor I wsas scared they almost threw me into the floor along as a new person she said to me, "no. I would have precept you and did the floor. No way would new person be alone ever." I ask if that has ever happen before to anyone she said no. I still not having expectation, but I had a very good night. I did my first wound vac, I am still good at tracheostomy,, suction, IV, and other skills I used in my field at home. I don't have much experience with dressing except in emergency situation like evisceration, soaks, and pressure dressings. A lot of patient were confused and awake, but pleasant. If this does go well and it stays professional I think I will like it a lot. But still keep options open just in case. Thanks!!!! Have a good day!!!!

+ Add a Comment